EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Center|Is ice the right way to treat a sunburn? Here's what experts say.

If you're reading this,EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Center there's a good chance you or a loved one is dealing with a painful sunburn right now.

First thing's first: To prevent further burning and skin damage, medical experts recommend being proactive with sunscreen every day, but especially during summer months when you may be more likely to be in direct sunlight for longer periods of time.

"Sunscreen works to reduce the amount of UV exposure to your skin," dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, M.D., tells USA TODAY. But it's not always applied correctly, or may be applied too infrequently, which can lead to sunburn.

Excessive UV exposure is responsible for more than 90% of skin cancers, according to Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health. Getting one severe sunburn prior to adulthood more than doubles the chance of developing skin cancer later in life, and getting more than five sunburns can double your risk of developing melanoma, a less common but more deadly form of skin cancer.

Research has shown that roughly 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, and experts estimate one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some point in their life, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

"The most important thing to do when you develop a sunburn is to prevent further damage," Zubritsky says. "That means avoiding more sun exposure and helping to repair your damaged skin barrier."

Here's what medical experts have to say about taking care of a sunburn in the aftermath.

How to get rid of sunburn fast

Per Zubritsky, "sunburns do take time to heal, but you can speed up the recovery process with a gentle, hydrating and repairing approach."

Can ice help a sunburn?

That approach is best taken with things like cool baths, aloe-containing moisturizers and ibuprofen to reduce pain, redness and discomfort, Zubritsky says.

Ice is a common remedy to reach for, but experts say applying it directly to your injured skin can actually cause more harm than good. And some people turn to products containing benzocaine, a topical anesthetic, but Zubritsky warns against trying this on a sunburn. "This can further irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction," she says — the last thing you want to gamble with when seeking relief from already irritated and painful skin.

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