Everybody needs sun exposure to absorb vitamin D, but nobody has time for the lobster life. We understand that you may not want to lather up in sunscreen all day, and we don’t blame you because many varieties contain chemicals and harm coral reefs, but you also don’t want awkward tan lines, peeling skin, or sun blisters.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a sunburn has more long-term damage than you may realize. It’s not a color that will inevitably fade; rather, a damaging sunburn that results in blisters during childhood or adolescence can double the chances of developing melanoma. Additionally, repeated exposure to ultraviolet light, without taking proper skin protecting measures, increases the risk of premature aging and skin cancer.
The good news is that a lot of home remedies can accelerate the healing process and reduce the sting or discomfort of sunburns. Some of the best natural remedies that will save your skin after too much time in the sun are listed below.
Baking Soda Bath
Baking soda has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the itchiness and redness of sunburns. Take a half-cup of baking soda and stir it into a lukewarm bath and soak in the bath for about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can draw a bath and stir 2-4 cups of finely ground oats, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1 cup of evaporated milk, all of which help to fight inflammation.
Apply Aloe Vera
First off, get some fresh aloe vera and avoid using the bottled aloe vera gel, which often contains alcohol and can dry out the skin. You want maximum hydration after a sunburn, so it is recommended to apply the fresh aloe plant directly on the skin. Aloe provides soothing and cooling properties, making it great for sunburnt skin.
Use Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a common ingredient in DIY skin care and hair care recipes, but it can be beneficial for soothing sunburns. The reason for this is because it contains tannins, which work to repair damaged skin and decrease swelling. If too much fun in the sun left you looking like a lobster, witch hazel is a great solution. Pour about three tablespoons of witch hazel into a bowl, dip a cotton ball in it, and gently dab the cotton ball on sunburnt skin.
Make Sure To Hydrate
It is common for sunburnt victims to experience dehydration because the sunburn draws fluid away from the rest of the body and to the skin. Replenish your fluids by consuming lots of water, not soda, not caffeine, and definitely not alcohol. The reason you should avoid alcohol after a sunburn is because it can slow the healing process by dehydrating the body even more.
Mist With Frankincense Oil
Essential oils like peppermint and tea tree work wonders for the skin, and they often overshadow the skin-regenerating properties of frankincense essential oil. Frankincense can help to reduce the pain of a sunburn and can accelerate the healing process. To make a sunburn relief spray, add 8-15 drops of frankincense essential oil to a spray bottle and fill the rest of the bottle with filtered water. Mist the affected area to promote healing.
Mist With Lavender Oil
Once upon a time in early 20th century France, a chemist discovered the healing properties of lavender. He wasn’t the first person to realize these properties; rather, he accidentally dunked his hand into a large bowl of lavender oil after severely burning his hand. To his surprise, the burn healed quickly! Lavender essential oil can have the same healing effects on sunburnt skin. Mix one teaspoon of lavender and two ounces of filtered water in a spray bottle. Shake this up and mist onto the sunburn as needed.
Try White Vinegar
Acetic acid, which works to relieve pain, is a component of aspirin, but you don’t need to take aspirin when you have distilled white vinegar. Don’t drink the stuff; rather, soak some paper towels in the vinegar and gently pat sunburnt skin to help reduce itching and inflammation. If the face is burnt, avoid the eye area because vinegar in the eyes is worse than the pain of your sunburn. You can also pour one cup of distilled white vinegar in a tepid bath and soak for 20 minutes.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
