As temperatures rise and summer time approaches, everyone’s out and about more enjoying the sun. This also means the sun ray’s are the strongest and sunburns are most common.

It might not seem like a big deal, but sunburns can be painful and even harmful to your skin.so here are twenty natural home remedies for sunburn you can use if you or a loved one has spent too much time in the sun unprotected.

Apply Natural Foods to Your Skin

Many foods or products you probably already have in your kitchen will work as home remedies for sunburn relief:

1. Oatmeal

Cook the oatmeal with extra water so it has a runnier texture, then let it cool completely. Apply gently to the sunburned skin (but don’t rub it in!). Leave on for about 30 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Repeat 2-3 times per day, as needed for relief.

2. Yogurt

The natural probiotics in the yogurt can support healing.

Apply cold yogurt directly to the sunburn and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse gently with cool water.

3. Lettuce

Bring lettuce leaves to boil in water, then strain the liquid and store it in the refrigerator to cool.

Once cool, dip cotton balls in the lettuce water and gently apply to sunburn.

4. Cucumbers

Cucumbers contain natural pain relieving properties helpful for soothing sunburned skin.

Mash or blend chilled cucumbers to create a paste. Apply to the sunburned areas.

5. Potatoes

The high starch in potatoes is believed to help draw out the heat from sunburns to increase healing time and reduce pain.

Boil and mash the potatoes, then let cool. Gently apply them to sunburn.

6. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is one of the more well-known natural home remedies for sunburns, and it’s even been researched as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory tool for sunburns (although the evidence is conflicting).

If you have access to an aloe plant, you can break off a leaf, extract the juice, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, then apply directly to the burn. Allow it to fully absorb. (It’s always a good idea to start with a small area if you haven’t used aloe before, just to be sure you aren’t allergic.)

If you don’t have an aloe plant, you can also buy pure aloe vera gel, chill it in the refrigerator, and apply to burn. Do this as much as you need—around 5-6 times per day is good—to reduce pain and redness.

7. Cornstarch

Add some water to cornstarch until it forms a paste, then apply to burn.

8. Black Tea Bags

Black tea contains tannic acid, which is said to help restore pH balance to your skin and draw heat from the burn. Plus, black tea contains tons of antioxidants that may help soothe irritated sunburned skin. Here’s how to use it:

• Brew 2-3 teabags in hot water, then let sit for a few minutes.
• Remove bags and let the tea cool to room temperature.
• Soak a clean cloth in the tea, then apply to skin.
• Let tea dry completely on skin, then reapply often (3-4 times a day until you see improvements).

9. Baking Soda

The alkalinity of baking soda can really soothe sunburned skin, plus its antiseptic properties may help relieve itching.

Like with cornstarch, combine the baking soda with water enough to form a paste and apply it to the skin. Leave for 10 minutes, then gently wash off with cool water.

Repeat 1-2 times per day until skin improves.

Make a Compress

Sunburned skin is inflamed skin. Making a cold compress can help by constricted tiny blood vessels and cooling inflammation.

Several natural remedies involve holding a compress—which is a cloth dipped in different solutions—on the skin as long as the solutions are cold. Here are some good compress ingredients:

10. Witch Hazel

Witch hazel acts as a natural astringent and may provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [1].

Moisten a cloth with witch hazel and apply cloth to skin often for temporary relief.

11. Cold water

Can’t forget good old water for sunburn relief! Dip your cloth into plain, cool water to wrap it in a few ice cubes, then lay on skin for 10-15 minutes at a time, several times a day.

12. Fat-free Milk

Mix four cups of water with a cup of fat-free milk. Dip cloth into mixture and apply to burn for 15-20 minutes every two to four hours.

13. Lotion: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Don’t forget: sunburned skin is damaged skin. And the worse the burn, the more damage is done. Your skin needs time to heal and repair, and keeping it moisturized is one of the best ways to do that.

While compresses and soaks provide temporary relief and feel really good, they can potentially leave the skin drier on their own. So make sure you’re always moisturizing your skin in between other remedies you try.

Once the skin is dry, apply some bath oil and let it soak in. Then, apply a lot of natural lotion or soothing creams. For even more relief, try chilling the lotion in the refrigerator before applying it.

14. Vitamin D

A recent placebo-controlled clinical trial showed taking vitamin D an hour after getting sunburned may greatly reduce swelling, redness, and inflammation [2].

In addition, avoiding sun exposure to decrease the risk of sunburn (and skin cancer) is a great idea. But if you live in locations with less sun year round, you might need more vitamin D.

15. Vitamin E

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and may help decrease sunburn-induced inflammation.

Vitamin E can be taken in supplement form (check with your doctor or naturopath first) or can be rubbed onto sunburned skin (and may help with peeling).

16. Essential Oils

Essential oils have many different uses, including sunburn relief! Applying small amounts may help soothe the skin (just make sure the oil type you use is safe for skin application). The two best oils for sunburn are:

• Lavender essential oil: may help reduce redness and stinging as the skin heals
• Peppermint essential oil: can act as a natural pain reliever to soothe burnt skin and provide a nice cooling sensation

17. Ice Packs

If the sunburn is mild, applying an ice pack can help. Just make sure it’s not too cold directly on skin by wrapping the pack in a towel or damp cloth before putting on the skin. If you don’t have an ice pack at home, a bag of frozen peas or ice in a baggy wrapped in cloth can work too.

18. Drinking Lots of Water (and Eating Water-Rich Foods)

Don’t forget to drink plenty of healthy fluids! You’ll need to counteract the drying effects of the sunburn. Keep water nearby at all times, and drink up.

Water-rich foods count too. Think watermelons, honeydew, cantaloupe, and other healthy, hydrating summer fruits.

19. Resting Your Body

Your body is healing itself after a sunburn. You’ll need plenty of rest to aid its amazing natural healing process.

Make sleep a priority and aim for 7-8 hours per night. Give yourself permission to rest more as your sunburn heals.

Precaution: Be Careful Bathing

You might be tempted to soak your sunburned skin in a warm bath, but that can actually make things worse. And definitely stay away from harsh soaps or any type of exfoliants, which can irritate and dry out the skin further.

Try to only rinse gently with lukewarm or cool water and gently pat your skin dry—no rubbing.

You can soak in cool water using a natural vinegar like apple cider vinegar.

20. Apple Cider Vinegar

Add one cup of apple cider vinegar (white vinegar works too) to a bath full of cool water. Soak for about 30 minutes, then get out and gently pat dry with a soft towel.

The vinegar acts as a natural astringent to help soothe inflammation and pain, balance pH levels, and support the healing process.

(If you have any cuts on your skin, avoid using vinegars as a remedy.)

Play It Smart: Protect Your Skin From Future Sun Damage

Try these home remedies for sunburn to soothe and help speed healing. Then, use this as an opportunity to be more careful in the sun next time. Every time you get a sunburn, the skin is damaged and your chances of skin cancer are increase.

Here are some tips for protecting your skin during the warm sunny months:

• Apply a natural sunscreen about 30 minutes before going outside, even if there are clouds out. Don’t forget about your lips too! Using a lip balm with SPF. If you sweat a lot or go swimming, be sure to re-apply regularly.
• Make sure the SPF of the sunscreen is at least15, and preferably at least 30, which will protect you from 94-97% of sun rays.
• Wear protective clothing like long sleeves, hats, and fabrics that are tightly woven to help protect your skin from long sun exposure.
• Be most careful between 10am and 3pm, which is when the sun is strongest.

Your skin is your largest organ, so protecting it is the most powerful form of healthy skin care. Treat it well as you have fun in the sun this summer!

Sources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3214789/
2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170706125020.htm

Disclaimer: Statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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