How to Get Rid of Sunburn Fast, According to Dermatologists

How to Get Rid of Sunburn Fast, According to DermatologistsFollow these steps for redness relief.By Amber Rambharose and Catharine MalzahnJune 12, 2025Kim Kardashian how to get rid of sunburn fast@kimkardashian / Twitter <a href="https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-cover-up-a-bad-sunburn" target="_top" class="ke-link">https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-cover-up-a-bad-sunburn</a> All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. So you got too much sun and didn’t apply (or reapply) your SPF. Now you’re wondering how to get rid of sunburn fast so you can get some relief for the lobster red, irritated skin. As diligent as we all are about wearing sunscreen, sunburns do happen, even to the best of us. Though you can’t get instant relief from a sunburn, there are plenty of ways to help your skin heal as painlessly and quickly as possible, according to our experts, board-certified dermatologists Flora Kim, MD, and Amy Ross, MD, and honestly, that counts for something. Though both dermatologists agree that prevention (read: not getting sunburned in the first place) is best, they also have plenty of tips on treating sunburns once they happen. From applying lotion to keep your skin moisturized to hopping into a bath, speeding up the sunburn healing process is possible with a few tips and tricks. Ahead, expert advice straight from the doctors on how to get rid of sunburn fast, so you can undo the damage caused by too much time in the sun and too little SPF ASAP.Glamour Daily NewsletterGet today’s biggest stories, from pop culture to politics, delivered to your inboxBy signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.In this article:  How to treat sunburn, fast How to reduce redness quickly How to prevent sunburn from peeling How to conceal sunburn redness How to prevent sunburn Is it possible to get rid of sunburn redness overnight? The answer here is pretty much a resounding no, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore sunburned skin. Even though you won’t see immediate results from tending to your skin after a burn, you should still take steps to heal your skin, according to Dr. Ross. WATCH THIS This Is Fillers In 2 Minutes “If left completely untreated, a sunburn can appear worse in the morning,” she says. This is because sunburns work on a timeline we’re not necessarily aware of. “Initial redness associated with sunburns can start as soon as 10 to 15 minutes after sun exposure but can take up to 12 hours to peak and produce the intense and painful redness that anyone who has been sunburned has experienced.” With that in mind, start treating your sunburn ASAP.Best after-sun lotions featuring a collage of products12 Best After-Sun Lotions to Reduce Inflammation, According to Dermatologists12 SlidesBy Marilyn La Jeunesse and Brigitt EarleyView SlideshowHow to treat a sunburn fast While it’s not possible to get rid of sunburn redness overnight, there are things you can do to start minimizing a sunburn as soon as you notice you’ve got one. You can work against a sunburn internally and externally.Pop an ibuprofen. Using an NSAID (a.k.a. a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) like Advil or Aleve will provide some quick relief. “As an anti-inflammatory medication, it can really make a difference in limiting the inflammation, which is associated with the intense redness of a sunburn,” explains Dr. Ross. Make sure to drink plenty of water with your pain reliever, especially since being in the sun likely means your skin and body is experiencing dehydration.Focus on staying cool. Severe sunburns can be super uncomfy, but staying cool can help. Try a cold shower or bath to relieve some pain. Another quick home remedy: “Keeping the burn cool immediately with ice or another type of cold compress will help minimize the extent of the burn, if done acutely,” shares Dr. Kim, which means you want to place the ice/cold compress (a cold, damp washcloth can also do the trick) onto the affected area as quickly as possible. Dr. Kim also recommends applying “copious amounts of pure aloe vera gel” as often as every hour on the first day you’re sunburned. Another pro tip? “Keep the aloe vera gel in the refrigerator so that it is cooling and extra soothing when you apply it.”Best Moisturizing: The Bod Guard (SPF 30)Courtesy of brand Dune The Lifeguard Cooling Aloe Gel$23 Nordstrom$23 Ulta$23 AnthropologieSeven Minerals Aloe Vera GelCourtesy of brand Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Gel$20 AmazonHow to get rid of sunburn redness quickly While your skin is sunburned, gentleness is key in all your treatments. Burned skin is extra sensitive, so make sure that you’re steering clear of potential skin irritants.Use gentle products. Dr. Ross cautions, “Be careful the products [you apply to a sunburn] do not contain alcohol, which will further dry and irritate.” Other ingredients to steer clear of include retinols or retinoids or any type of acids (AHAs, BHAs, and others) or peels, Dr. Kim shares. Plus, these will make your skin even more photosensitive, a.k.a. even more prone to burning.Look for healing ingredients. Instead, for sunburn relief, Dr. Kim recommends you “use super-gentle, repairing, healing, and hydrating body wash and body moisturizer. My favorites are Bioderma’s Atoderm Ultra-Nourishing Anti-Irritation Cleansing Oil and Bioderma’s Atoderm Ultra-Soothing Balm.” In terms of what specific ingredients to look for, “antioxidant ingredients like vitamin C, ferulic acid, and vitamin E could help combat the free-radical damage and help with post-sun damage,” says Dr. Ross. “I like Monat’s Be Gentle Nourishing Moisturizer because it has ingredients like hyaluronic acid and plant stem cells that help hydrate and replenish the skin.”How to prevent a sunburn from peeling While there’s no magical treatment that will prevent peeling skin, there are steps you can take to minimize the peel.Act fast. “If you can start to treat a sunburn immediately upon noticing you have started to get burned, there is a good chance you can prevent peeling,” explains Dr. Ross. First, get out of the sun as soon as you notice a burn. “Sun exposure has a lot to do with duration of exposure,” Dr. Ross shares. “The shorter the duration, the better the outcome.”Stay hydrated. After a burn occurs, keeping the skin hydrated and avoiding irritants is key. Dr. Ross suggests cool baths and patting, not rubbing, your skin dry. Sitting in cool water will feel much more comfortable and refreshing than hot water. She also recommends you “apply hydrocortisone cream immediately after the bath, followed by a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy.” Sealing everything in with a treatment like an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly (think Aquaphor or Vaseline) will also help keep skin protected.Aquaphor Lip RepairCourtesy of brand Aquaphor Lip Repair$8 AmazonVaseline Healing Jelly OintmentCourtesy of brand Vaseline Healing Jelly Ointment$6 AmazonKeep your hands off. Treating your sunburn gently also means no scratching at or attempting to exfoliate it away. As Dr. Kim points out, sunburned skin is injured skin and should be treated delicately.Editors testing best face sunscreens14 Best Sunscreens for Face, Reviewed by Dermatologists and Editor-TestedBy Brigitt Earley and Mary HonkusView SlideshowHow to conceal a sunburn As much as we love tomato-girl summer, that doesn’t necessarily mean you want to look like an actual tomato. Good news: It is possible to keep a sunburn under wraps until it fades—you just need the right products. If you have face sunburn, here’s how to hide it.Color-correct the redness. This may come as a surprise, but foundation isn’t the first step. Even if it’s hard to do so, fight the urge to put it on and instead begin with a light application of green-tinted color-correcting primer. Because green is opposite of red on the color wheel, it neutralizes the redness on your skin. Dab it onto the places that burned the most. Just don’t layer it on too thick—sheer is the way to go so it doesn’t look caked-on.