Helpful tips from Dr. Amy Wechsler to help you tone down the red and heal quickly!
At First Touch Your first step is to get out of the sun pronto! "Take a cool shower or bath to soothe your skin, take an ibuprofen or aspirin and dab the sunburned areas with a cloth soaked in whole milk. Splash your face with cool water to rinse away the milk," says Dr. Wechsler. Do not exfoliate, scrub or use any harsh cleansers on your skin. Your skin might look shiny because the first layer of your skin is gone. Hydrate the affected areas with a thin layer of pure aloe gel.
Flaking and Peeling Fight the temptation to scrub your face, even if your skin begins to flake and peel. Dr. Wechsler recommends not exfoliating with any creams, gels, or even a washcloth. "Absolutely no scrubbing, hot shower or baths and avoid sun exposure. Use a light moisturizer on the areas and let it heal."
Lighten Up Stay away from heavy anti-aging creams, all exfoliators and products with mineral oil, which can block the skin from breathing and trap heat from the sunburn. Opt for light moisturizers for both daytime and nighttime, and be sure to use at least SPF 30 when you're out. "You can also use a 1% hydrocortisone cream on the sunburned areas. If you need a stronger dosage, you can request it from your dermatologist," suggests Dr. Wechsler.
Counteract the red with green Neutralize the redness on your face with a green tinted moisturizer or concealer. If you can, try to skip using cover-up on your skin. Fewer products on your face will help heal your skin faster. If you need concealer, use a light green-tinted concealer on your troubled spots. Avoid heavy lipsticks or glosses and opt for hydrating lip balms without mineral oil.
