As the weather warms up and we head outside to enjoy all kinds of activities, sunburns are becoming more of a concern. Although you should wear sunscreen every time you go outdoors (even in the winter or on cloudy days), the threat of sunburn is greater in the summer when we spend more time in the sun.

If you happen to forget the sunscreen and end up with a burn, is there anything you can do to ease your suffering? You can’t make a sunburn go away any faster than normal, but there are a few natural remedies for sunburns that can cut down on the pain and support the healing of your damaged skin.

1. The best natural remedy for a sunburn is to keep your body hydrated. Drink lots of water to keep your system hydrated while you are outdoors as well as after you come back in. Your body is better able to deal with whatever you can throw at it (like lobster red skin) when it’s healthy and hydrated.

2. Some natural remedies for sunburn have been around for as long as anyone can remember. Breaking open a piece of aloe vera leaf and rubbing the clear gel on your sunburn can help reduce pain and may cut down on healing time. Some studies have refuted this belief, but that doesn’t stop people all over the world from using it.

3. Other natural remedies for sunburn can only be described as folk remedies. Mothers and grandmothers have been putting white vinegar on sunburns for generations. They swear by this unconventional treatment.

4. Hydrating from the outside is also a great natural remedy for sunburn. Taking lukewarm (not hot) showers or baths and rubbing lotion on your damaged skin can go a little way toward easing your pain and helping your skin to heal after it has been damaged.