151 introof course you understand the importance of sunscreen but sometimes no matter how diligent you were with reapplying you still end up getting too much sun while the damage of a sunburn cant be undone sadly there are things you can do to speed up the healing process and soothe your red inflamed skin we asked joshua zeichner md director of cosmetic and clinical research in the department of dermatology at mount sinai hospital in new york city about the best way to feel better fast quicklist 1category 5 essential tricks for treating a sunburntitle work from the inside outurltext so youre on the way home from the beach and one look in the rearview mirror tells you that youre in trouble as soon as you realize your skin is a little too red take an overthecounter antiinflammatory pill like ibuprofen or aspirin dr zeichner recommends this can help stop inflammation and redness from getting any worse and ease pain 5 skincare tricks to look better in a bikini quicklist 2category 5 essential tricks for treating a sunburntitle cool downurltextonce you get to a shower rinse off with cool water to soothe skin and remove any chlorine salt water or sand that may be lingering and causing more irritation have a bath even better add a cup of whole oats to the cool bath water for extra calming power quicklist 3category 5 essential tricks for treating a sunburntitle moisturizeurltext the sun zaps moisture from the skin so be sure to replenish it regularly over the next few days with a rich moisturizer zeichner recommends looking for ones that contain aloe glycerin or hyaluronic acid if its a small area like your nose neck or ears try a 1 hydrocortisone ointment to reduce inflammation hot tip keep your moisturizers in the fridge for an extra refreshing treat how to perform a selfexam for skin cancer quicklist 4category 5 essential tricks for treating a sunburntitle use a diy compressurltexttry using a cool compress soaked in skim milk egg whites or green tea the proteins in milk and egg whites coat and calm the burn while green tea reduces inflammation quicklist 5category 5 essential tricks for treating a sunburntitle drink upurltext not only does the sun take away the moisture from your skin it also dehydrates the rest of your body as well which is why you may also feel extra tired after a long day in the sun counteract the suns damage by drinking lots of water and eating water filled fruit like watermelon honeydew melon cantaloupe or grapes 15 biggest sunscreen mistakes this article originally appeared on healthcom