Home Remedies For Sunburn

Hot summer days are so much fun, and outside activities are popular in warm weather – for this reason it’s useful to go over home remedies for sunburn! Sunbathing at the beach, playing some footie at the park, and even just straight-up sunbathing is so much fun, but without the proper protection, it can be very damaging to the skin. 

 

Even in winter, the sun’s rays can still cause skin damage, but in summer, you’re more likely to see visible damage; sunburn. 

 

Anyone who has ever had a slight sunburn knows the absolute horror of having to perform even the most minor tasks with burned skin. Very bad sunburn will need medical treatment to avoid infection or permanent skin damage, but there are some home remedies for less severe cases that may even be found in your pantry.

 

Prevention

 

Before we speak about a cure, there are some ways to prevent sunburn altogether. (As they say, prevention is better than cure, and when it comes to sunburn, that is very true). If you know you’re going to be in the sun, take a hat with a wide brim to cast some shade onto your face. Our faces get the most damage because of prolonged exposure – it is the one part of our body, other than our hands, that doesn’t usually get covered up. 

 

Also, make it a habit to wear sunscreen. If you don’t enjoy the smell of sunscreen – which many don’t, try to get a lotion with a fragrance you like that contains a high SPF. SPF is a measure of how much solar energy (UV radiation) is required to produce sunburn on protected skin (i.e., in the presence of sunscreen) relative to the amount of solar energy needed to make sunburn on unprotected skin, explains FDA. As the SPF value of your sunscreen increases, your sunburn protection increases too.

 

What Is Sunburn? 

Sunburn is the result of spending too much time in the direct sunlight, and it is precisely as the name describes; a burn from the heat of the sun. 

It usually appears for a few hours after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. This can be from natural sunshine or even artificial sources, like sunlamps.

Sunburn is red or white and has peeled layers of skin, depending on the degree of the burn. It is very similar to a burn from fire or acid. If you have sunburn, your skin will be raw and painful.  

Continuous UV light exposure increases the risk of other skin damage, such as dark spots, rough spots, and dry or wrinkled skin, says Mayo Clinic. It also increases the risk of skin cancers such as melanoma.

 

Other sunburn signs and symptoms can include:

 

• Skin that is warm or hot when touched
• Swelling
• Small fluid-filled blisters
• Headache, fever, nausea and fatigue
• Painful or sandy eyes

 

Home Remedies

 

Get immediate medical assistance if you have a nasty burn that isn’t healing or an infection presented by puss, watery liquid or strange colour. 

 

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Home remedies can ease the pain and burning of the affected area. 

 

Cool Water

Sunburn will feel as if it is on fire! Take a gentle bath in tepid water to ease the burn. Alternatively, take a cold shower, but don’t let the water rush out fast against the skin. Watch the water pressure so that you don’t hurt yourself. 

 

Avoid Any More Exposure

 

Stay indoors while the layers of the skin heal and close back up. If you must go out, cover the skin with clothing, an umbrella or anything else that will block the sun from causing further damage.

 

Hydrate

 

A sunburn draws water away from other parts of the body toward your skin. Drink loads of water to avoid dehydration. Water is an excellent addition to any healthy diet, so make this a habit whether you have a sunburn or not!

 

Watch Your Blisters 

Apply cold compresses or moisturiser. Do not break open any blisters intentionally—this can cause infection. If a blister does break open, clean the area with mild soap and water. Then apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the area with gauze.

 

Vinegar

 

Cider vinegar restores the pH balance of the skin, which will help heal it faster. Add one cup of cider vinegar to your tepid bath and lay in it for a few minutes.

 

Essential Oils 

 

Try putting some oils like peppermint, lavender, chamomile and tea tree on the area to reduce inflammation. Make sure to dilute the essential oils with a “carrier” oil such as almond oil or add the essential oils to a moisturiser such as an aloe vera. says All in Health.

 

Oatmeal 

 

Oatmeal is a natural anti-inflammatory. You can make a paste of oatmeal and cold milk and apply it to your skin or add oatmeal to a cool bath and soak in it.