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The (Surprising) First Thing You Should Do When You Get a Sunburn

Other than seek shade immediately

Ever fall asleep on the beach only to wake up and find your shoulder the color of a certain shellfish you were hoping to eat for dinner? You probably want to dip into an ice-cold bath posthaste, but actually the first (and most helpful) thing to do after getting sunburned is to pour yourself a glass of milk. We’ll explain.

What you need: A clean washcloth, a small bowl, a few ice cubes and a bottle of skim milk.

What you do: Pour the ice and milk into the bowl and soak the washcloth in it. Wring out the washcloth and apply it to wherever your skin is burned.

Why it works: Proteins in the milk coat the skin (as opposed to evaporating off like plain ol’ H2O) and help to repair a damaged barrier. And skim milk is best because there is a higher amount of protein in it since the fat has been removed, says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Hospital. Ahh, sweet relief.


Jenny Jin Headshot Vertical 2023

Beauty Director

Jenny Jin is PureWow’s Beauty Director and is currently based in Los Angeles. Since beginning her journalism career at Real Simple magazine, she has become a human encyclopedia of...