How to Deal with a Scalp Sunburn

Apply a cold compress to soothe your scalp.

Press a cold compress on your skin for temporary pain relief. Your scalp may feel hot even though you're not outside anymore. To bring some relief, make a homemade cold compress—fill a sealable bag 3/4 full with ice water and squeeze out the excess air before you close it. Wrap it in a damp towel and press it against your scalp until it doesn't feel cool anymore. You can use a compress as many times as you like throughout the day. Don't have ice? For an alternative, wet a towel with cold water and fold it so it fits into a sealable bag. Freeze the bag for 15 minutes. Then, take it out and press the chilled bag with the towel against your scalp.

Use cool water and gentle cleansers when you wash your hair.

Skip the hot water the next time you jump in the shower. Instead, use cool water which can soothe your skin and keep your shower short so you don't dry out your skin. If your scalp really hurts, it's fine to skip the shampoo and just let cold water run across your skin or you could wash your hair as long as you use a moisturizing, sulfate-free shampoo. Avoid using a dandruff shampoo since these have harsh chemicals. Sulfates are basically detergents that make shampoo suds up. They also strip your hair of its natural oils so they can be too harsh for sensitive, sunburned skin.

Moisturize your scalp while it's damp.

Massage a gentle conditioner onto your scalp to lock in hydration. Use a conditioner that doesn't contain dimethicone which is a silicone. Dimethicone can block the pores on your scalp and trap heat. Instead, use a dimethicone-free conditioner that will keep your scalp hydrated as it heals and rinse it out with cool water. If you want to moisturize your scalp in between washing, wet your scalp with cool water so it's a little damp. Then, rub some non-petroleum or non-oil-based lotion onto your scalp. Oil can block your pores which traps heat and sweat. There's no need to rinse out the lotion although your hair may look a little greasy near your scalp.

Apply aloe vera gel or 1% hydrocortisone cream.

Either of these gives soothing relief from itchiness and swelling. It's totally fine to use OTC hydrocortisone cream or aloe vera gel throughout the day for a few days or until your scalp feels better on its own. Don't use pain relievers or anesthetics that contain benzocaine on your sunburn since these can cause irritation or an allergic reaction.

Drink water throughout the day to moisturize your skin.

Your body needs extra water since the sunburn pulls fluid to the skin's surface. This means it's easier for you to get dehydrated. Keep water nearby and sip it throughout the day to stay hydrated and help your skin heal. Want an easy way to tell if you're hydrated? Pay attention to the color of your urine—it should be clear or very pale yellow. If it's bright yellow or amber, you need to be drinking more water.

Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever.

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen reduces inflammation and discomfort. Follow the dosing recommendation on the package and take the medicine as soon as you realize you have a sunburn since it can really help reduce inflammation. You can keep taking the pain reliever until the burn feels better as long as you don't exceed the recommended dosage. If you're treating a sunburn on a child under 16 years old, don't give them aspirin since they could develop Reye's Syndrome.

Leave blisters alone so they heal faster.

Keep your scalp dry and skip moisturizers on the blisters. You don't want to pop or drain them or they could become infected. Instead, just treat the sunburn around the blisters and don't put any products on the blisters themselves. They should heal on their own within a few days. Blisters are a sign of a second-degree sunburn so you may want to be in the habit of covering your head when you're out in the sun.

Let your hair dry naturally without heat-styling tools.

Heat tools like blowdryers or straighteners will probably feel uncomfortable. They also heat up your scalp which can really dry out your skin. Avoid using heat-styling tools for about a week or until your sunburn is totally healed. In the meantime, let your hair air dry. Skip the styling products, too, since most of them have chemicals that will irritate your sensitive scalp. Give your skin time to heal before you start using them again.

Stay out of the sun until your scalp heals.

Give your skin a chance to completely heal so you don't burn it further! If you do have to go outside, apply sunscreen to your scalp and pop on a hat. Choose a loose hat so it doesn't trap heat or put pressure on your sensitive skin. Don't forget to keep drinking water while you're out in the sun. Your body needs extra hydration when temperatures are high. Try to stay indoors during the peak sunny hours of 10 am and 4 pm.