A method for treating skin that is subject to an energy injury including the application of concentrated l-lactic acid to the injury area during the inflammatory response of the skin. Reapplication is shown to further reduce the inflammatory symptoms and improve healing time. The concentration of approximately ten percent by weight with around 2.34 pH is proven to be ideal to impede the skins inflammatory response for sunburn and elevated temperature thermal burns and prevent associated cellular damage compared to untreated sunburns.