Home Remedies for Sunburn
We all know that getting too much sun isn’t good for our skin, and sunburn only increases the severity of skin damage over time, but most of us have had a painful sunburn at least a few times anyway. There are many home remedies for sunburn that not only ease the pain and inflammation, but help protect against peeling as well.
We’ve gathered the most popular home remedies for sunburn so that you can choose an effective one that’s right for you. Keep in mind, however, that the best way to avoid sunburn pain is being cautious about sun exposure. Avoid being in the sun between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm and always wear sunscreen or protective clothing any time you’re outside. Also be sure to drink lots of fluids to minimize dehydration.
Home Remedies for Sunburn That Remove the Heat and Sting
Most sunburns are actually first degree burns, which explains the painful tightness of the skin. To relieve the pain, it may be tempting to slather on some lotion, but applying it is actually one of the worst things you can do. Most lotions, particularly cocoa butters, will clog the pores and trap the heat next to your skin so that it can’t heal properly.
Instead, use sunburn home remedies that soothe and moisture while allowing the heat of the burn to escape. Soaking in a tepid or cool bath will quickly bring down your skin temperature and reduce the pain. If you add either a pound of crushed oatmeal or baking soda to the water, you will intensify the relief. After you get out of the bath, gently blot the skin or let yourself air dry. Rubbing with a towel will only inflame the skin and start the pain again.
You can also try a variety of poultices to draw out the heat and ease the pain. Soaking a soft cloth such as a tee-shirt in witch hazel then draping it over the sunburn will immediately bring on a soothing, cool sensation as the witch hazel evaporates. Witch hazel is also an antibacterial and provides much needed moisture to the skin. You can also use white vinegar in the same way, or try putting witch hazel or vinegar into a spray bottle and spritzing the sunburned area, allowing your skin to air dry.
Brewed teas, including chamomile, green tea and black tea, have antioxidant properties that will speed the healing of a sunburn. Steep the tea, then soak rags in the cooled water and lay over skin, changing the dressings every fifteen to twenty minutes. The tannins in the tea hasten healing and relieve pain.
Some people swear by an old home remedy paste for sunburns. Combine ground, instant oatmeal with some pure aloe vera (from the plant leaves, not a lotion). Smear the salve onto the sunburn and leave for about fifteen minutes, then rinse off with cool water.
If you have uncooked potatoes in your kitchen, you can pop a few into a blender and mash them to a pulp with just a touch of water. This forms a paste that draws out the heat and promotes healing. If this seems too messy, wrap the mixture tightly in a soft, thin cloth and apply to the skin so that the juices run out and soothe the pain.
Milk is another excellent way to heal a sunburn. It relieves pain and is one of the best home remedies for sunburn, as it also speeds healing and minimized peeling. Don’t use it straight from the refrigerator, though. It’s too cold and could shock your system. Leave it out for about an hour so that it is just slightly cool before you put it on your skin. You can smooth it lightly over the burn with cotton balls and let dry if you like, then rinse the film off with cool water.