You just splash it on, suppose to sooth the burn but aloe vera works well too. Our grandson got sunburn while tubing and i smoothed Codicil silver gel on his and it was much better the next day.I have some Aloe Vera plants, as well as some lotion that is Aloe Vera and vitamin E. I burn easy, and my oldest son is practically neon white. That lotion seems to do the trick for us. How does AVC help? I would have though vinegar would dry the skin out more.