How to Take Care of Your Sunburn Like a Total Pro

Once you realize you've overdone it, pop an Ibuprofen pill. "This will act as an anti-inflammatory, and will help reduce any swelling and decreased pain and redness," Jaliman says. She also suggests using a cold compress to alleviate any immediate pain and puffiness—even better, make one with milk, since the fat makes it extra soothing. (Simply add some ice to full-fat milk, soak a washcloth in the iced milk, and apply it to your burn.)

Important fact: Sunburns are dehydrating. Keep fluid levels high—not just with water, but also with H2O-packed foods like fruits and veggies.

"The worst thing you can do for a sunburn is use any fragranced products on the area, or any products containing acids," says Jaliman, who notes that glycolic and lactic acids, which are frequently found in acne products, can irritate skin. And while benzocaine and lidocaine actually used to be primary ingredients in sunburn relieving products, most docs (including Jaliman) will now tell you to avoid these as well, since they can often cause further irritation and allergic reactions. Finally, while Vaseline might seem like an obvious skin-nourishing solution, it's not: "Any product that contains petrolatum will trap the heat in your skin and will not allow it to breathe," she warns.

Blisters can indicate a second-degree burn. "See a dermatologist immediately, or go to the emergency room," says Jaliman. "This can get infected and cause scarring."

This might the one time when a hot shower is not comforting—in fact, it could be dangerous. "Steaming hot water could make the sunburn worse," says Jaliman. Stick to a lukewarm temp instead, and gently pat yourself dry with a soft towel when you're done.

Again, nix any fragranced products and stick to a bland, scent-free moisturizer. Jaliman advises choosing something with soy or aloe for an extra healing boost—or better yet, go for pure aloe gel on its own.

If your burn is particularly nasty, you might experience a less-than-enjoyable itchy phase a couple of days after. Minimize this by choosing light, breathable fabrics like cotton, and avoiding wool, mohair, or synthetic blends as much as possible. Jaliman also recommends children's Benadryl (12.5mg), which offers a low dosage of medicine and won't make you drowsy. Cortisone cream or a skin-calming oatmeal bath are also great options.

Sorry. But you can minimize the ick factor (and keep the new skin underneath as nourished as possible) by staying moisturized at all times. Slather on fragrance-free lotion, coconut oil, or shea butter. We also love Bottega Organica's After Sun Oil, which contains soothing extracts of lavender and peppermint, as well as natural antioxidants and vitamins to help speed up regeneration. Also: It's tempting, but don't peel off the skin yourself! Let it fall off on its own.

"The face requires extra attention because you don't want to get scars or uneven pigmentation on your face," Jaliman says. "Make certain to use a mild cleanser that is unfragranced and to avoid any retinols or other acids." She also recommends skipping exfoliation for a few days, so shelve your Clarisonic or any scrubs until your skin is back to its regular tone. Finally, really amp up your SPF usage with a physical sunscreen—not just to avoid a burn on your burn (which, yipes!), but also to prevent any discoloration on your face, especially if there's peeling. We love Supergoop! SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen, which provides great protection and contains skin-nourishing olive extracts.

Hydrating fruits and veggies are especially important, but pay special attention to citrus fruits like grapefruit, lemons, and oranges, which are chock full of vitamin C. ("Vitamin C is necessary for collagen production," says Jaliman.) Protein is also key to skin regeneration, so load up on fish and lean meats like chicken.