My four-step plan heals sunburn in 24 hours – two drugstore buys are critical, they kick the healing into overdrive
IF you’re looking for a quick fix to a bad sunburn, a four-step plan might be able to help.
One person shared their go-to hacks for reducing their skin’s redness in 24 hours.
Commenting on a Reddit post, user PsychologicalAct5781 broke down each step of their routine.
The poster explained that removing sweat is a top priority post-sunburn.
“First, I take a cool shower to get rid of any sweat, because sweat just seems to cause my sunburn to get even more red, irritated, and bumpy,” they said.
Skincare expert Dr. Jacqueline Schaffer spoke to 24 Hour Fitness about the effect of sweat on sunburns.
She explained that sweat contains high levels of salt, which will further irritate your burned skin.
For their next step, the Redditor revealed the product they use to instantly soothe their skin.
“Second, I slather on Johnson & Johnson’s Aloe and Vitamin E Gel on the burn, which immediately feels so good,” they wrote.
Johnson’s Aloe & Vitamin E Baby Oil Gel is available for $7.29 from CVS.
To tackle the pain, the poster recommended any pain reliever medication.
“Then I take a couple of pain relievers, usually the store brand Motrin, to reduce the tenderness and inflammation on my skin,” they said.
A bottle of Motrin Ibuprofen Tablets is available for $14.23 from Amazon.
The Redditor revealed the final step to their sunburn relief plan, which involved another type of tablet.
“Finally, and for me this is critical, I take Claritin and 1000mg of vitamin C to really stop the inflammation and kick the healing into overdrive,” they explained.
A packet of Claritin Loratadine Antihestimes is available for $10.97 from Walmart.
You can also pick up a tub of Nature Made Vitamin C Tablets for $9.98 from the store.
Should you apply vitamin C to your skin?
Topical Vitamin C has several benefits for skin including hydrating, reducing redness, and hyperpigmentation.
According to Healthline, it may also help to promote collagen production and reduce the appearance of sun damage.
Research shows that it is safe for most skin types but may cause irritation in concentrations above 20%.
Experts recommend doing a patch test on a small skin area and waiting 24 hours to see if there are side effects before applying it to your face.
Discontinue topical use of vitamin C if you experience rashes, redness, or hives.
The experts at the Mayo Clinic also suggested taking an oral antihistamine to relieve itching.
“An oral antihistamine such as diphenhydramine might help relieve itching as the skin begins to peel and heal underneath,” they said.
The Skin Care Clinic shared some of the benefits of vitamin C on the skin.
While the ingredient can be used to prevent burns, it is also recommended for treating them.
The skincare experts reported that the vitamin “repairs the redness from too-long exposure to the sun.”
The poster explained that they repeat this process every three to six hours, as needed.
“In about 24 hours, provided I stayed out of the sun and in the air conditioning, my skin is almost completely healed again,” the Reddit user said.