What is the best aftersun cream?

What should you actually buy?

Choose a product for soothing mild sunburn rather than a particular brand name. A dedicated aftersun cream or spray is an option, but so is an ordinary unperfumed moisturiser. An ordinary moisturiser can fill the aftersun role, even if its packaging has never heard of a beach. Aloe gel is another option if you are not specifically looking for a cream.13

If you already have a suitable unperfumed moisturiser, you can use that rather than buying a separate aftersun. Aftersun and ordinary moisturiser are both options for symptom relief, so the bathroom shelf does not need a separate summer department. Blistered, swollen or extremely painful skin needs medical attention rather than a different shopping choice.134

How do you apply aftersun?

1. 1Get out of the sun as soon as you notice the burn, preferably indoors. Start care promptly rather than waiting until bedtime.
2. 2Cool the skin with a cool bath, shower or damp towel. Use cool water, not ice or an ice pack, and avoid harsh soap on burned skin.
3. 3Gently pat the skin dry after bathing, leaving it slightly damp. Apply your moisturiser at this stage.
4. 4Apply a moisturiser containing aloe vera or soy again whenever discomfort returns. Repeat cool baths, showers or compresses as needed for relief.
5. 5Keep the burned area covered from direct sunlight until it has fully healed. Wear loose clothing rather than tight clothing that presses against the burn.

Aftersun care is not limited to an evening routine. The practical schedule is after a cool bath or shower and whenever the skin feels uncomfortable, rather than a fixed morning and night timetable. Cooling and moisturising work alongside protection from further sun exposure; applying cream is not a reason to go back outside uncovered.26

What can aftersun do, and how long does recovery take?

Moisturising cream helps relieve discomfort on skin that is not blistering. Sunburn treatment is mainly about easing symptoms while the skin heals, not reversing the ultraviolet damage already done. The first signs can take several hours to appear, and the full effect can take 24 hours or longer. Pain can be worst between 6 and 48 hours after exposure, so an initially mild burn can become more uncomfortable later.56

Sunburn redness typically appears within 2 to 6 hours, peaks at 12 to 24 hours and settles over 3 to 7 days. Peeling can begin around 4 to 7 days after exposure. Blisters usually take 7 to 10 days to heal, but blistering is a reason to get medical advice, not to wait out that timetable at home. Do not scratch, pull off peeling skin or burst blisters.346

Which products should you avoid?

Avoid products containing the numbing medicines benzocaine or lidocaine. They can cause allergic reactions and make the burn worse. Also avoid butter, petroleum jelly and other oily products as your general sunburn moisturiser: they can hold heat in the skin. Do not wash the area with harsh soap or put ice directly on it.135

Blister care is different from moisturising intact skin. Keep blisters clean and leave them unbroken. Petroleum jelly is sometimes used specifically to protect blisters during healing, but that is a separate wound care use, not a reason to spread it over a fresh sunburn. Get medical advice for blistering so the care matches the injury.237

A steroid cream is not a clear first choice for routine aftersun care. Its benefit after sunburn is uncertain, with mixed findings for reducing the reaction. For straightforward symptom relief, cool compresses, baths, aloe vera and calamine lotion are options.6

What if cream is not enough for the pain?

Paracetamol, also called acetaminophen, or ibuprofen can help with pain when taken as directed. Ask a pharmacist about suitability if you have other medical problems or take medicines. If you already take a medicine combining paracetamol and codeine, do not add extra paracetamol. If pain remains uncontrolled, seek medical advice instead of exceeding the recommended dose. Do not give aspirin to children.367

Drink extra fluids over the next two to three days. Sunburn draws fluid towards the skin's surface, and extra water helps prevent dehydration. Avoid alcohol while recovering. A cool, damp washcloth, calamine lotion or a colloidal oatmeal bath can also help relieve discomfort without relying only on cream.123

Who needs extra care?

Anyone can get sunburn, including people with darker skin. Redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin, so pay attention to heat, soreness and tenderness too. Babies and young children with sunburn need urgent medical advice. Some medicines, including doxycycline and tetracycline, make skin easier to burn; if you take them, sun protection deserves particular attention.145

When do you need medical help?

Get prompt medical attention for:

• Blistering, swelling or extreme pain.
• Fever, severe chills, nausea, vomiting, headache or dizziness.
• Facial swelling, painful eyes or sensitivity to light.
• Extreme thirst, a dry mouth or little or no urine.
• Increasing redness, warmth, pain, swelling or pus, which can indicate infection.
• Rapid breathing, a rapid pulse, faintness or pale, clammy skin.

Heat stroke is an emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately if someone has a high body temperature and is confused or unconscious. Move them to a cool place and begin cooling them while waiting for help.3

Can you go back into the sun after applying aftersun?

Keep burned skin covered until it has healed. For exposed skin, use a broad spectrum sunscreen, meaning protection against both UVA and UVB, with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours, or as often as the label directs, and after swimming or sweating. Use shade, clothing and a wide brimmed hat as well. After severe sunburn, the increased risk of burning again can last several months.1257