It happens. Even to people who know better. You lost track of time, you missed a patch, you forgot to reapply.

Here’s what to do next.

Get Out of the Sun

First things first: if the skin is burning, get out of the sun immediately and stay out. Put on light, loose clothing to cover any burned areas, and find some shade or get indoors. Continued sun exposure on burned skin significantly worsens the damage.

Cool Down

Cool – not cold – water is your first tool. A cool shower or bath for 10-20 minutes helps bring down the heat in the skin. Don’t use ice directly on sunburned skin – it can cause additional damage to already-sensitised tissue.

After cooling down, pat (don’t rub) the skin dry.

Hydrate Inside and Out

Sunburn draws moisture out of the skin and out of the body. Drink plenty of water – more than usual – and apply a good after sun lotion or aloe vera gel to the burned areas while the skin is still slightly damp from cooling down.

Malibu’s aloe vera after sun range is formulated to soothe and hydrate burned skin – the cooling effect on application is immediate, and the hydration helps the skin start to repair.

What to Avoid

Hot baths or showers – they increase inflammation and make the burning sensation worse.

Petroleum-based products – they trap heat in the skin and slow recovery.

Tight clothing – friction on burned skin is painful and causes further irritation.

More sun – obvious, but worth saying. Burned skin is damaged skin and needs time to recover before it’s exposed again.

Over the Counter Help

If the burn is painful, ibuprofen or paracetamol can help manage discomfort and reduce inflammation. Hydrocortisone cream can reduce redness in mild burns.

If you have severe burns covering a large area, blistering, fever, dizziness or nausea, seek medical advice. Severe sunburn can be a form of heat illness and needs proper treatment.

Recovery Time

Mild sunburn typically takes three to five days to fully heal. During that time, keep the skin moisturised, stay out of the sun, and if peeling occurs let it happen naturally – don’t pick or peel the skin manually.

Back to Summer

The best recovery is a good after sun routine and patience. Malibu’s after sun range does the heavy lifting – browse the full collection and have it ready for next time.