Natural Ways To Treat Sunburn At Home

By
Mercy Ekele
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Sunburns typically develops within a few hours of being exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation, either from sunshine or artificial sources (sunlamps, tanning beds).

Sunburn is characterized by red, inflamed skin that’s painful and warm to feel.

Below are natural ways to treat and soothe sunburn at home:

Your skin may start to look a little pink or inflamed while at the beach or park, but you’ll likely see it and feel it to a much greater extent by the time you get home a few hours later.

As such, as soon as you feel and see sun-burned skin, apply a cool compress or take a cool bath or shower if much of your skin is inflamed. The cool temperature of the water will help combat inflammation and soothe the pain a little. Your skin will also absorb some water, which is important for sunburned skin due to its dehydration.

Aloe vera gel is likely the most popular herbal remedy for any causes of inflamed skin. Aloe vera has a tremendous ability to soothe sunburn and reduce the pain. Applying aloe vera multiple times per day for the first few days after a sunburn can make a significant impact on your skin and prevent much discomfort.

Read also: Simple Ways To Prevent Skin Darkening By Avoiding The Sun

Sun-burned skin lacks the moisture of normal skin, so another way to soothe it and stimulate healing is to keep it well moisturized. After a cool shower or bath, lather generous amounts of moisturizing cream or lotion onto skin, which will help prevent water from evaporating.

Repeat applications frequently throughout the day to make the eventual peeling and flaking less noticeable. Consider natural moisturizers that contain vitamins C and E, aloe vera, cucumber extract — all help to soothe and help repair damaged skin.

Another method of keeping your skin hydrated is to drink lots of fluids. For the duration of your sunburn (at least the initial few days), drink extra water, natural juice and/or uncaffeinated sports drinks so your body and skin can rehydrate and start to repair itself.

Prevention is always your first line of defense against a sunburn.

There are many things you can do to protect yourself from sunburn, including: reapplying sunscreen every two hours; wearing protective clothing made from tightly-woven fabrics, long-sleeved shirts, hats, sunglasses; avoiding extended exposure to the sun during peak hours (usually 10am – 4pm).

Sunburn in a very light-skinned person may take less than 15 minutes of midday sun exposure, while a darker skinned person may tolerate the same exposure for hours.

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Photo credit: Getty