There’s nothing like a summer day spent in the sun, soaking up the sun’s rays and enjoying the heat. That is, until you wake up the next day with a bright red back and a stinging pain that won’t go away. You don’t have to spend a week suffering from sunburn; just try these natural sunburn remedies.
Prevention is the Best Cure
Of course, it’s always better to prevent a sunburn than to treat one. It’s worth your time to slather on the sunscreen and keep it refreshed every few hours. The British Journal of Cancer notes a significant increase in melanoma diagnoses for people who habitually sunburn or suntan. Apply sunscreen half an hour before heading outside and then reapply every two hours. Reapply more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
Natural Remedies for Your Burn
The damage is already done this time and you need relief. You can look through your pantry or refrigerator for a great sunburn treatment.
- Aloe: Aloe is the go-to sunburn treatment across America. You can buy bottled aloe vera lotion or cream if you wish, but liquid from your own aloe very plant is often more effective.
- Oatmeal: Oatmeal is known for being extremely soothing, whether you’re dealing with the chicken pox, a rash, or sunburn. Run a cool or room temperature bath. Add one cup of oatmeal and soak in the bath for 30 minutes. You can also create a paste out of oatmeal and water, which you then apply to the sunburnt area.
- Milk Bath: Chilled milk may take the sting out of your sunburn and help you start to heal. As with the oatmeal bath, keep your bath cool or room temperature. Stir in two to three cups of cold milk. You can also apply cold milk to the sunburnt areas using a sponge. Let it dry and rinse off.
- Vinegar Bath: With the cooling and healing properties of vinegar, it’s an obvious treatment for your sunburn. Using apple cider vinegar can relieve your pain and pull toxins from your skin. Simply add one cup of vinegar to your bath before relaxing in it.
- Potato Paste: The starch content of potatoes makes it a natural choice for a severe sunburn. In addition, potatoes can treat the swelling that may come from a sunburn. Put one or two potatoes through a food processor or hand grater. Use the shredded potato to create a paste. Pat it on your sunburnt skin and let it dry.
- Baking Soda: Baking soda has long been used as a burn treatment. Make a thin paste of baking soda and water, and then cover the affected area.
- Witch Hazel: For stinging, painful skin, witch hazel is a great option. Use a cotton ball to dab witch hazel onto your burned skin.
Sunburn can be a serious condition, but you don’t have to let time heal this wound. Try one or more of these home remedies to take the edge off of your pain.
http://blog.yonkausa.com/7-best-ways-heal-sunburn/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1977145/
http://www.prevention.com/beauty/natural-beauty/natural-sunburn-cures
