Picture basking in the summer sun by the beach, sipping your favorite cocktail – seems blissful, doesn’t it? It surely is euphoric until you get back home and realize that you’ve got what is the worst of summer – a sunburn! Though it may seem like a sunburn doesn’t do much harm besides making you look like a roasted tomato, the fact is far from what you believe. Excessive exposure to the UV rays of the sun can not only hasten your age clock but also make you susceptible to skin cancer. Even though you do your bit by slathering tons of sunscreen on your skin, you may still end up experiencing itchy and painful rashes, commonly known as sunburn. But hey, you don’t need to endure the brunt of the ruthless sun; you can face it head-on, and we’ll show you just how!
To get relief from sunburn, you don’t need to run to the drugstore. All you need to do is rummage through your kitchen cabinets and reach out for these miraculous home remedies for sunburn relief.
This magical kitchen ingredient is the perfect home remedy for sunburns, owing to its anti-inflammatory properties (1).
You could try this remedy once every morning, until your sunburn heals.
It helps soothe skin inflammation, irritation, and itchiness caused by sunburn (2). It has a cooling effect on the skin due to its alkaline nature.
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Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, can restore the pH level of the skin to normal and expedite the process of healing (3).
Reapply it on your skin every 5 hours for best results.
It contains acetic acid that soothes irritation and inflammation caused by sunburn (4). ACV reduces the incidence of blisters caused by sunburn too!
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You must have seen and even tried the popular practice of placing cucumber on your eyes to help fight dark circles. Did you know this cooling vegetable can also fight sunburn?
You can repeat this process as often as you like.
Packed with natural compounds that have antioxidant and analgesic properties, cucumber not only heals the inflammation but also soothes the pain associated with sunburn (). It keeps the skin moisturized as well.
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This miracle plant, also known as “the elixir of life”, gets touted as one of the best skincare (and sunburn remedies) that’s out there!
Try this remedy at least once every day until you see results.
The gel of the aloe vera plant has remarkable cooling and soothing properties that help provide instant relief from the pain and irritation caused by sunburn. Studies also prove that aloe vera accelerates skin healing (6). Aloe Vera gel is also known to have a moisturizing effect on the skin.
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Oatmeal is another highly recommended remedy for sunburns.
Try this remedy at least once every day until you experience relief from sunburn.
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties contained in oatmeal compounds, called avenanthramides, can provide relief from itching and irritated skin caused due to sunburn. Oatmeal is a remedy that also helps treat eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and other common skin conditions (7).
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Try this remedy at least 2-3 times every day until you experience relief from sunburn.
A cold compress helps subside the swelling as well as soothes the pain caused by sunburn. What’s best about this remedy is that you don’t need to run to the supermarket for any ingredients that you may be short of.
Avoid rubbing ice on your skin directly. It may cause frostbites (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/health/10real.html?_r=0).
Dip a towel in ice-cold water and apply it to the affected areas of your skin for 10-15 minutes. Avoid rubbing ice on your skin directly.
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Yogurt not only keeps your digestive health in great shape but also works brilliantly towards treating sunburns.
Try this remedy at least once every day until you experience relief from sunburn.
Yogurt helps restore the pH level of the skin, thereby ensuring faster healing (9). It has natural cooling properties that provide relief from the heat and irritation caused by sunburn. As a rich source of lactic acid – an alpha-hydroxy acid, yogurt can reduce premature aging caused by excessive sun exposure (10). When applied to the skin regularly, it can even minimize discoloration caused due to sun exposure, given its mild bleaching properties.
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Strange as it may seem, potatoes are a highly effective remedy to minimize the dangers of sunburn.
Try this remedy at least once every day until you see results.
The starchy properties of potato have the ability to absorb the excess heat from your skin while also alleviating the stinging pain caused by sunburn (11).
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The wonders of honey have been emphasized by both – the proponents of modern medicine, as well as those of alternative medicine. It’s especially famous for its dermatological benefits.
Try this remedy at least once every day until you experience relief from sunburn.
A study conducted by the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences documented the benefits of honey towards treating wounds, ulcers, sunburn, and many external and internal infections owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (12). This natural antiseptic and the antibiotic agent has a soothing effect on the inflamed skin and can help enhance the process of healing. It’s also an excellent humectant that helps restore the lost moisture to your parched skin.
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After savoring a rejuvenating tea cuppa, don’t throw away the tea bags. Use them to treat your sunburn.
Try this remedy at least once every day until you experience relief from sunburn.
The tannic acid contained in black tea absorbs the heat from the skin and restores its pH balance (13). Black tea is also rich in antioxidants that reduce swelling. You can also use mint tea bags to fight sunburn as it has remarkable cooling properties.
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Sunburns are a result of excessive exposure of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) rays, especially the UVA and UVB rays.
Usually when your skin gets exposed to UV rays, your body increases the production of melanin, a pigment that gives your skin, eyes, and hair their color. This is what is referred to as a suntan – your body’s means of protecting your skin from sunburn. However, in some people, especially those who have a lighter skin tone, the body doesn’t produce enough melanin to block the UV damage, thereby causing sunburn and its associated symptoms of swelling, itchiness, and stinging pain.
You may think that sunburns can only harm you on sunny days. However, you should know that even on cloudy or cold days, 80% of the UV rays can reach the surface of the earth. Since water and ice can reflect UV rays, you should always protect your skin with a sunscreen offering SPF protection between 15 and 30.
Factors such as extreme working conditions (working outdoors), frequent exposure to artificial tanning sources, having a light skin tone, and intake of photosynthesizing drugs can put you at a greater risk of experiencing sunburn.
Though the remedies mentioned above are completely safe to use, do a patch test before trying them out to prevent any adverse reactions.
The next time the sun leaves you red in the face, you needn’t hit the panic button! These remedies and tips are surely going to ease your stress about what may be the only downside of a sunny day. Stay protected and enjoy the sun!