Sunburn can put a nasty damper on summer fun. It can be painful, itchy, and if red is not your color, then you are definitely out of luck. If you have a sunburn, try the following natural remedies to get your scorched skin back to normal:
Aloe: You cannot have a list of natural sunburn remedies without aloe residing at the very top. This natural medicinal remedy from the aloe vera plant provides cool, soothing relief to sunburns, and works to repair the damage to skin caused by the sun. While aloe can be found in many topical gels and ointments, it is best to use the natural oil from the plant itself. Many people even grow aloe vera in their back yards.
Natural compresses: There is nothing like a cold glass of milk at breakfast, or a cold milk compress to heal a sunburn. To make the compress, soak clean cloths or pieces of gauze in milk with high fat content (2% or whole), then apply them to your sunburn. You can repeat this process until the heat and sting from the burn disappears. Be sure to rinse the milk from your body with cool water, so that you will not smell like spoiled milk.
Another natural compress can be made from soaking clean cloths or gauze in vinegar, and then applying them to the skin. You could even soak an entire t-shirt in vinegar and wear it for about half an hour. Another less messy option, would be to pour vinegar into a spray bottle and spritz your burned areas. Let the vinegar air dry on your skin. You can use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to make your compress or spray. The acid in vinegar adds moisture to your skin, and can prevent it from pealing.
Take a bath: When your skin is hot and stinging with the pain of sunburn, all you can think about is how to cool it down. Try adding the following natural ingredients to a cool (tepid) bath to remedy your sunburn:
- Add a handful, or about 1/2 cup of baking soda to reduce pain and swelling.
- Put two cups of oatmeal into your bath. You can also mix the oatmeal with other ingredients like milk and honey for a sunburn soothing bath.
- Bring water to a boil, and then add either thyme or rosemary to the water and allow it to steep for about half an hour. Let the infused water cool and then add it to your bath water. Thyme is said to have antiseptic properties, and rosemary is an age old remedy to rejuvenate skin.
- Mix in a few tablespoons of almond or avocado oil.
Additional tips: While natural remedies are great options for the care and treatment of sunburn, it is important to know when you should see your physician. If your sunburn is of a deep red or even purple shade, then you must visit your doctor. Also, some symptoms of severe sunburn or sun poisoning are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills.
It is of the most vital importance to protect your skin before going out into the sun. Always wear sun screen, and apply it at least half an hour in advance. Then, reapply it as the day continues. Also, wear a hat and light colored clothing to protect your skin, and venture into the shade as much as possible. Protecting your skin is essential to lowering your risk of skin cancer. Enjoy nice weather by protecting your skin, but if you need a natural remedy for sunburn try these ideas.
