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One of the most common skin problems people face is sunburn. Whether you forgot your SPF or didn’t reapply it, sometimes we can find our skin unprotected and get burned because of it.
Sunburns are not only unsightly, but they’re also terrible for your skin. They can cause inflammation, pain, irritation, dryness, peeling, uneven texture, premature aging, sunspots and more. On top of that, repeated sunburns significantly increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
Of course, the goal is to prevent sunburns altogether. But if you do experience sunburn, you’ll want to switch from precaution to damage control. But, honestly, it’s just as important to treat it the right way to help your skin recover quickly and avoid further harm.
A popular product for skin healing is coconut oil, but is it a good remedy for sunburns specifically? That’s what I’ll be discussing in this post.
Is coconut oil good for sunburn: best products for skin healing
Honestly, no. Coconut oil on its own isn’t helpful for sunburned skin.
Coconut oil is an occlusive oil, meaning it forms a physical barrier on your skin to lock in moisture, but doesn’t actually do any hydrating itself.
It stops water from evaporating, but it can also trap heat, cause further irritation and prevent absorption of actually useful moisturisers.
And if you have a sunburn with blistering, it can mess with the bacteria and healing process, worst case causing infections! All that said, coconut oil can help sunburned skin heal if used with complementary products in the right order. I just wouldn’t recommend you rely on it solely.
Coconut oil is also highly comedogenic, so applying it to your face is super risky if you’re acne prone!
What are the benefits of coconut oil for sunburns after inflammation?
Again, coconut oil on its own shouldn’t be applied to a sunburn. Just lathering a thick oil on your sunburn every couple of hours won’t get you results.
Honestly, it’ll do more damage than anything. However, if you end your sunburn-friendly skincare routine with coconut oil (and don’t use it as the primary source of hydration and healing), it can be helpful. Remember, you want to add this into your routine after your sunburn has mostly healed – not while it’s still puffy, irritated and angry.
Here are some benefits to using it as the final step:
Locks in moisture
A sunburn means significant moisture loss and skin barrier breakdown. So, one of the most important parts of healing is hydration.
Once you’ve hydrated with a beneficial moisturiser and barrier cream, coconut oil can lock in the product and prevent evaporation for better results. Again, this is because oils themselves are not hydrating – you want hydration in the form of water based products. You need to add water back into the skin, and lots of it!
Reduces peeling and dryness
One of the worst parts of a sunburn is the peeling and dryness, especially when it affects your face or other sensitive areas. And not enough people understand the risks that this poses. It isn’t just dry and flaky skin, your cells literally die off and shed in an attempt to prevent unhealthy mutation.
Coconut oil (again, applied after other skincare products) can prevent this. It can slow down water loss, soften the skin, and support the skin barrier. Water is constantly trying to evaporate out of our skin, so an oil can lessen this evaporation,
Repairs skin barrier
Speaking of the skin barrier: Coconut oil has fatty acids that can nourish and reinforce the outer layer of skin. Restoring the moisture barrier is so important for so many reasons.
Your skin barrier keeps your skin hydrated, protects against bacteria and other irritants, and supports proper cell turnover. A strong moisture barrier is essential to even, clear, and healthy skin. You can learn more about this in my skin barrier archives.
How to use coconut oil for sunburn
Step one: Cool the skin down using a cool shower or cool compress
Sunburns damage skin cells, which triggers an inflammatory response. Basically, your body dilates blood vessels around the burned area to bring in immune cells for damage control.
This causes a lot of pain and swelling. So, the first step after you get a sunburn? Cool the skin back down to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
You can try cool baths, showers, or compresses to lower the skin’s temperature.
Make sure you don’t use ice or other extremely cold products (like ice rollers). Though they’re trendy, the skin really doesn’t like big swings in temperature, and it can cause further damage. You don’t want to add insult to injury with ice burns and sunburn!
Step two: Rehydrate with aloe vera gel
Hydration is the next hurdle. You need to restore moisture, but gently.
You probably already know this, but aloe vera gel can be an effective way to moisturise. It hydrates really well and generally won’t clog pores – though results vary on skin type. Especially on the body, it can be quite an acne friendly sunburn solution,
Plus, the anti-inflammatory properties help further cool the skin and reduce pain. This is why it’s such a popular choice for sunburn.
Step three: Layer on a water-based moisturiser
Aloe vera is really helpful, but it really only hydrates superficially. Sunburn causes damage that can be layers deep, so you need to pair it with a dedicated moisturiser.
Use a water-based formula like The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Inulin Body Lotion. Both products moisturise effectively without being too thick or harsh.
Step four: Use a barrier serum for extra support
Next, we need to support that skin barrier. This is honestly such an overlooked skincare step in general, but it’s especially important when you’re repairing damage.
The skin barrier is our first line of defence and is essential to keeping our skin healthy. If you’re burned on your face you could consider applying a barrier serum like The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum to achieve maximum skin hydration.
Step five: Apply coconut oil – multiple times a day if you prefer to
Now, to lock in all the benefits. Apply a thin layer of coconut oil all over the sunburned area to seal in all the moisturising products.
You could reapply the coconut oil 2-3 times a day to help with the healing process. I personally don’t love using coconut oil because of the feeling/texture it provides, but if you are more inclined towards using natural products like coconut oil and aloe it’ll be a fine. I sway more towards regular moisturisers.
Step six: Protect your skin with protective clothing and SPF
While your skin is healing, avoid further damage from any more UV light. Wearing sunscreen may be irritating at first, so wear loose-fitting protective clothing until it’s healed up.
It is a myth that chemical and mineral sunscreens work differently – they both mostly absorb UV rays from the sun, instead of reflecting them away. However you can use either mineral or chemical sunscreen on your sunburn. It’s just really important to keep the burned skin out of the sun even if it’s wearing sunscreen.
Step seven: Stay hydrated and let the skin recover
You need to hydrate from the outside, but hydration from the inside is just as important. Drink plenty of water to give your body fuel for cellular repair and regeneration.
Hydrating will help you recover faster and prevent any other symptoms of sunburn. Sunburn can actually increase your risk of dehydration and other issues, so be mindful of your water intake in general.
Step eight: Make a plan to prevent sunburn in the future
The goal is to avoid sun damage from the start. To prevent sunburn, make sure you’re using a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher product daily on your face. If you live in a super sunny climate, daily body SPF may also be necessary.
These are some of the best sunscreens for acne prone skin for your facial skin.
When you’re sunbathing or walking around in a sunny place, ensure you reapply at least every 2 hours. However, if you’re in direct sunlight or sweating a lot, you may need another coat every 30 minutes. Frustrating, I know, but your future self will thank you.
Coconut oil on its own isn’t the best choice for sunburn.
Sunburns take special care. They’re a skin injury, so you need to be cautious of what products you’re applying and how you’re applying them.
Coconut oil can be used to help lock in hydration, but without a proper moisturiser, you won’t see much benefit. Follow the tips above to heal quickly from your sunburn.
If you appreciated this post, I think you’ll enjoy these next:
- Can You Get a Sunburn on a Cloudy Day?
- What to put on sunburned lips
- Best SPF for Close Comedones and Acne-Prone Skin
