Peeling, pink, itchy and blistering: How to treat all types of sunburns

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Even when you wear sunscreen and UPF clothing , sunburns happen. It’s tempting to start itching at pink skin, peel off flakes or pop blisters, but try to prevent yourself from doing so. The best way to treat sunburns is by using over-the-counter products like aloe vera gel, moisturizer and anti-itch cream, which soothe skin, address symptoms and encourage fast healing.

Below, I talked to dermatologists about the best sunburn treatments you can buy and rounded up their favorite options. Experts also shared how to know when to see a doctor, and their advice for preventing sunburns in the first place.

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What are the best sunburn treatments?

To recommend the best sunburn treatments, I curated a list of over-the-counter products that align with expert guidance (read more here ). In addition to using some of the treatments below, dermatologists say it’s crucial to stay hydrated while recovering from a sunburn, so be sure to drink plenty of water . If your sunburn is severe or you feel ill, see a medical expert for further treatment.

Best aloe vera gel

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera 100% Gel

All of the experts I talked with recommend treating sunburns with aloe vera, an ingredient known for its cooling, soothing and moisturizing properties. You can use Fruit of the Earth’s aloe vera gel on your face and body, and it dries clear once you rub it into skin. The gel is free from fragrance, alcohols and added color.

Best aloe vera lotion

Sun Bum Cool Down Aloe Vera Lotion

If you don’t like the feeling of a gel, brands also offer aloe vera lotions like this one from Sun Bum. As aloe soothes skin, the lotion’s cocoa butter and vitamin E hydrate it to further promote healing. The lotion has a lightweight, non-greasy feel.

Best moisturizer

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream

Peeling skin is part of a sunburn’s natural healing process. It’s your body’s way of getting rid of cells damaged by UV rays, and while it’s tempting, the worst thing you can do is pick it. Instead, apply a plain, unscented moisturizer to help the skin repair itself, says Dr. Michele Farber , a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group . Dr. Mary Stevenson , a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at NYU Langone Health’s Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology , prefers treating sunburns with cream moisturizers sold in a pot, rather than lotions sold in a squeezy or pump bottle. Creams are thicker and more moisturizing than lotions, making them better for dry, inflamed skin, she says.

After trying over 100 moisturizers , the NBC Selected team ranked Cetaphil’s Moisturizing Cream number one — it has everything dermatologists told me to look for when picking one to apply on sunburns, and you can use it on your face and body. It’s plain and unscented, per Farber, as well as thick, rich and sold in a pot, as Stevenson specified. The cream is formulated with glycerin, niacinamide and panthenol to preserve the skin’s moisture barrier , boost water retention and soothe irritation, according to the brand. It has a non-greasy feel, absorbs into skin quickly and is noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog pores.

Best aloe vera spray

Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Spray

Moisturizers are also available as sprays, similar to spray sunscreen . Since moisturizer spray is more lightweight than a tub of cream, I find it easier to travel with. I keep a bottle in my beach bag in case my fair skin gets red after a day outdoors.

Vaseline makes a non-aerosol spray moisturizer with aloe vera that hydrates and soothes sunburned skin. After rubbing it in, the spray absorbs quickly and leaves behind a smooth, non-greasy, non-sticky feel.

Best anti-itch cream

Cortizone 10 Maximum Strength Anti-Itch Cream with Aloe

Hydrocortisone creams help calm itching and irritation, and over-the-counter options are a great place to start when looking for sunburn treatments, says Farber. Cortizone 10’s cream is made with 1% hydrocortisone, the highest concentration allowed in over-the-counter products, and soothing aloe. It’s free from fragrances and dyes.

Best calamine lotion

Swan Calamine Lotion

Like hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion can relieve itching when applied to irritated skin, says Dr. William Huang , a board-certified dermatologist and professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. It also has a cooling effect and may help with peeling skin. This calamine lotion has a liquid consistency and is pink, so be careful about where and when you apply it — the lotion does not dry clear, so you see it on your skin, and it can rub off on fabric. However, cleaning it off surfaces is easy, in my experience, and it’s never stained anything I own.

Best cold compress

FlexiKold Gel Ice Pack

Farber says cold compresses can relieve inflammation caused by sunburns. This one has a nylon exterior, so you can apply it directly to your skin without wrapping it in a towel. The compress is flexible even when it’s frozen, allowing it to contour to multiple body parts.

What are the best treatments for blistered sunburns?

If your sunburn blisters , don’t pop or pick at the skin — dermatologists say that doing so can lead to infections or future scaring . Instead, they recommend trying the below treatments.

Best bandages

Band-Aid Pro Heal Ultra-Thin Hydrocolloid Bandages

If your sunburn is just red and itchy, avoid bandages and stick to moisturizers, says Farber. But if your sunburn blisters, hydrocolloid bandages like these can promote healing and reduce scarring. They have a water-resistant seal and you can wear them for 5 days post application, according to the brand. The bandages are thin and flexible, so you can adhere them to any part of your body.

Best moist dressings

Spenco’s 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads

In addition to bandages, moist dressings like burn pads can help soothe and cool skin, as well as provide a barrier that keeps the area clean and moisturized, says Farber. Spenco’s 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads have a high water content, and after placing them atop your blistering sunburn, you cover the pad with adhesive tape or stretch gauze. You can purchase the burn pads in small , medium and large sizes.

Best ointment

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Petroleum jelly has occlusive properties, so it helps seal water into a disrupted skin barrier, says Farber. If blisters open into skin erosions, you can help prevent a secondary infection by applying Aquaphor to affected areas. The ointment is primarily made from petroleum jelly and is free from fragrances, preservatives and dyes.

How I picked the best sunburn treatments

Dermatologists recommend thinking about the below criteria when shopping for sunburn treatments, all of which I took into consideration while curating the list of products above.

What’s the best way to prevent sunburns?

While the occasional, mild sunburn may not be a big deal, studies show that a history of sunburns — especially blistering sunburns — can increase your risk for skin cancers later in life. That’s why it’s important to focus on preventing them. Here’s how:

Frequently asked questions

A sunburn is damage to your skin from exposure to excessive UV radiation, says Cameron. It’s an inflammatory response that occurs because UV radiation from UVA and UVB rays damages the DNA inside skin cells, thus leading to a sunburn and sometimes pigment formation (a tan), says Stevenson. “It’s your body trying to defend itself,” she says. “Everyone’s skin type is different, but if you’re getting color or burning, you are getting UV damage.” You can get a sunburn from the sun, as well as tanning beds, says Huang.

Different degrees of sunburns are determined by the depth of damage to the skin. There are three degrees of sunburns — these degrees apply to other types of burns as well, like those from chemicals or a fire. The deeper the sunburn, the more severe it is and the longer it takes to heal, says Huang.

Yes — the more fair your skin is, the more prone you are to sunburns, says Huang. However, anyone can get a sunburn, regardless or how fair or dark their skin is, and anyone can be at risk for skin cancer.