Sunburn Remedies That Actually Worked for Me

I’ve had my fair share of sunburns. Some were mild, but others had me walking around looking like a lobster. If you’ve ever felt stingy, hot, tight skin after spending too much time in the sun, you know how rough it can get.

I’ve tried many different remedies over the years—some were useless, and some helped a lot. After learning the hard way (more than once), I finally found a few tricks that made a real difference.

Here are the sunburn remedies that worked for me and made healing a little easier.

1. Cold Showers (No Hot Water!)

After being in the sun too long, one of the first things I do is jump in a cold shower. Not warm, not hot—cold. Even slightly warm water made my skin feel worse and more irritated.

Cold water cools everything down fast and helps keep the burn from getting deeper. I stay under the water for a few minutes until my skin stops feeling hot to the touch.

I also skip soap on the burned spots because it dries out my skin more. Just cool water, a gentle pat dry, and then aloe or lotion right after work wonders for me.

2. Cold Milk Compress

This one surprised me the first time I tried it. I read somewhere that milk helps with sunburn, so I figured—why not? I soaked a clean washcloth in cold milk from the fridge and gently pressed it on my sunburned skin.

The cold felt amazing right away and gave some fast relief from the burning feeling. The proteins and vitamins in the milk also seemed to calm my skin and made it feel less tight.

I did this a few times in a row, and it helped more than I expected. It’s now one of my go-to remedies when I feel like I’ve been overcooked by the sun.

3. Aloe Vera Gel (Straight from the Plant if You Can!)

Aloe vera has been my skin’s best friend during sunburn season. If you have a plant at home, break off a thick leaf, slice it open, and scoop out the fresh gel. Rub it right on the burned areas.

It’s super cool, and soothing, and helps stop the itching almost right away. I’ve used store-bought aloe vera too—it still works, but I always try to get one that’s 100% pure and doesn’t have added dyes, alcohol, or perfumes.

I usually keep a bottle in the fridge for extra chill. Using aloe a few times a day helped my skin heal faster and peel less.

4. Coconut Oil (But Only After the Heat Fades)

I love using coconut oil on my skin, but I learned the hard way that you shouldn’t put it on right after a sunburn. If your skin still feels hot or raw, skip this step for now.

But once the heat is gone—usually after a day or so—coconut oil can help your skin heal and stay moisturized. I use a small amount and rub it gently over the dry, peeling areas.

It makes the skin feel soft and helps with the tightness. Plus, it smells nice, which is a bonus when you’re not feeling your best.

5. Drink Tons of Water

This one might sound too simple, but it honestly made a difference for me. Sunburns dry out your skin, and that means your body needs more water than usual.

Whenever I’ve gotten burned, I noticed I felt tired and kind of out of it—and it turns out dehydration was part of the problem.

Now, I make sure to drink more water than usual. I carry a bottle around the house and take sips throughout the day. It helps my skin heal from the inside and keeps me from feeling totally drained while my body recovers.

6. Oatmeal Bath for Itching and Redness

When the itching kicks in, it’s the worst. I used to scratch without even thinking, which made everything worse. Then I tried an oatmeal bath. I take plain oats (not the flavored kind!) and grind them up in a blender until they’re powdery.

Then I pour about a cup of that into a lukewarm bath and soak for 15–20 minutes. The oatmeal calms the skin, eases the itching, and helps reduce the redness too.

Afterward, I pat myself dry—no rubbing—and apply aloe or a gentle lotion. It’s seriously calming and has become one of my favorite ways to chill when my skin is feeling rough.

7. Witch Hazel for Cooling Relief

Witch hazel was one of those things I already had in my bathroom but never thought to use for sunburn—until I did. It’s super gentle and has natural anti-inflammatory properties.

When my skin felt extra hot and sensitive, I’d pour a bit onto a cotton pad and lightly dab it over the sunburn. It helped calm the redness and gave a nice cooling effect.

Just make sure to get plain witch hazel without alcohol added, because alcohol can dry your skin out more. I used it a couple of times a day, especially before putting on aloe or lotion.

8. Loose, Breathable Clothing

This one doesn’t treat the sunburn, but it helps a ton while you’re healing. Wearing tight or rough clothing made my skin feel even more irritated. I started wearing soft, loose clothes made from cotton or bamboo when I was burned, and it made a huge difference.

Light colors helped too, since dark ones seem to trap heat. It gave my skin room to breathe and stopped the fabric from rubbing against the sore spots.

If you’re burned on your shoulders or back, this tip alone will save you a lot of pain.

9. Cucumber Slices (Cool and Soothing)

I thought cucumbers were just for spa facials, but turns out they’re great for sunburns too. When I had a burn on my face and shoulders, I chilled some cucumber slices in the fridge, and then placed them right on the burned spots. They cooled everything down right away and felt so soothing.

Cucumbers have antioxidants and a high water content, so they helped with both the swelling and dryness. I even blended some up into a paste once and applied it like a mask—it felt amazing and washed off easily.

10. Apple Cider Vinegar Soak (Diluted!)

This one sounds a little weird, but it helped when my skin was itchy and sore. I mix about 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar into a cool bath and soak for 10 to 15 minutes. It helps balance the skin’s pH and takes away some of the sting.

But here’s the thing—you have to dilute it. Never put vinegar straight on your skin or you’ll make things worse.

After soaking, I rinse off gently with cool water and follow up with aloe or a light moisturizer. It’s not something I use every time, but it helped on days when the burn felt extra uncomfortable.

11. Over-the-Counter Hydrocortisone Cream

When my sunburn turned into a red, itchy mess, hydrocortisone cream came to the rescue. I picked up a small tube at the drugstore and used a thin layer on the worst spots—usually my shoulders and upper chest.

It helped reduce swelling and stopped the itching fast. I didn’t use it more than twice a day and only for a couple of days in a row.

It’s not something I reach for with every burn, but it works great when nothing else helps with the itch.

12. No Picking or Peeling

Okay, I’ll admit—I used to peel my skin once it started flaking. It was kind of satisfying, but I learned it only made things worse. Picking at peeling skin can cause scarring or even infection.

Now, when my sunburn starts to peel, I leave it alone and keep moisturizing. I use aloe in the morning and something like coconut oil or a light lotion at night.

Being gentle with the healing skin keeps it looking better and feeling less sore in the long run.

13. Stay Out of the Sun Until You Heal

This one is probably the most important. If I got sunburned and then went back out in the sun too soon, the burn always got worse. Now, I stay in the shade, wear a hat, or just stay inside until my skin feels back to normal.

Sunburned skin is super sensitive and burns even faster the second time.

Taking a few days to let your body heal can save you from even more pain—and long-term damage too.