3 sunburn hacks that actually work, including a ‘surprising folk remedy'
Statistics show that one-third of adults will experience at least one sunburn this year, with white adults under 30 being the most susceptible.
While liberal and vigilant SPF application is the primary way to avoid skin damage — and umbrellas are the latest trend in sun blocking — how do we heal when we've already gone too far?
Aloe's not your only option.
3 One-third of adults will experience at least one sunburn this year
Pattarisara – stock.adobe.com
Black tea
Many grandmothers swear by tea as a treatment for sunburns, either using wet tea bags to soothe the skin or dipping towels in black tea and applying them to the affected area — and it turns out this is one solution steeped in science.
'This is one of the more surprising folk remedies that dermatologists don't mind,' Dr. Tiffany Libby, board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Brown Dermatology in Rhode Island, told The Post.
'Black tea contains tannins and antioxidants that can have anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. Cool — not hot — steeped tea bags or compresses can help relieve pain and redness temporarily.'
She noted that it's crucial that the tea being used is thoroughly cooled and the skin is blister-free before applying.
Aspirin or ibuprofen
Disturbing fact: Skin can continue to 'burn' hours after exposure, as our inflammatory response to UV radiation can cause redness and pain to worsen in the aftermath of a sunbath.
However, taking the right kind of painkiller can lessen these effects.
'Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen can help by reducing this inflammation. They don't stop the burn, but taken early, they may help blunt the severity of symptoms like redness, swelling, and discomfort,' Libby said.
3 Libby urges the burned and dairy-curious to avoid yogurt altogether and opt for cold milk compresses instead.
Alphonse Mc Clouds – stock.adobe.com
Milk
While both cold milk and Greek yogurt are commonly used to soothe a sunburn, Libby says one dairy cure is the clear winner.
'The proteins, fat, and pH of milk can create a soothing barrier, and cold milk compresses can help reduce heat and irritation. Greek yogurt has probiotics and lactic acid, but it's more likely to cause a reaction due to its acidity and additives.'
Libby urges the burned and dairy-curious to avoid yogurt altogether and opt for cold milk compresses instead.
Questionable remedies
The internet is rife with hacks for soothing sunburns, including the seemingly counterintuitive use of vinegar.
Libby noted that despite vinegar being a source of acetic acid — which has mild anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties — it is not an appropriate fix for fried skin.
'It's acidic and can actually irritate or burn compromised skin, especially with more severe sunburns. You're more likely to end up with additional discomfort or even chemical irritation. Stick with proven, gentler remedies,' she said.
Another viral remedy for a bad sunburn is a combination of hemorrhoid cream and vitamin E, a mix that Libby would also nix.
'Hemorrhoid creams often contain hydrocortisone and phenylephrine, which can temporarily reduce inflammation and redness. In theory, a tiny amount could calm a sunburned area, but these creams are not formulated for facial skin or sunburned skin, so they may cause irritation or breakouts,' she explained.
While vitamin E is often lauded for its healing properties, applying it directly to damaged or sunburned skin can cause allergic reactions for some folks.
3 Sunburn draws fluid to the skin's surface and away from the rest of the body, so drinking extra water is key to recovery.
Pattarisara – stock.adobe.com
Tried and true methods
Beyond aloe vera, Libby shared several derm-approved tips for sunburn treatment.
Hydrocortisone 1% cream can help reduce inflammation if used for a short period on small areas.
can help reduce inflammation if used for a short period on small areas. Colloidal oatmeal baths (like Aveeno) are great for soothing and reducing itching.
(like Aveeno) are great for soothing and reducing itching. Refrigerated moisturizers : Store a fragrance-free moisturizer in the fridge and apply liberally for instant cooling.
: Store a fragrance-free moisturizer in the fridge and apply liberally for instant cooling. Stay well-hydrated : Sunburn draws fluid to the skin's surface and away from the rest of the body, so drinking extra water is key to recovery.
: Sunburn draws fluid to the skin's surface and away from the rest of the body, so drinking extra water is key to recovery. Avoid occlusive ointments early on: Heavy balms like petroleum jelly can trap heat in the skin. Stick to lightweight lotions or gels until the skin cools.
People should be on the lookout for skin that blisters and symptoms of a severe sunburn, a medical condition that could require professional intervention.
Seek medical attention if you have:
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Now that the program's funding from Italian and Greek sources is about to end and its future is unclear. ___ EDITOR'S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at Internationally, many governments and other organizations offer help and information on how to contact them is available online. ___ The clinic is in one of eight locations chosen for a project that aimed to provide mental health services for the first time to over 20,000 people across this East African country. Launched in late 2022, it proved a lifeline for patients like Falatiya in a country where mental health services are almost non-existent in the government-run health system. Implemented by a group of charities led by Amref Health Africa, the program has partnered with government health centers, Catholic parishes, local radio stations. 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They're shooting up, and getting down. New York City's controversial, taxpayer-funded 'safe' injection site has reached a depraved new low — with addicts so zonked out they routinely have sex in broad daylight, often at the doorstep of neighbors forced to endure the X-rated free-for-all. The Post witnessed the madness firsthand near OnPoint's East Harlem headquarters on a recent Wednesday afternoon, as a horndog pair were conjoined for fifteen long minutes — and kept going even as pedestrians awkwardly walked past. 9 This scene unfolded around 4:30pm on a recent Wednesday afternoon on East 126th, by the OnPoint center. J.C. Rice 'The guy was just doing his thing, just looking around, wasn't afraid of anything. I couldn't believe it. I just could not believe it,' said one revolted eyewitness, who asked not to be identified. 'The guy finished, and he just starts zipping his pants and walking away. And the woman was still bent over wondering what was going on. And then after he got maybe three yards away, she said 'Hey, hey! That's it?' and he said, 'Come on!' and then she pulled up her pants and ran behind him.' 'It's disgusting,' added neighbor Shkigale Baker, who lives across the street from where the raunchy scene took place. The government-backed shooting gallery down the block — where addicts are given clean needles and other paraphernalia to snort, smoke or inject their drug of choice on site — opened in 2021, along with a second location in Washington Heights. 9 Neighbors say the drug use spills outside the walls of the East 126th center and onto the street. J.C. Rice Since then, nonprofit OnPoint has hauled in a total of $16.4 million in taxpayer funds from the city's Department of Health, with more than half coming from the Big Apple's share of the opioid settlement funds from the Sackler family, who developed OxyContin — the drug responsible for causing the opioid crisis. The nonprofit's annual budget has blown up from $2.6 million in 2021 to $17.4 million in 2024, according to tax filings. But neighbors have gotten nothing but grief since the site opened – and told The Post things are only getting worse. 9 Baker hopes the center gets shut down. J.C. Rice 'They have sex in our yards, they defecate behind our cars. It's a mess,' said Barker, 69, putting the blame squarely on OnPoint for poisoning the block. Baker had a front row seat to a similar incident in June, on the sidewalk right in front her house. 'There was a woman here, she laid her blanket out. I was sitting here thinking 'What is she doing?' Then she took off her pants, a guy came, and I'm sitting here thinking 'What? I'm getting my own porno show – are you kidding me?'' 9 Pedestrians walked past as the NSFW act took place. J.C. Rice 'They just don't care,' slammed sister Hallia Baker, who also lives in the house. 'It's just been awful.' 'Wow, just in the open? that's a level of freedom – it's terrible don't get me wrong, but I'm just thinking….my goodness,' exclaimed another woman who lives on the block, in shock. The things I've seen just blows my mind,' chimed in Michael Carden, a pipe fitter who works in the neighborhood. 'I mean, the hookers do anything for stuff.' 9 A different location on the same block. Obtained by the New York Post The city said 6,000 junkies consumed illegal drugs as many as 38,000 times at OnPoint's two sanctioned sites over the past year, and the nonprofit brags about having prevented 1,800 overdoses since its centers opened. But critics argue those overdoses just happen outside their walls and on the streets instead. 'They're just delaying overdose deaths because they don't address the underlying pathological behavior, which is really injecting yourself with poison,' said Charles Lehman, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. 9 Every day neighbors say they see people shoot up on East 126th Street. J.C. Rice 9 Neighbors say things have become out of control. J.C. Rice Experts say the center is a beacon for drug use – and associated behaviors, such as public sex – to the neighborhoods. 'This is shocking behavior for people to have in their neighborhood. It's not shocking to law enforcement because this is the kind of behavior that we see in drug addled people,' said National Police Association's Betsy Brantner Smith. 'With these injection centers, people go, they get high, and then they give in to their urges. They're going to engage in whatever behavior they feel because their inhibitions have been taken away and they don't really care about societal norms.' 9 Neighbors say they've repeatedly called 311 and 911 about the situation. J.C. Rice 'For years, I've fought to shut down these centers that have brought crime and deteriorated residents' quality of life. Some are dangerously close to schools — including one directly across the street from a daycare,' Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) told The Post. 'I'm hoping Attorney General Pam Bondi will take action to shutter these heroin shooting galleries once and for all.' Fed up residents earlier this year begged the Trump administration to close down OnPoint's supervised shooting sites, arguing they were in clear violation of federal law. 9 Passed out people line the streets near the safe injection site in East Harlem. J.C. Rice They've been operating in a legal gray area – permitted under city rules but not under state and federal laws. President Trump issued an executive order last month, placing the sites under investigation by Department of Justice, with civil or criminal action expected imminently, insiders have told The Post. 'Americans deserve to feel safe in their cities and towns. President Trump is providing decisive leadership to protect public safety and end the surrender of our great cities to disorder, homelessness, and crime,' said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields. The NYPD says it has received eight calls about prostitution and lewd behavior in the area so far in 2025, and has deployed a dedicated officer nearby, at East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue. 'Our work is not done and we will continue to work with all of our partners, including the local community, to create and maintain a proper quality of life,' a spokesperson told The Post. Mayor Eric Adams, who in 2023 announced three additional safe injection sites – approved under former Mayor Bill de Blasio – would open by 2025, has quietly scrapped the plan, citing legal backlash. 'Let's not mince words – this behavior is unacceptable, full stop,' a spokesperson for Adams told The Post. City Hall says it has surged resources to the area to increase sanitation sweeps, bring people to shelters, crack down on illegal vending and begin addressing long-standing scaffolding issues that act as a magnet for crime and lewd behavior. 'There is still more to be done, and we remain committed to making sure this neighborhood is safe — and feels safe — for all who call it home. Any New Yorkers who witness this behavior should report it immediately.' OnPoint has not replied to The Post's request for comment.
