10 Home Remedies for Sunburn- for this Summer

We all know how bad sunburn makes us look. Just like dry skin is a gift from the winter season, similarly, sunburn is a gift from the summer season. Summer brings with it Beach. Vacations and Sunburn. But does sunburn only occurs in summer? Well, if you sit in sun for a long time in winters too, you will experience the sunburn. Sunburns can be mild and severe both, it depends on the amount of your exposure to the sun. Well, we Indians have got the home remedies for sunburn too. And the way home remedies work, no other cream can work.

The risk of getting caught in sunburn increases as you reach near the equator or as the summer approaches. Just like you need to change your skincare routine for winter, even summer season demands a different type of skincare routine. But if you also use Home remedies, your skin will be least affected by sunburn.

Check out the blog to know more about sunburn-

What is Sunburn

Sunburn is nothing but the damage to the outermost layer of the skin. When your skin comes in contact with the harmful UV rays, it damages the skin cells and causes reddening and inflammation of the skin.

Types of Sunburn

There are four different types of Sunburn-

• First-Degree Sunburn- It is a simple type of sunburn, where only the upper layer gets burnt and makes your skin red, dry and painful. It gets healed in 3-6 days.

• Second- Degree Sunburn- This type of burn affects your two layers of the skin. You can see small blisters appearing on your skin.

• Third-Degree Sunburn- It is a deep-partial thickness burn and is more severe than the second degree burn. It gives you blisters which takes around 21 days to heal.

• Fourth-Degree Sunburn- The last type of burn, which should be avoided at all costs. It is very severe and affects all your skin layers.

Symptoms of Sunburn

Signs and symptoms of sunburn vary from person to person. In case of severe sunburn, blistering may occur. Some of the other symptoms of sunburn are-

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Fever
• Weakness
• Chills
• Low blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness

10 Home Remedies to Cure Sunburn

1. Ice-

What better than relieving your burnt skin with the pack of ice. Ice helps to decrease the skin sensitivity and also numbs the area. It reduces the inflammation and gives you relieve from sunburn.

What to do:

• Take a cube of ice or an ice bag
• Keep it on the burned area
• Let the pack stay for 5-10 minutes
• Remove and keep on reapplying it for 30 minutes.

2. Cool Water-

The way ice takes care of your skin same way cool water does. If you keep yourself soaked in cool water, it will help get rid of inflammation of the skin. So, if you are outside, just hop in the water, ocean or lake and keep yourself soaked in it.

Don’t hit the swimming pool, chlorinated water can cause more pain and itching.

3. Aloe Vera-

Aloe vera is a magical plant, which helps to take care of your skin and hair at its best. It helps to calm the inflammation skin and relieve from the sunburn.

What to do:

• Cut an aloe vera leaf and extract the gel out of it
• Apply the gel on the affected area
• Let it stay for 10-15 minutes
• Wash it off later.
• You can apply the gel again and again throughout the day.

4. Honey-

This sticky and messy stuff is very effective to remove the burned skin. Honey is rich in antibacterial properties, it relieves the skin from the itchiness and also helps to make the skin soft and smooth.

What to do:

• Take a little of honey
• Apply the honey on the affected area
• Let it stay for 10-15 minutes
• Wash it off with normal water.

5. Oatmeal-

Yes, having an Oatmeal bath is also effective to relieve you from bad sunburn. Oatmeal exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is used to treat various skin conditions and is also helpful in soothing sunburns.

What to do:

• Take 1 cup of Oatmeal
• Fill your bathtub with water
• Pour the cup of oatmeal in the bathtub
• Soak yourself in the oatmeal bath for around 15-20 minutes.

6. Tomato-

Tomatoes is one amazing ingredient when it comes to curing the sunburn instantly. The enzymes of tomatoes get absorbed in the skin and heal the skin from inside. It relieves the skin from sunburn and keeps the skin texture even.

What to do:

• Take a half cut tomato
• Rub the tomato on your burnt skin
• Massage in circular motion
• Let it stay for few minutes
• Wash off the tomato from your face after 5 minutes.
• Repeat it 2-3 times in a day.

7. Witch Hazel-

It is a type of anti-inflammatory astringent which helps to relieve from sunburn and minimize pain and itching.

What to do:

• Take a wet cloth or cotton gauze
• Apply a little of witch hazel on it
• Keep it on the affected area for 3-4 times a day
• Do it for 20 minutes, it will minimize the pain and itching.

8. Coconut oil-

You must be thinking that how can a Coconut oil cure your sunburn. Well, coconut oil is rich in anti-inflammatory and antiseptic property. It helps to heal the wounds quickly and also soothes the sunburn.

What to do:

• Take some virgin coconut oil in your palms.
• Apply the oil directly on your sunburned skin
• Let it get absorbed completely
• Do this multiple times in a day.

9. Green Tea-

The tannic acid in Green tea helps to pull the heat from sunburn, and repair the damaged skin. It is also rich in polyphenols and helps to treat the sunburned skin.

What to do:

• Take 1-2 green tea bags
• Put the bag in a cup of water
• Steep it for 5-10 minutes and then strain out the mixture.
• Refrigerate the used tea bags and then apply it on the affected area.
• Rinse it off after 20-30 minutes.

10. Apple Cider Vinegar-

Another magical ingredient after aloe vera gel. ACV is acidic in nature, it helps to balance the pH value of the skin and calms the inflammation.

What to do:

• Take 1 cup of ACV
• And pour it in the tub of water
• Soak yourself in the ACV water.

Preventive Tips for Sunburn

• Try to avoid direct exposure to the sun.
• The sun is at a peak from 12 noon-4pm, try to stay indoors at that time.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 35
• Wear UV protected glasses to avoid eye damage
• Avoid tight-fitting clothes
• Use a water-resistant sunscreen
• Try to cover as much as your body part
• Wear a wide hat when outdoors
• Also protect your lips, by applying SPF infused lip balm.

So, these are some of the effective home remedies to cure yourself from the sunburn. Sunburn can get worse if not taken proper care of it, therefore, it is better to follow above home remedies to prevent and cure the sunburn.

FAQ

1. Is there something called as Sunburn eyes?

Yes, when you are long exposed to the sun and your eyes are not protected. It will result in sunburned eyes.

2. Can dark-skinned people get sunburn?

Dark skinned people produce more melanin than lighter shade skinned people. They too can get sunburned, but their skin takes longer time to get affected. Still, all the skin tone people are at equal risk of getting sunburn.