Natural Remedies for Sunburn Relief

11 Natural Cures for Sunburn Relief

How to get rid of sunburn with easy home remedies and store-bought solutions.

You know the drill: to prevent sunburn, you have to apply—and reapply—sunscreen all day long. But maybe you didn't realize you missed a spot, or maybe your tube of sunblock was expired, or maybe your hat didn't protect you as well as you thought it would, and despite your best efforts, you've wound up with a lobster-red sunburn. And boy, is it painful and itchy.

Sunburn is the consequence of a lot of exposure to the sun rays, or a sun-comparable heats, (for example, a tanning bed or other UV source). 

Sunburn is most regular amid the late spring when the sun's beams are the most grounded. 

Mellow sunburn indications incorporate skin redness and agony. After around 4-7 days, skin peeling may happen. 

Serious sunburn side effects are called sun harming and may incorporate skin consuming and rankling, liquid misfortune (lack of hydration), electrolyte lopsidedness, and contamination. 

The best solution for sunburn is aversion. Remain out of the sun, cover your skin, wear defensive eyewear, utilize SPF (sun protection factor) 30 or higher, and abstain from tanning beds. 

In the event that you do get sunburned, remain out of the keep running until the point when the consume blurs. Drink bunches of water, sports beverages, or juice to remain hydrated, and keep your home cool utilizing ventilating or fans. 

At this point, there's nothing you can do to reverse the long-term damage those harmfu UV rays have left on your skin. Still, there are steps you can take to soothe your skin and get sunburn relief in the moment. Here are easy-to-find natural sunburn remedies that can help you feel better fast.

How to fight Sneaky sun Damage:

After a long day in the sun, the first thing you probably want to do is wash off. But you should think twice before sudsing up. Soap and bubble bath can dry and irritate sunburned skin. A cool bath—sans soap—is a better option.

For added relief, dermatologist Fredric Haberman, MD, suggests mixing water with baking soda, which has been shown to help relieve inflammation and itching. It works best when it dries on the skin, so plan to air-dry instead of toweling off.

Apple cider and white vinegar are other soothers you probably already have handy. Mixing cool bath water with 1 cup of vinegar. "It's a great astringent; it soothes sunburn pain," he says.

Another option: Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment. Made from oatmeal, Aveeno is a well-known remedy for itching, says dermatologist Michael Schreiber, MD. Mix with cool bath water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterward, gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Rubbing your skin to dry off will only irritate it further.

Absorb an oats shower. This is particularly useful for irritated, sunburned skin. 

Include some lavender or chamomile fundamental oil to the shower to help calm a portion of the stinging and agony. 

Include 2 measures of preparing pop to the shower to help ease irritation and redness from sunburn. 

Maintain a strategic distance from cleanser or fragrances in the shower water as these can be drying on effectively dry and sunburned skin. 

Rundown of Drugs that Cause a Severe Reaction to the Sun 

If you must use soap to clean off, reach for something mild like Johnson's Baby Head-to-Toe Wash and carefully rinse it all off—leftover soap residue can be extremely drying.

Moisturize strategically

After you've rinsed off, smooth on a natural bath oil like Burt's Bees 100% Natural Lemon and Vitamin E Body and Bath Oil. Let it soak in for a minute, and then apply a moisturizing cream or lotion, such as Eucerin. This is an important step, says Rodney Basler, MD, or you may find that your skin feels drier than before. (Psst! Don't make these moisturizer mistakes.)

SMART TIP: Chill your moisturizer in the fridge for added relief.

Use Frozen Peas

Sunburns hurt! Follow your urge to reach for something cold, just make sure to do it right. Wrap an ice pack in a damp cloth and hold it over the burn. This will absorb some of the heat from your skin, constrict blood vessels, and reduce swelling. Improvise, if necessary, says Haberman. "You could even take a bag of frozen peas, for instance, and use that. But make sure to wrap it first so that you're not placing the icy package directly against your skin."

Hydrate—with food

Drink plenty of water to help counteract the drying effects of a sunburn,  But what many people don't realize is that the water in fruit counts, too. One large wedge of watermelon provides 9 oz—more than a cup—of water. Other hydrating fruits include honeydew and cantaloupe; each contains about 5 oz of water per cup. 

Use the kitchen Items

Kitchen staples can do more than hydrate; they can also be great sunburn soothers, too. The tannic acid in black tea, for example, can bring relief to burned eyelids. One to try: Twinings English Breakfast Tea. Simply soak two tea bags in cool water and place them on top of closed eyes to decrease swelling and help relieve pain. Here are a few other options to try.

Milk: Soak a clean cloth in a bowl with 1 cup milk, 4 cups water, and a few ice cubes. Apply the compress for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every 2 to 4 hours. The protein, fat, and pH of milk have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. Apply cool, not cold, milk with a clean cloth to your sunburned skin. The milk will create a protein film that helps ease sunburn discomfort.

Cornstarch: Mix this anti-inflammatory with some water to make a paste, and apply directly to the sunburn for relief.

Yogurt: Like milk, yogurt has proteins and fats that can keep painful inflammation at bay. To get relief, apply yogurt to all sunburned areas, rinse off in a cool shower, then gently pat skin dry.

Lettuce: Did you know that your favorite lunch starter has analgesic properties? To reap the benefits, boil lettuce leaves in water, strain, and then let the liquid cool several hours in the refrigerator. Dip cotton balls into the liquid and gently dab onto irritated skin.

Like milk, yogurt applied to sunburned skin also can be soothing.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and can help decrease inflammation caused by sunburn. Use Vitamin E oil on the skin, or take a regular dose of the supplement. Vitamin E oil also can be rubbed onto peeling skin.

Cucumbers have natural antioxidant and analgesic (pain relieving) properties. Chill cucumbers, then mash in a blender to create a paste, and apply to affected sunburned areas including the face. Cucumber also can be soothing for peeling skin following a sunburn.

Boil and mash peeled potatoes, let cool, and apply as a dressing to sunburned areas. It is believed the starch in the potatoes helps draw out heat, which may reduce pain and speed healing.

Cornstarch also can be mixed with water to form a paste that can be applied to skin to help soothe the sunburn.

Try a classic compress-Ice

If you'd rather use the food in your kitchen to, you know, make a meal, there are plenty of other things you can put on a compress to soothe burned, inflamed skin. The most straightforward option is to use ice-cold water. Pour water and ice into a bowl, soak a cloth in the liquid, and place it over the burn. Repeat this process every few minutes as the cloth warms. Apply the compress several times a day for 10 to 15 minutes, Schreiber says.

If your burn becomes itchy, It is suggested making a compress with water and Domeboro's powder packets. The aluminum acetate in the powder keeps skin from getting too dry or itchy. Witch hazel can also ward off uncomfortable, itchy skin and has been shown to have long-lasting anti-inflammatory relief, says Haberman. To soothe larger areas, moisten a cloth with the astringent and place it over the affected areas. For smaller areas, dip cotton balls into the liquid and gently blot on.

Sleeping with a nasty sunburn can be challenging, but you need to rest for your body to recover. (Take a peek at these 100 simple strategies for better sleep.) Try sprinkling talcum powder on your sheets to minimize chafing and friction, Haberman suggests. An air mattress might also help you sleep more easily since it retains less heat. One to try: the King Koil Luxury Raised Air Mattress.

SMART TIP: If your legs or feet are burned, elevate your legs above heart level to help stop the swelling.

Consider an OTC remedy

If cool baths and soothing compresses aren't bringing you relief, consider trying an OTC remedy. Whether you head to your local pharmacy or order something online, you'll want to look for products with these key healers:

Hydrocortisone

Soothe skin irritation and inflammation with a topical lotion, spray, or ointment containing 1% hydrocortisone, such as Cortaid or Cortizone-10, says Basler.

"We're starting to see evidence in medical literature that aloe vera may really help wound healing," says Basler. If you have an aloe plant, simply break off a leaf and apply the juice. Aloe vera gel is the next best thing. One to try: Majestic Pure Aloe Vera Gel; unlike similar products, it's free of alcohol, colors, and fragrance that could further irritate the skin.

Anesthetic

If your burn is mild, an OTC anesthetic can relieve pain and itching, says Gossel. Look for products that contain benzocaine, benzyl alcohol, lidocaine, or diphenhydramine hydrochloride, such as Americaine Benzocaine Topical Anesthetic Spray. Aerosols are easier to apply than creams or ointments but never spray them directly onto your face. Instead, put some on a piece of gauze or a cotton pad and pat it on your face to avoid contact with your eyes.

SMART TIP: If you're worried that you'll develop an infection, you may use an OTC antibacterial ointment like Polysporin or Neosporin.

Resist the urge to peel

Blisters are a sign of severe damage, and they must be treated with care. If they bother you and they cover only a small area, you may carefully drain them, Basler says. But don't peel the top skin off; you'll have less discomfort and danger of infection if air does not come in contact with sensitive nerve endings. To drain the fluid, first, sterilize a needle by holding it over a flame. Then puncture the edge of the blister and press gently on the top to let the fluid come out. Do this three times in the first 24 hours, and then leave the blisters alone, says Basler.

Wise up

 Don't make the same mistake twice. After you've gotten burned, it takes 3 to 6 months for your skin to return to normal, Schreiber says. "When you get a sunburn, and the top layer of skin peels off, the newly exposed skin is more sensitive than ever. That means you'll burn even faster than you did before if you're not careful."

Sunscreen Spray or Lotion

Be aware of your sun exposure and protect yourself with SPF 15 or 30 made with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone, which block both ultraviolet A and B rays, says dermatologist Norman Levine, MD. (Fun fact: Sunscreens with SPF 15 protect against 94% of the sun's harmful rays, and those with SPF 30 protect against 97%.) We like avobenzone-based Coola Suncare Organic SPF 50 Sunscreen.

Apply sunblock liberally about 30 minutes before going out, even when it's overcast, and don't forget to protect your lips (try this lip balm with SPF 30), hands, ears, and the back of your neck. Wearing protective clothing like hats, lightweight long-sleeved tees, and cover-ups can also help to keep your skin protected.

When to call the doctor

Some burns are simply too severe to be treated at home. Consult a doctor if you experience nausea, chills, fever, faintness, extensive blistering, general weakness, patches of purple discoloration, or intense itching. Be aware that if the burn seems to be spreading, you could have an infection compounding the problem.

You should also contact your physician if you're taking prescription medications. There's a chance that they may be making you photosensitive. Certain drugs, like antibiotics, tranquilizers, and antifungal medications can increase your sensitivity to the sun and cause reactions, says Basler. Oral contraceptives, diuretics, drugs for diabetes, and even PABA-containing sunscreens may also increase your risk of sunburn.

Do not stop taking any prescribed medication without first consulting your doctor.