It’s happened to us all before. We lose track of time, have a little too much summertime fun in Austin, spend too much time at ACL or Red Rocks, and walked away with a bit of a sunburn. It’s not the end of the world as far as health concerns go, but it’ll keep you out of the sun for a little while, and we’d hate you to miss any great outdoor events. Take these simple steps to ease your sunburn blues.

As soon as you come to realize that you have been burned, sunburn relief is the order of the day.

1. Take a cool shower to help your skin cool off. Part of a sunburn is the heat built up as a result of too much of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Don’t wash off too much of your skin’s natural oils, however. That natural oil will help the affected area by not allowing it to dry out.

2. Put plenty of aloe on the sunburn. This, along with the aforementioned oils on your skin, will help not only to soothe the pain, but also to keep the skin hydrated. Your skin isn’t the only hydration concern, however. Make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water to keep your whole body hydrated while you deal with the burn.

3. Apply cold compresses to the most painful areas if need be.  You can also take ibuprofen to help manage the pain. Of course the optimal thing you can do for a sunburn is to keep your skin protected and avoid the burn altogether.

Check out this Angie's List infographic on sunburn protection while having Fun in the Sun.

Remember, there could be consequences beyond the temporary discomfort of a sunburn.  If you have concerns about the damage to your skin, Angie’s List can help you choose a highly-rated dermatologists in Austin.