How to Turn Sunburned Skin into Brown Skin

Apply ointments containing steroid ingredients. Steroids are medicines that reduce pain and swelling on contact with the skin, making them the perfect solution for sunburned skin. There are many steroid ointments that are sold without a prescription. Among them, Hydrocortisone cream is a popular choice. Gently massage a pea-sized amount onto sunburned skin, reapplying every few hours if necessary.

• Note that topical steroids are different from the rather notorious drugs that athletes abuse. They are essentially anabpic steroids. Over-the-counter steroid topicals are actually safe to use (except in a few cases where they’re not recommended for young children). ^[3]

Soak with tea in the bath. Some people believe that the tannic acid in black tea can soothe burned skin and prevent flaking. ^[4] To perform this method, first boil a pot of water. Steep 5 or 6 tea bags in hot water for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then, let the tea cool to room temperature (put it in the fridge to cool to minimize waiting time). Once the tea has cooled down, use a cloth or spray bottle to dab the tea on the sunburned area and let it sit for half an hour. Another way is to simply apply a wet tea bag to your skin.

• Black tea like the Earl Gray brand is often recommended for this. ^[5]

Soak with oatmeal in the bath. Although this choice may sound odd, oatmeal is a useful solution to help treat sunburns and promote skin healing. Oatmeal possesses healing properties such as normalizing the pH of the skin and soothing itchy and irritated areas. ^[6]

• Try mixing two to three cups of plain (unsweetened) rolled oats into cool bath water. Soak in the tub for about 20 minutes before rinsing or performing other treatments.
• You can add 3/4 cup baking soda to your bath for an extra boost of moisture. ^[7]

Spray vinegar on the skin. As strange as it may sound, vinegar helps to restore and balance the pH of the skin, helping to soothe and heal skin after a sunburn. ^[8] First, you should take a cold shower first. Next, fill a spray bottle with vinegar and gently spray it on the burned skin. Let the mixture rest for about an hour. Then, rinse or shower with cold water again.

• The smell of vinegar can be bothersome for about an hour of waiting, but your sunburn will be less likely to flake.
• Most types of vinegar work, but according to some sources, apple cider vinegar is the most effective. ^[9] Balsamic vinegar should not be used because the sugars and colorants in vinegar can irritate the skin.

Apply moisturizer. To restore sunburned skin, you should apply a gentle, non-irritating moisturizer to the affected area. Most everyday skin care products do this. You can also try a few drops of a neutral oil like baby oil, olive oil or canola oil.

• Try a fragrance-free product. Chemical ingredients in fragrances sometimes irritate inflamed skin.

Drink water. Sunburned skin will be dry and swollen, so you should make sure you are well hydrated to protect your skin. Maintain moisturizing both inside and out to avoid excessive peeling and flaking. The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking 9-13 cups of water a day. ^[10]

• Water can also help relieve a sunburn headache. ^[11]

Apply whole milk to the skin. The fat in dairy products can help moisturize sunburned skin by reducing burning pain and preventing flaking. Whole milk is usually the cheapest and most convenient to use. Try soaking a cloth in whole milk and placing it on the burn for 20 minutes like a cold compress. Alternatively, you can put some whole milk in the bath and soak in the cool water.

• Do not use dairy products with little or no fat content. Without fat, milk loses many of its inherent moisturizing properties.
• Full-fat Greek yogurt has a similar effect when used as a skin cream. ^[12] Do not use yogurt with sugar, because it can stick and irritate the skin.

Apply potato powder to the skin. The starch in potatoes contains a lot of water, so applying potatoes to the skin is a great way to moisturize dry skin caused by sunburn. Mash the potatoes into a paste. Apply this mixture to the skin and let it sit for 20 minutes, ^[13] then rinse the area with cold water.

• You can also use a food processor to make a paste. When you do, you should first cut the potatoes into small pieces. Note, if you try to grind all the potatoes at once, it will overload the blender.