It’s that time of year when the sun calls to us and we may end up spending a little too much time catching the rays without adequate skin protection. Skin protection is so important to not only help reduce early aging, lines, and wrinkles but more importantly to prevent the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. According to the EPA, “too much ultraviolet radiation (UV) from sunlight is dangerous. Nearly half of UV radiation is received between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Even on a cloudy day, you can be sunburned by UV radiation.” And studies have shown that UV radiation is proven to cause basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, both dangerous skin cancers that if left untreated can be life-threatening. So, adequate and appropriate coverage is critical. That being said, we still have those times when our skin has just had too much of a good thing and we are left with painfully pink, swollen, peeling skin. Luckily minor burns generally just last a few days and there are some great natural remedies you can use to help soothe the burn while it’s healing.
A cool compress (soaked in chamomile tea) or cool shower
Since your skin has essentially been burned, cooling it down is the name of the game when it comes to helping the skin heal. Cool compresses soaked in chamomile tea or plain water may provide relief as well as cool showers or dipping in a natural water source (chlorinated water can further irritate the skin.)
A cool bath with apple cider vinegar, oatmeal or baking soda
Apple cider vinegar (known to help take the sting out of burns), oatmeal (can be great for soothing and moisturizing skin), and baking soda (may help balance the PH levels of the skin to reduce pain and inflammation) are all possible choices to add to bath water for aiding in recovery.
Aloe Vera
Known the world over for its potential healing properties, aloe vera is king when it comes to healing burns. The gel inside the aloe vera plant can be removed and applied directly to the burn, but if you don’t have access to a plant try a 100% aloe vera gel (avoid lotions or ointments with aloe vera gel added.)
Finally, when recovering from a sunburn be sure to get extra rest and drink plenty of water to help your body recover and to replace the electrolytes lost during exposure to the sun. With just a few household items, you can be on your way to feeling better in no time!
