Don't Panic: 10 Solutions for the Most Common Skin Emergencies

Sometimes it happens when you don’t even know it: too much fun in the sun one day, you wake up the next morning and…yikes. Treatment depends on how bad it is. “There are different severities of sunburns,” Levin says. “If it’s just minimally pink and uncomfortable, you want to look for soothing ingredients like aloe vera, then moisturize and obviously use sunscreen. If it’s painful to the touch, you can take an ibuprofen to address the inflammation and apply an over-the-counter cortisone to further calm the skin. On top of that, you can use aloe vera and moisturizer and sunscreen. Third degree means you have blisters, which means you need to keep the area clean and protect the skin with Vaseline or Aquaphor to make sure it heals properly. Oh, and please see a dermatologist if it’s that bad.” For first- and second-degree sunburns, try Burt’s Bees Aloe & Coconut Oil After Sun Soother, $4.59.