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What’s the best way to treat a sunburn?

SUNBURNED SKIN CAN be painful—but there are proven ways to make your skin feel better while it heals.

First, take a shower with lukewarm water, which will help cool skin that is warm or hot to the touch. When you get out of the shower, liberally apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Try one that contains pure aloe vera (or lists it as the rst or second ingredient), which is a natural anti-in ammatory used to soothe burns. Avoid using after-sun sprays, such as those containing benzocaine or other anesthetics. While they might o er instant pain relief, they can irritate skin or cause an allergic reaction. Also skip petroleum jelly products, which can trap heat instead of cooling your burn. Take ibuprofen or aspirin to help reduce swelling, redness, and discomfort. And drink more water than usual: A sunburn draws uid to the skin’s surface and away from the rest of the body, which can make you dehydrated.

It’s also smart to stay out of the sun until your burn heals because your skin is at risk for even more damage if you expose it again to UV rays. And try to be diligent about sun protection in the future: Repeated burns accelerate the aging of your skin and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. For more advice on how to stay cool and safe this summer, turn to page 22.

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... and watch for the answers. Should I pay for AppleCare+ coverage on my new iPhone?

IN GENERAL, THE higher the price of your device, the more it might make sense to pay for coverage, says CR tech editor Melanie Pinola. Apple’s iPhone 13 models can cost as much as $1,599—and repairs for them are pricey, too. Without AppleCare+ coverage, replacing a cracked screen on your out-of-warranty 13 Pro Max will cost you $329. Damage any other part of that same phone and an Apple repair will cost you $599. With the basic AppleCare+ plan, which costs $199 up front for the 13 Pro Max, you’ll pay $29 for a screen or back-glass replacement and $99 for other types of damage. This plan, which provides two years of coverage from date of purchase, allows for two instances of accidental damage for each 12-month period and includes battery replacement if it retains less than 80 percent of its original capacity.

Of course, if you use a phone case (and aren’t prone to dropping your phone), you may be ne without the coverage. If you’re still on the fence, check out our breakdown of the fees based on the model of iPhone you have, at CR.org/iphone x.

I’ve heard that sourdough bread is healthier than other types of bread. True?

IF YOU HAVE a sensitive stomach or a digestive issue such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), sourdough may be a better choice. Sourdough starts out as a mixture of our and water that’s been left to ferment for several days (creating what’s known as a sourdough “starter”). The wild yeasts and bacteria in that starter grow and produce carbon dioxide, acids, and other compounds, which make the dough rise and give the bread its characteristic sour avor. Sourdough’s long fermentation and rising time causes changes in the dough that may make it easier to digest than regular bread for those with IBS, or who experience gas, bloating, and other problems after eating certain carbohydrates. “Traditional wheat bread, leavened with baker’s yeast, contains high levels of fructans, which can be a trigger in many people with IBS,” says Kate Scarlata, a registered dietitian specializing in digestive health. Sourdough, however, may have as much as 92 percent less fructan as other breads. Sourdough is also a bit lower in gluten than other breads, so people with mild gluten sensitivities may be better able to tolerate it.

But don’t count on sourdough to provide gut-friendly probiotics, says Willow Jarosh, a registered dietitian in private practice in New York City. “Although it’s a fermented food like yogurt or kimchi, the probiotic bacteria in sourdough bread is killed during baking, so it doesn’t provide healthy bacteria to your system.”