“Ouch! You look like a lobster!” There's a chance that you've heard that at least once in your life after a long day at the beach.

If you love being outdoors on sunny days, you are more prone to getting sunburn which is not only painful, but can be dangerous. Multiple sunburns in childhood and adolescents may increase your risk at developing melanoma later in life. Even a single sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer because ultraviolet radiation can damage the genetic makeup of skin cells.

Your best bet is to avoid getting sunburn all together with proper skin protection. However, if you do get sunburn, here are the best ways to treat it.

  • 1

    COOL DOWN YOUR SUNBURN

    A cold compress will immediately help alleviate that burning sensation. However, avoid applying ice directly on the skin. You can also take a cold bath or shower, just not for too long. Keeping your skin wet for a long time can dry it out.

  • 2

    DRINK FLUIDS

    When your skin gets a sunburn, fluids rise to the surface. It’s a must that you drink plenty of water to replenish electrolytes during the healing process.

  • 3

    USE MOISTURIZER

    A fast way to heal your skin and make it feel better is to use moisturizer. Lotions that contain aloe vera are the best for treating sunburn. Stay away from petroleum and oil-based ointments. These ointments trap heat inside your skin, making the sunburn feel worse.

  • 4

    DON’T TOUCH THE BLISTERS

    Blisters can start appearing in the worst cases of sunburn. However, it’s best for you to leave those blisters alone. The more you touch them, the more irritated your skin will become. The last thing you want is for your sunburn to get worse.

  • 5

    TRY PAIN MEDICATIONS

    Medications such as ibuprofen can help ease the pain too. These types of pain medications can reduce inflammation.

  • 6

    TAKE A BAKING SODA BATH

    Baking soda has both alkaline and antiseptic properties, making it a good choice for soothing the itchiness of a burn. A cool bath with a cup of baking soda can ease inflammation and itching. You can also mix a quarter cup of soda into a cup of water and use a cotton ball to dab the inflamed skin. Inexpensive and almost always available, baking soda is a natural sunburn treatment.

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