Bottom line: When you are at the beach or involved in any outdoor activity, never seek a tan, and never sunburn; both suntans and sunburns result from DNA damage that can pave the way to skin cancer. Find shade immediately or head indoors if you start to redden or your skin starts to ache or tingle. If despite your best efforts you come home with a burn, taking certain steps can lessen the impact. First, do what you can to relieve the discomfort. “Sunburn literally cooks the protein in the skin,” says Zoe Draelos, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Consequently, Dr. Draelos recommends soothing the skin using a washcloth soaked in cold skim milk. “The coolness takes out the initial fire, and the milk creates a protein film that helps ease the ensuing discomfort.”

If your skin begins to peel afterwards —a natural part of the healing process—use a non-greasy moisturizer to soothe the area. Do not cover up the peeling section with a self- tanning lotion, says Dr. Draelos, “because it will stick to the peeling skin and make it look worse.”

Usually, sunburn does not require a doctor’s care. However, “if you are running a fever, see a doctor, as that would indicate possible heatstroke,” explains Dr. Draelos. “Also, if a young child has a bad sunburn and is at risk of dehydration, or if someone is burned over a large portion of his/her body, they may require medical attention.”