Sunburn can be the reason why your summer vacation is not what you dreamed of. They are painful and very annoying so it is best to prevent them by applying a lot of sunscreen and controlling the time of exposure to the sun. But, it usually happens that because of the desire to sunbathe we forget to take care of ourselves, we leave the sunscreen at home and excess sunlight takes over us.

Quemaduras solares Sunburn
Image By Pixabay

Regardless of the reasons, sunburn can occur throughout the year. That is why we bring you some remedies to speed up the healing process. Best of all, you probably have everything you need close at hand.

What home remedies can you use to treat sunburn?

In our pantry, garden or refrigerator, we can find many ingredients that are characterized by being very effective in treating undesirable sunburn. Let’s see, next, how we can take advantage of them and heal sunburned skin in the most natural way.

Apply aloe vera

This is one of the best-known home remedies for sunburn, and with reasons to spare. Aloe vera soothes and restores damaged skin. It can be used for both fresh sunburn and skin when it is already peeling or flaking. The only thing you need to do is make sure to avoid aloe vera gels that include alcohol and dyes, as they can dry out your skin.

It is best to use pure and 100% natural aloe vera gel. It is much cheaper and you will avoid adding other ingredients that can cause irritation to your sunburned skin. On the other hand, aloe should be tested on a small portion of skin first, as it can cause allergic contact dermatitis.

Helpful Tip: Store aloe vera in the refrigerator to enhance its natural cooling sensation.

Soak a washcloth in tea or milk

We are all familiar with the health benefits of drinking tea, but it turns out that it is also good for external applications. Black tea works best, but green tea can help too. Black tea may be more effective due to its tannic acid content, which helps naturally restore the skin’s pH balance. Make a cup of tea with two or four tea bags and then allow it to steep and cool completely before applying it to the skin with a cloth.

Cold milk can also soothe sunburned skin. Lactic acid can help exfoliate peeling skin. Apply it in the same way as you would with tea, with a washcloth.

Alkalize your relaxing bath

Apple cider vinegar provides another natural pH adjustment. This powerful ingredient balances the acidity and alkalinity of sunburned skin and supports the natural healing process. But for sunburn, it is best applied topically or used as a bath. Add two cups to a warm bath and let it soak for 15 minutes.

Freshen things up with a cold compress

Sunburn is best treated with cool, wet compresses. Adding compresses can help reduce the itchy sensation that is often associated with a burn. For immediate relief from sunburn, place cloths soaked in ice water on the skin. Avoid direct skin contact with ice and do not use towels that are very abrasive. Keep your cloth clean and dry to avoid skin irritation.

Products formulated with lidocaine can also help keep the affected area fresh. Topical anesthetic preparations that contain lidocaine provide some relief. However, creams that contain benzocaine should be avoided, as this is a sensitizer.

Use botanical ingredients

Natural botanical ingredients like chamomile and lavender can help relieve the stinging and aching sensations that accompany sunburned skin. Add a touch of essential oil to a bath made with cold water. Natural peppermint can also have a cooling effect.

If you don’t like oils, use a mild moisturizer formulated that contains healing botanicals. Use ingredients like coconut and shea butter to moisturize. You can also use ingredients like ceramides to help repair the broken skin barrier.

Stay hydrated

While it may seem obvious, one of the most effective home remedies for sunburn is drinking lots of water. Drinking water will not prevent sunburn, of course, but it can help the skin stay healthy overall, as it keeps the skin producing hyaluronic acid, which helps the skin stay plump.

By staying hydrated, along with the above methods, you will help speed up your body’s healing process. Burns draw water to the skin, which means that the rest of the body needs it more than ever. Thanks to its high levels of electrolytes, coconut water is a good option to hydrate after a day in the sun, as it helps combat fatigue.

Exfoliate very gently

Perhaps this remedy do not like it to you and it is not the first step if you are dealing with sunburn. But, it is a very good alternative once the skin has started the healing process. A gentle exfoliation will help you get rid of old skin. If your skin can tolerate an exfoliation, look for lotions with hydroxy acids, such as ammonium lactate, to gently remove the scales. Choose your product wisely, as some scrubs contain ingredients that are too harsh and abrasive for sensitive skin.

It is important that you only exfoliate the skin that is no longer red. Exfoliating too early in the healing process or peeling the skin manually, instead of allowing it to flake off on its own, could only intensify the pain and redness.

Apply hydrocortisone cream

Although most of the time it is used as a treatment for insect bites. Hydrocortisone cream can also work wonders on sunburn. As its active ingredient is a steroid, the cream works to reduce contact inflammation.

Apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream, two or three times a day to reduce redness and inflammation of the skin.

As we said at the beginning, to avoid sunburn, the best thing is prevention. Use a sunscreen suitable for your skin type. And if the sun did its thing with your skin anyway, don’t stop using these home remedies.

This article is informative and is not intended to diagnose, prescribe or treat any type of medical condition. This information is not a substitute for consulting a doctor, specialist or health professional.

Explicit or implicit recommendations on drugs, techniques, products, etc., are cited for informational purposes only. The use of this information is carried out under the sole responsibility of the users.

ALFA