Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn
Red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch is the main
symptom of sunburn. While there are quite a few natural home remedies for
sunburn that can help ease the pain and tenderness, the best thing to do is to prevent
it from happening.
Before we go on to look at the best natural home remedies
for sunburn, let's learn what sunburn is exactly, what causes it, and how you
can prevent it from occurring in the first place.
What is sunburn?
Pink or red skin that feels hot to the touch is the most
visible sign of sunburn. You may experience pain or tenderness. There may also
be swelling. The skin may develop blisters that break and ooze out pus. There
is basically no part of your body that is protected from experiencing the
effects of sunburn. Sunburn can affect your earlobes, scalp, and even your
eyes.
Signs of sunburn will begin to appear within a few hours of
sun exposure and the body will begin to heal in a few days time. The healing is
characterized by peeling of the skin's top layer.
There are several natural home remedies for sunburn that can
help relieve the pain. Before we go onto these, let's look at the causes of
sunburn.
What are the causes of sunburn?
Exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) is the reason for
sunburn. UV radiation is a wavelength of sunlight and it can be divided into
three bands - UVA, UVB, and UVC. While UVC is not able to reach you, UVA and
UVB rays definitely can cause harm.
When your skin is exposed to the UV light of the sun, it
increases the production of melanin, a pigment responsible for giving the skin
its normal color. This increase in melanin production is what gives you a
suntan. However, there is a limit to which your skin can produce melanin when
exposed to sunlight and this is determined genetically.
This means that when you are moving around in the sun, the
UV light gets to the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) and begins to damage
the living cells present there. These living cells are present just below the
outer layer of dead skin cells.
Now, during sunburn, these living cells get damaged or
killed. So, your body will notice it and react to it. Your immune system will
begin to act by increasing blood flow to the exposed area. It does this so that
the white blood cells can remove these dead cells from the skin. This increased
blood flow makes your skin red and hot. The damaged cells also send signals to
the brain which is why your skin is so sensitive and painful.
Most people think that they can't get sunburn on hazy or
cloudy days. This is not true. Even on these days, UV rays are passing through
the haze and clouds and reaching your skin. This is why dermatologists advise
using a sunscreen even on cloudy days and even in winters.
We will take a look at the best natural home remedies for
sunburn. However, as mentioned before, the best thing to do is to prevent
sunburn. Let's take a look at a few tips on how you can prevent sunburn.
How to prevent sunburn?
·
This might sound funny. However, the best way to avoid
sunburn is to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Of course, not everyone can do
this. The right thing to do here is to try your best to stay out of the sun
from 10 am to 4 pm.
·
Estimate your UV exposure with the help of your shadow. If
your shadow is longer than you, it means that UV exposure is low. If it is
shorter than you, UV exposure is high. Avoid stepping out when UV exposure is
high.
·
If you do have to go out, try to find shade as much as
possible. Make sure to wear protective clothing. This means use a wide-brimmed
hat which covers your eyes and neck as well. Wear sunglasses to protect your
eyes. Clothing should be loose and should cover your arms and legs.
·
If you are fond of using tanning booths, avoid it. These may
cause skin damage as well.
·
Always use a sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Sunscreens should
have an SPF of at least 15 and should be applied at least 30 minutes before
going out into the sun. Don't forget your lips, ears and neck. Keep in mind
that sunburn can happen even in these body parts. If you are outdoors, apply
the sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours. Take a look at some of these sunscreens that
will surely help.
·
In the hot summer days, eat foods that are rich in
antioxidants. Include foods such as leafy green vegetables, mangoes, melons,
and carrots. These are rich in beta-carotene which offers some protection from
the damaging effects of the sun. The lycopene in tomatoes can also help prevent
sunburn. The polyphenols present in green tea are also compounds that may
provide protection from the UV rays.
Now, let's take a look at some natural home remedies for
sunburn.
The Five Top Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn
Aloe Vera
We have all heard how good aloe vera is for the skin and
this is why it is always good to have it in your own garden. It is also the
best natural home remedy for sunburn. It soothes the sunburned skin and
relieves the pain and tenderness. The best way to use aloe vera is to use it
fresh from an aloe leaf. Just cut a small piece from the top, take out the gel,
and apply directly to the affected area. Apply it five to six times daily for
as long as you want. It will heal the sunburn in no time and also leave your
skin soft and smooth as well.
If you can't find fresh aloe gel, you can buy it at the
below link.
Milk and Yogurt
You may love your milk or your favorite yogurt, but did you
know that these could actually be one of the best natural home remedies for
sunburn!. Milk can be applied directly to the affected area. Slightly cold milk
will be the best thing to use here. You probably know that cold compresses are
very effective sunburn relief remedies. Instead of using cold water, you can
use cold milk here. Do it as often as you want throughout the day.
You can also use yogurt. Homemade yogurt with no added
ingredients is one of the best natural home remedies for sunburn. If you are
buying it from the store, make sure to get plain yogurt. Just apply it on the
skin and leave it on. It will cool the skin and reduce the burning sensation.
Tea
The tannic acid in tea is quite a wonderful natural home
remedy for sunburn relief. You can use tea bags for this. Used tea bags may
work as a good cold compress. You just need to place them in the refrigerator
and use as often as you want.
However, the best way to do this is to steep a large pot of
strong tea. Once the tea is ready, just refrigerate it. Apply this in the
burned area using small towels.
Potatoes and Cucumbers
We all know how soothing potatoes and cucumbers are for our
eyes and skin. These are also quite useful as natural home remedies for
sunburned skin. You can grate the potatoes or cucumbers and apply on the skin.
Another way to use these two wonderful foods for sunburn
relief is to blend them in a blender till they are in liquid form. Apply the
juice on the sunburned skin and leave it on till it dries out. Take a shower
after that. You can add mint juice to your potato or cucumber remedy as well.
Baking Soda
Take a bath in bathing soda for sunburn relief. Add about
one to two cups of baking soda to your bath tub and take a soak for about 15
minutes. Avoid overdoing it since it may dry your skin.
If you like taking baths, then just add it to your bath
water. Don't dry your skin with a towel after the bath or else you will just
remove all traces of the baking soda from your sunburned skin.
Other Tips for Sunburn Relief
While these natural home remedies for sunburn are quite
effective, you may want to take an over-the-counter medication for quick pain
relief. You can take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin for this.
If you have blisters, avoid opening or bursting these. Do
not cover these and avoid wearing clothing that may irritate them. Apply honey
or white vinegar on the blisters since these have anti-bacterial properties and
may prevent an infection.
What to do if these natural home remedies for sunburn do not
work for you?
If these natural home remedies for sunburn and the above
products do not provide relief, make sure to consult a doctor. This is
especially necessary if you have fever, severe headache, large amount of blisters,
or if you are feeling faint and dizzy.
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© Copyright Roohi Khan, 2012
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