Sunburn is skin damage from too much ultraviolet (UV) light, causing red, tender, hot skin that can later peel or, when severe, blister. Most cases are mild and heal on their own within about 7 days, so treatment focuses on easing pain and inflammation, cooling and moisturising the skin, and staying hydrated while it heals. There is no medicine that cures a sunburn or speeds the underlying skin repair — the goal is comfort and avoiding complications such as infection, dehydration, or heat illness. The UV damage to skin cells can be long-lasting and raises long-term skin-cancer risk, so prevention (sunscreen, shade, covering up) matters more than any treatment.
Available without a prescription — follow each label.
Advil, Motrin NSAID (oral pain reliever / anti-inflammatory) | An oral option for sunburn pain and inflammation, recommended by NHS, MedlinePlus and the CDC. Best started early when the burn is sore. Per the Drug Facts label, take with food/water, do not exceed the labeled dose, and avoid if you have stomach ulcers, kidney problems, or are told by a clinician to avoid NSAIDs. Not for the last trimester of pregnancy without medical advice. |
Aleve NSAID (oral pain reliever / anti-inflammatory) | A longer-acting NSAID alternative listed by the CDC for sunburn pain; one dose lasts longer than ibuprofen. Same Drug Facts cautions as other NSAIDs (stomach, kidney, heart warnings). Choose either an NSAID or acetaminophen — do not double up classes without advice. |
Tylenol Analgesic / antipyretic (oral pain and fever reducer) | Eases sunburn pain and is a good choice for people who cannot take NSAIDs. Per the Drug Facts label, stay within the maximum daily dose, avoid combining with other acetaminophen-containing products, and limit alcohol, as overdose can cause liver damage. In the UK this is sold as paracetamol. |
Hydrocortisone 1% cream Cortizone-10 Topical corticosteroid (external analgesic) |
A doctor may prescribe these — not for self-treatment.
Prescription-strength topical or oral corticosteroids Corticosteroid | For severe or extensive sunburn a clinician may consider stronger anti-inflammatory treatment, but this is a medical decision — the CDC notes that systemic (whole-body) steroids do NOT improve symptoms or speed recovery, so these are not a routine sunburn treatment and should never be self-started. |
Prescription pain management Analgesics | If over-the-counter pain relief is not enough for a severe burn, a doctor can assess and prescribe stronger pain control. Do not exceed OTC doses on your own; seek in-person care instead. |
Antibiotics (for secondary skin infection) Antibiotic | Sunburn itself is not infected and does not need antibiotics. If blisters break and the skin becomes infected (spreading redness, pus, increasing pain, fever), a clinician must diagnose this and decide whether an antibiotic is needed — antibiotics are never something to self-prescribe. |
IV fluids and inpatient care Supportive hospital treatment | The CDC notes that extensive blistering sunburn can require hospital care for fluid replacement (oral or IV) and pain control. This is clinician-directed emergency treatment, not a home remedy. |
Match the response to severity. For a typical mild-to-moderate sunburn (red, hot, sore but no widespread blistering): get out of the sun, cool the skin with a cool shower, bath, or damp towel, then apply aftersun or a fragrance-free moisturiser or aloe gel. For pain, choose ONE oral pain reliever — an NSAID (ibuprofen or naproxen) if you can take it, or acetaminophen/paracetamol if you can't — and follow the label dose. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol to prevent dehydration, wear loose cotton clothing, and keep the burned skin covered from further sun until it fully heals. For itchy, inflamed patches, a thin layer of 1% hydrocortisone cream on intact skin can help. Evidence that any product shortens healing is limited; these measures mostly relieve symptoms while the skin recovers over about a week. Avoid common mistakes: do not put ice or ice packs directly on the burn, do not use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on fresh sunburn, do not use products containing benzocaine or lidocaine, and never give aspirin to children. If blisters form, do not pop or peel them — leave the blister roof intact and lightly cover larger ones with a clean, dry dressing to protect against infection.
Seek urgent or emergency care if sunburn is accompanied by signs of heat illness or a serious reaction: a very high temperature or feeling hot, cold, or shivery; feeling very tired, dizzy, faint, or sick (nausea/vomiting); headache or muscle cramps; a rapid pulse or fast breathing; extreme thirst, no urination, sunken eyes, or pale, clammy skin (signs of dehydration/heat exhaustion). Get medical advice promptly if the burn is blistered or badly swollen, covers a large area of the body, or is extremely painful — extensive blistering can require hospital treatment for fluids and pain control. Always contact a clinician (in the US call your doctor or 911 for emergencies; in the UK call 111) if a baby or young child has sunburn, if there is eye pain or sensitivity to light, or if blisters later show signs of infection such as spreading redness, pus, or worsening pain and fever. Routine (non-urgent) follow-up is reasonable if a mild sunburn is not improving within about a week.
General reference, not medical advice, and not a substitute for your doctor or pharmacist. The right choice depends on your symptoms, health conditions, age, and other medicines — always read each label and confirm before taking anything.
| A low-strength steroid cream that may reduce itching and inflammation of sunburn; MedlinePlus notes cortisone creams may help reduce inflammation and the CDC lists topical hydrocortisone 1% among comfort measures. Apply to intact (unbroken) skin only, not on open blisters or broken skin, and follow the label on frequency and duration. |
Aloe vera gel / unperfumed moisturiser Generic aloe vera gel; fragrance-free aftersun or emollient (e.g. Eucerin) Topical emollient / skin moisturiser (non-medicated) | Cooling moisturisers and aftersun help soothe tight, dry, sunburnt skin; NHS advises aftersun or an unperfumed moisturiser, and the CDC lists bland emollients such as petrolatum and zinc oxide. Choose fragrance-free products. Note: NHS and MedlinePlus advise NOT to use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or other oil-based products on fresh sunburn, as they can trap heat and block pores. |