Sunburn happens because of skin exposure to the ultra-violet rays of the Sun. When your skin is exposed to the UV rays, the exposed skin augments its production of melanin. The upsurge in the production of melanin is your body’s natural phenomenon to protect the deeper layers of the skin. The genetics are responsible for determining how much melanin is produced. That explains the reason why fair skin people are more likely to get sun-burnt (Fair skin people produce less melanin).
The natural shield of melanin produced by your skin is equal to around SPF 4 and thus not enough to prevent sunburn. The best way is to protect you with sun-screen of at least of 15 SPF. But even when you protect yourself, you may end up burned anyways, when your skin is over exposed.
Mother Nature although works to heal the sunburns in due course, but to speed-up the healing process and reduce sunburn pain and itching, we recommend certain natural sunburn relief remedies. Try these 9 easy and simple natural sunburn remedies to avoid peeling, redness, stinging and get rid of sunburn.
9 Home Remedies For Sunburn To Give Fast Relief
1. Cool Water Compress: Soak a washcloth in either plain water or add a few ice cubes in the water and apply directly to the sunburn areas for 10 to 15 minutes – rewetting the cloth often to keep it cool. Apply several times during the day to get the natural sunburn relief fast.
(i) Do not apply ice or ice pack direct to your sunburned skin.
(ii) Consider mixing a soothing ingredient, such as a bit of baking soda, aluminum acetate or witch hazel with the compress cold water.
(iii) In case you are having intense itching, add and mix aluminum in the cold water. You can buy aluminum powder from local drugstores and follow directions given on the label. Cold compression with aluminum acetate will protect your skin from getting too dry or itchy.
(iv) Witch hazel is known to have long-lasting anti-inflammatory properties. Moisten a cotton ball with Witch Hazel and apply on the affected areas often for temporary relief.
(v) While compressing direct a fan on the sunburned areas to heighten cooling.
2. Cornstarch / Baking Soda for Curing Sunburns: Both these two natural ingredients are effective way to soothe your sunburns. Go for either of these, as both have properties to decrease the pain and diminish the redness. The quantity needed depends on how large the area you are required to cover. Add cool water (not cold water) a bit by bit, until you get a paste-like consistency. Spread the paste over the affected area and leave on there for some time. Rinse it off completely before it dries out.
3. Humble Potato: Potato has the properties to relieve skin pain and work well on minor skin irritations, bites and burns. They can also soothe scratches and reduce skin inflammation. You can use either of potato paste or its juice. Try both and see which one of the two works best for your sunburns.
Wash and scrub the un-peeled potatoes, cut them into small pieces, put them in a blender or food processor. You don’t need to remove the peels. Blend or process until they have become quite in liquid form. Add a little water, if they look dry. Soak cotton balls or pads or tissues thoroughly in the mixture, and apply to the sunburn areas. Keep rewetting the balls or pads with the mixture and apply it several times.
Alternatively, you can soak gauze in the mixture and place it over the burns. Change the dressing when it becomes dry. Continue applying several times a day to get natural sunburn relief.
4. Oatmeal Water Mixture: Oatmeal works as a naturally skin soother. While the polysaccharides contained in the oatmeal works to heal your skin naturally, the water cools down your sunburn skin and keeps it hydrated and moist.
Add 1/2 to 1 cup of oatmeal into your bathtub filled up with tepid or slightly on cooler side water. Don’t use cold water, as this can send the body into shock. Your sunburns are hot enough for a little cool water that it can still soothe your skin. After the bath, let yourself air dry, or if you want – pat dry gently with a soft towel. This is a good natural sunburn relief.
(i) Use cool water, if you feel that tepid water is warm.
(ii) Don’t use bath salts, oils, or bubble bath.
5. Aloe-Vera Gel: Its natural properties make it cool and soothing that can take the sting and redness right out of your sunburn. This natural ingredient not only heals sunburns but is good for several other ailments – such as acne and heartburns, so it is easily available in nursery or grocery store’s floral department. Consider having this plant growing in your house, as it’s very easy to maintain. Take a broad leave, slit it open and take out the gel and apply the gel directly onto the burn. Aloe Vera gel is also easily available in the local drug stores.
6. Drink Water: The sun rays not only dry out your skin, but dehydrate your body from inside too. Along with applying oral applications, you need to drink plenty of water to counteract the drying effects of the sunburn. Keeping yourself hydrated will speed-up healing of your sunburns. When your urine runs clear, you will know that you are properly hydrated.
7. Cool Shower or Slipping into Cool Water Tub: If your burn is spread on wider area or on a hard to reach area (like your back), taking cool shower or getting into cool water bath tub will work as a quick at home sun remedy. Don’t use soap, as it can further dry out and irritate your skin. If you must, then use any mild baby soap and rinse it off thoroughly. After having taken bath, air dry your body or pat it dry gently with a soft towel. Don’t soak your body into cool water for too long, as it can aggravate your dry skin conditions, which will lead to itching and peeling of your skin.
You can add into your bath tub cool water following natural ingredients to quicken the relief:
(i) Vinegar: To soothe your sunburn pains, add white or apple cider vinegar; or
(ii) If relatively large area of your body is affected, add 1/2 cup of Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment, made from oatmeal. Soak your body in the tub for 15-20 minutes. This will get you natural relief from itching.
(i) Stay away from soaps, bubble baths
(ii) Do not rub your skin after bath. Air dry or pat dry with soft towel.
(iii)Apply moisturizer immediately after bath to keep your skin moist.
(iv) For a soothing relief from pain and dryness, chill the moisturizer in the refrigerator before its use.
8. Best Is Not To Get Sunburned: Never think of getting sun tanned a.s.a.p. and apply sunscreen while going out. Let your skin darken gradually, and in a less painful way.
(i) Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you go out, even when it’s overcast. Remember Sun’s harmful rays are strong enough to penetrate through clouds. Apply sunscreen on all over the areas that can are usually exposed, such as lips, hands, ears, and back of your neck. Reapply if necessary during the day and after swimming or perspiring heavily.
(ii) Use a sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Choose the sun blocks that contain ingredients like, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone. These elements are capable of blocking both UVA and UVB rays.
(iii) Particularly be careful from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (11:00 AM to 4:00 PM –daylight saving time). During this time, the sun is strongest.
(iv) Wear protective clothing while going out, such as wide brimmed hat and long sleeves to keep the sun rays off your skin.
9. Become Wise: Once you get burned, don’t repeat your mistake. Remember it takes your skin 3 to 6 months to return to normal. When you get sun burned and the top layer of your skin peels off, you get a new skin from underneath. This new skin is even more sensitive and will burn quickly than the earlier one.
Tip: If your skin is sensitive, you need to apply sunscreen even when inside your car or at home. The UV rays can penetrate through windows.
Some sunburns are too severe to be treated with home remedies only. Consult a doctor if pain is unbearable or if you experience nausea, fever, faintness, general weakness, intense itching or having extensive blisters on your skin. Make it sure that your burns are not spreading, as it could be due to an infection making it worse.
If you like, you may share any other natural sunburn remedy for the benefits of our other readers under the comments below.
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