This time of year, it’s easy to get burned. Forgetting to put on your sunscreen or not realizing how much time you have spent in the sun can easily lead to a painful sunburn.

While avoiding a sunburn should be the goal, if you do get sunburned, it’s important to treat it right away. This will help your skin feel better and also help promote healing. Here’s some expert tips on how to properly care for your sunburn according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

• Take cool showers or baths to help relieve the pain of a sunburn. Gently pat yourself dry to avoid any further irritation of your skin.
• Apply a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy. This can help make your sunburned skin feel better. It’s best to do this right after a bath or a shower.
• To relieve discomfort, you can also apply calamine lotion or put a cool, damp washcloth on the area. Colloidal oatmeal baths can also be helpful.
• To further reduce pain and any swelling, consider taking some aspirin or ibuprofen. Drinking extra water can help prevent dehydration caused by sunburn.
• If your skin develops blisters, let the blisters heal slowly. Never pop a blister. The reason blisters form is to help your skin heal and keep it safe from infection. You can apply petroleum jelly to the blister to help protect them.

Keep in mind that getting sunburned can cause lasting damage to your skin. Even just one or two sunburns will raise your risk of skin cancer. So be sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat, sun-protective clothing, and sunglasses when you are outdoors. Always use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on any sun-exposed areas of your body. Remember, it’s much better to avoid a sunburn than have to treat one!