How to Care For a Sunburned Scalp at Home, According to Derms

Do a Green Tea Rinse

It’s no coincidence that green tea can often be found in top-of-the-line skincare products. Green tea naturally and effectively reduces inflammation, which makes it perfect for soothing an angry and itchy scalp. When applied in the form of a compress or rinse, green tea can help heal the irritated skin and also expedite recovery. Hayag also approves of this method.

For a rinse, you need to first brew green tea. If you've never done this, just pour boiling water over a green tea bag and let steep for about 10 minutes. Next, you're going to want to remove the bag and place the tea in the refrigerator to let it cool all the way down. When you get in the shower, wash your hair as usual, making sure to cleanse and condition with an ultra-gentle shampoo and conditioner (we like Living Proof's Restore line). Once you've towel-dried your hair, pour the lukewarm tea over it and lightly massage it into your scalp. Don't rinse, and let your hair air-dry—you shouldn't be using heat styling tools on burnt skin anyway.

Use Aloe Vera

"Aloe is well known for its skin-soothing and skin-healing properties," says Lortscher. He suggests looking for a moisturizer that features aloe vera as an ingredient. There are also aloe vera gels on the market that often have the added benefit of providing cooling relief to inflamed skin.

But choose your formula wisely and avoid added fragrance. "Scented products, including scented aloe vera, should be avoided since the fragrances may irritate the sunburned skin," says Lortscher. Hayag likes the Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Gel ($20).

Avoid Harsh Exfoliants

It's probably best to skip your scalp scrub for a couple of weeks; both Hayag and Lortscher caution against using abrasive or harsh products on your scalp while healing from a sunburn. "I would stay away from products with acids and fragrances as they have a potential of further irritating compromised sunburned skin," says Hayag. "Try to stay away from exfoliating products and products that contain alcohol. The alcohol can further dry out skin that is already damaged," adds Lortscher.

Try an After-Sun Mask

Aveda After-Sun Hair Masque $36.00

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Don’t want to DIY? Hayag recommends reaching for an after-sun mask like this one from Aveda. The creamy formula contains moisturizing and fortifying morikue protein and a blend of plant oils that promote healing and hydration.

Cool the Area Down

You'll notice that a common denominator in a lot of these tips is cooling. You can get fast relief from an uncomfortable sunburn and cut down on inflammation with this method. "You want to try to reduce the inflammation of a sunburn right away," says Hayag. "One way you can do this is by cooling the area down with an ice pack wrapped in a damp cloth and apply it to the burn. It will cause blood vessel constriction and reduce swelling. A bag of frozen vegetables (like peas) works well also. You should apply ice packs or cool compresses no longer than 15 minutes at a time."

Take a Painkiller

When in doubt, there's always good old-fashioned Ibuprofen. If your sunburn is feeling itchy, Hayag suggests applying an OTC hydrocortisone like Cortizone-10 ($4). Both doctors say it's best to steer clear of lidocaine and benzocaine, which can cause further irritation. And isn't that the last thing you need when you've already got an itchy, red, inflamed scalp?