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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffSunburn treatment doesn't heal your skin or prevent damage to your skin, but it can reduce pain, swelling and discomfort. You may find home remedies helpful. These include taking a nonprescription anti-inflammatory medication, applying a cool compress and applying an aloe vera lotion. Sunburn typically resolves on its own within several days, depending on the severity of the burn.
If at-home care doesn't help or your sunburn is very severe, your doctor can prescribe medication. These include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs relieve pain, swelling and inflammation and are especially beneficial when given as soon as symptoms appear. Prescription NSAIDs provide higher potencies than do over-the-counter drugs. All NSAIDs can irritate your stomach and intestine.
- Corticosteroid medication. Corticosteroid medication, such as prednisone, can speed the healing of the skin and reduce pain and swelling. These medications aren't prescribed very often because the medication isn't helpful beyond 24 to 48 hours after the sunburn.
- Facts about sunscreen. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_sunscreen.htm. Accessed March 2, 2009.
- Sun and your skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_sun.html. Accessed March 2, 2009.
- Habif TP. Light-related diseases and disorders of pigmentation. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/123287021-7/0/1195/129.html?tocnode=51442195&fromURL=129.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01319-8..50021-2_2348. Accessed March 2, 2009.
- Wolf K, et al. Photosensitivity, photo-induced disorders and disorders by ionizing radiation. In: Wolf K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology, 5th ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed March 3, 2009.
- Mahoney KR (expert opinion). Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Md. Feb. 4, 2009.
- Internal analgesic, antipyretic and antirheumatic drug products for over-the-counter human use: Tentative final monograph. Federal Register.1998;53:46204.
- Parenting corner Q&A: Sun safety. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_SunSafety.htm. Accessed March 3, 2009.
- Rouhani P, et al. Melanoma in Hispanic and black Americans. Cancer Control. 2008;15:248.
- Skin cancer: Questions and answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/chooseyourcover/qanda.htm. Accessed March 3, 2009.
- Brice S, et al. Sunburn. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 20, 2009.
