Sunburn can seriously ruin your tanning plans when the Great British summer finally appears for all of two days. For those of us with a more wan complexion, it's tempting to bare all and let the sun work its magic on our English rose (ok, ridiculously pale) skin.
But when skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, it seems kind of crazy to take the risk (seriously, get your hands on a decent sun cream ASAP).
'SPF protection is important wherever you are,' says Boots Soltan Scientific Advisor, Clare O'Connor. 'There is a common belief that the sun isn't as strong in the UK but research shows that over 60% of sunburn happens whilst people are at home rather than abroad.'
While, obviously, the end goal is to avoid getting burnt completely, sometimes, even when we're totally on it with the SPF50 situation, sunburn still seems to find us.
We caught up with consultant dermatologist at Sloane Street's Cadogan Clinic, Dr Anjali Mahto to get her advice on how to treat sunburn and lose that lobster look for good...
'If you've accidentally burned your skin in the sun, cover up the affected areas and stay in the shade until your sunburn has healed,' advises Dr Mahto.
'Wear loose cotton clothing that allows your skin to "breathe" over the sunburnt areas.'
'If you're in pain, analgesia or painkillers can help relieve this and reduce inflammation caused by sunburn,' explains Dr Mahto. 'Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are ideal and should be continued for a period of at least 48 hours if there are no contraindications. Paracetamol will help with pain but has little effect on inflammation.'
'If you're at all concerned about the possible damage the sun has done to your skin, make an appointment to see your dermatologist who can assess and advise you appropriately.'
'...e.g. a towel dampened with cool water for 15 minutes, or take a cool bath or shower. Aim to keep the temperature just below luke-warm and make sure the shower has a gentle flow of water rather than being on full power. If blisters are starting to develop, then a bath is preferable.'
'Do not rub your skin with a towel, but gently pat it dry when you get out. After a bath or shower, use an un-perfumed cream or lotion to soothe the skin. Applications of this are necessary to reduce the appearance of peeling and this may need to be continued for several weeks.
'Aloe vera or soy containing gels or lotions can be beneficial in soothing the skin. Aloe vera not only has a cooling effect on the skin but also acts as an anti-inflammatory. Be wary of using creams or lotions that contain petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine, as these can trap heat in the skin or cause local skin irritation.'
'Using a weak steroid cream such as 0.5-1% hydrocortisone for 48 hours may decrease pain and swelling caused by sunburn and speed up the healing process, however this is best avoided in small children.'
When you look more like Rudolph than Ratajkowski, here's how to cover up your sunburn courtesy of Acting Beauty Director George Driver...
The key to covering an awkward red nose is colour correction. Apply a green colour corrector on any redness before applying concealer. It'll neutralise any warm tones and create a better base for your concealer.
Finish with a sweep of bronzer across your nose and cheekbones to make the whole thing look totally intentional.
A mesh of mis-matched bikini strap lines doesn't exactly scream chic.
Apply instant tan to a BeautyBlender or make-up sponge and bounce onto the areas that are looking a little pale to fill in the lines.
It's never too late to learn best practice when it comes to avoiding sun burn. Just remember your skin's health is more important than looking bronzed, and fake tan is a thing.
Follow Boots Soltan Scientific Advisor, Clare O'Connor's tips for keep the burn at bay...
'In the UK it can be tempting to dig out some old sunscreen from previous summer holidays,' says O'Connor. 'I recommend the squeeze test. Squeeze a little out, if it smells good and is shiny and glossy it probably is still good. If it's dull, grainy, separated or smells bad, I would recommend disposing of it. For full protection, never use sun cream that has been opened for over 12 months. Always store unopened bottles in a cool dark place.'
'Choose an SPF that is suitable for your skin type. For the UK, if you are very fair skinned use SPF 50+ with 5* UVA protection. More Mediterranean type skins can use SPF 30 and darker skin tones should always use a minimum SPF 15.'
'Choose a product that has 5* UVA protection. The star rating system shows how much UVA protection a product has relative to its UVB protection, with 5* being the highest level.'
'Apply sun cream 15 minutes before heading out into the sun to allow it to sink into the skin. As a guide two tablespoons should provide enough sunscreen to cover your body, and be sure to rub it in properly. Don't forget to reapply every two hours and cover up with clothing, or spend time in the shade to reduce sun exposure.'