 One expert says sunburns do take time to heal, but you can speed up the recovery process with a gentle hydrating and repairing approach. That approach is best taken with things like cool baths, aloe-containing moisturizers and ibuprofen to reduce pain, redness and discomfort. What about using ice on that burn? Ice is a common remedy to reach for, but experts say applying it directly to your injured skin can actually cause more harm than good.