Summer season, beaches, swimming, hiking and there you go suffering from sunburn! Though a little exposure to UV rays (found in the sun rays) is helpful for the skin as it nourishes with vitamin D, but an excessive exposure apart from causing deleterious conditions like skin cancer can also lead to treatable and preventable conditions like erythema (red rashes and acute sunburn) and blistering in severe cases. The principle damage causing sunburn is a direct damage to our DNA by the UV rays from excessive sun exposure. Therefore, an inflammatory reaction begins with dilation of the blood vessels in the skin and an increased production of melanin (a pigment in the outermost layer of the skin called epidermis, which gives color to our skin and hair). Consequently, these reactions result in tanning and/or acute sunburn. Although severe cases will require medical treatment as well, but the good news for milder and moderate cases is “IT’S PREVENTABLE AS WELL AS TREATABLE!”
Here are the top 10 best remedies for sunburn
1. Cool Compresses
The easiest way to soothe a sunburned area is to apply cold compresses. Cold in general constricts the blood vessels, which in turn reduces the redness and inflammation. Soak a cloth or towel in ice-cold water and place it on the affected areas for approximately 15-20 minutes. Keep repeating the same as many times as desired to, in a 24-hour period.
2. Baking soda
An old grandmother tell tale! Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and is very effective in soothing sunburn. This is how you can use baking soda. Fill your bath with cold water and sprinkle some baking soda, approximately one cup, while stirring it. Get into the tub and soak yourself in this water-baking soda mixture for 10-15 minutes. Repeat this at least once daily for effective results. Alternatively, you can mix about 4 tablespoons of baking soda in water in a bowl. Afterwards take some cotton balls, let them remain dipped for up to a minute or two and then gently apply these cotton balls on the sunburned areas. Repeat this at least twice daily for satisfactory results.
3. Aloe Vera Gel
The aloe is numbing, soothing and cooling to the skin. If you have an aloe vera plant available in your garden, you can break off a piece or leaf and rub it over the sunburned areas. Alternatively, you can find natural aloe vera gels these days from any good herbal store.
In a bowl, take two tablespoons of oatmeal and add one tablespoon of honey. Mix it properly. Apply the mixture to the sunburned parts. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water.
Vinegar not only regulates and balances the PH of the body and skin but also serves as an excellent disinfectant and astringent. Use regular vinegar (the apple cider vinegar stings more). First perform a patch test to check whether your skin’s sensitive to the vinegar’s effects or not. After being sure, you are doing well with it, get a hold of some paper towels, and sprinkle the vinegar over them. Let your vinegar-soaked towels sit on the affected parts and then remove them.
6. Chilled Cucumber Presses
Take a chilled cucumber, slice it, and blend the slices in a blender, pouring in a small amount of water to create a paste. Cover the affected parts with the paste. Leave it on for at least 15-20 minutes and then wash it off cold water.
7. Ice-Milk Compress
Take a bowl and pour some milk in it. Then add on some ice cubes. Dip a cloth or towel in the iced-milk bowl and apply it to the affected areas several times a day.
8. Glycerin and Gram-flour (Besan)
Sprinkle a few drops of glycerin to 4-5 tbsp of gram flour. After mixing it well, spread the paste on the sunburned areas. Let it stay for a few minutes, next rinse with water.
Potatoes are a well-known remedy to have a soothing and cooler effect on the skin. Pick up two potatoes. Peel them, chop them into slices and put the slices in the blender; add a little water. Blend nicely and apply this paste over the burns. Rinse it off with cold water after the paste dries.
10. Lots and Lots of Water
Finally yet importantly, remain hydrated by drinking plenty of water. An inordinate amount of sun exposure not only strips off water from your skin nevertheless from your blood as well.