Ask a Top Doctor: What’s the Best Way to Treat a Sunburn?
Advice from Stuart Lessin, director of dermatology at Fox Chase Cancer Center
“The first 24 to 48 hours after a burn are the most painful. Take Tylenol or ibuprofen every four to six hours, and apply cool compresses followed by aloe gel two to four times a day for two days. Aloe lessens pain and inflammation. Then, after the initial pain subsides, continue to apply aloe two to four times a day for two weeks. The more hydrated you keep the area of the burn, the faster new skin cells will grow to replace the cells you just fried.”
