Summer often brings with it the joy of vacation and relaxation. From the usual bleak, cold days of winter, summer is usually welcomed with both arms wide open. But relaxation and spending hours to get that perfect tan look can damage skin and cause sunburn. If you’re an active person or have tried sunbathing, you would have most likely had sunburn at least once in your life.
So, generally as a preventive measure you find the highest SPF sunscreen, slather it on once in every few hours and forget about how long you’re soaking up the sun and just imagine you’re getting all the Vitamin D’s you have missed during the winter.
These are the two most important misconceptions that we need to understand. A common myth associated with Vitamin D is that occasional exposure of face and hands would be sufficient to produce a healthy amount of vitamin D our body needs. But, this sort of exposure is not enough to produce a healthy amount of Vitamin D. In fact, you would need to expose large portions of the skin on your legs, back, arms and chest to a point where it turns the lightest shade of pink (around 20 minutes). This is where your skin has reached its saturation point and your body will not produce any more vitamin D.
But, when one is using SPF, one can forget that the damage the excessive sun can do even in the presence of a sunscreen and stay out for long hours. Even with an SPF, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and protecting yourself is essential. Or you might still risk sunburn.
Signs And Symptoms Of Sunburn
-Redness of the skin or erythema
-Skin that’s warm or hot to the touch
-Discomfort when skin gets touched or rubbed against clothes
-Peeling or flaking of the skin
-Extreme dryness or wrinkling of the skin
These symptoms are not immediately visible after a few hours from exposure and are most painful in the first 24 hours. Sunburn are classified into first, second and third-degree burns.
First- and second-degree sunburns are fairly temporary and are manageable at home. In third-degree sunburns, infection-prone skin breakouts, fever, and chills can occur, and immediate serious medical attention is highly recommended.
Home Remedies For Sunburn
-Honey: Apply it over the burnt area and wash off with cold water.
-Buttermilk: Wash your face or burnt area in buttermilk.
-Lettuce: Boil the leaves, strain it and cool it in the refrigerator. Once chilled, use cotton balls to apply the liquid over the affected area.
-Oatmeal: Wrap dry oatmeal in cheesecloth or gauze. Run cool water through it. Discard the oatmeal and soak compresses in the liquid. Apply every 2 to 4 hours.
-Potatoes: Uncooked Potato juice or Potato slices can be gently applied over the affected area as it will cool and soothe the skin. You can also try grating a cold raw potato and apply it as a poultice.
-Milk: Mix 1 cup milk with 4 cups water, then add a few ice cubes. Apply compresses for 15 to 20 minutes; repeat every 2 to 4 hours.
-Apple Cider Vinegar: The acetic acid in vinegar reduces pain, itching, and inflammation. Add a cup of cider vinegar into your bath water and soak your burned skin into it. You can also dab a bit of white vinegar on your sunburn for 20 minutes for instant pain relief
-Cornstarch: Add enough water to cornstarch to make a paste. Apply directly to the sunburn.
-Cucumbers: Make a paste and apply it on the burnt area.
-Epsom Salt/Baking Soda: Epsom salts or baking soda in water, apply to a clean cloth, and drape the cloth over the affected skin.
-Strawberries: Berries have tannin, which helps alleviate the sting of the sunburn. Use it as a topical balm by mashing a cup of ripe strawberries and applying it on sunburns. Let it stay after a few minutes, and rinse with fresh, tepid water.
-Black/Green Tea: Add them to your bathwater or pat sunburnt skin with used wet tea bags.
Herbs For Sunburn
-Ground Yarrow: Infuse ground yarrow and use it as a wash.
-Aloe vera: Cut a matured aloe vera leaf open, and use the thick gel-like juice as a topical ointment. Apply it five times a day until your condition improves.
-Elder Flowers: Wash with an infusion of elder flowers or chickweed.
-Calendula: Make a poultice using fresh calendula blossoms and apply on the affected area.
-Stinging Nettles/Chamomile/Calendula: Bathe the sunburn with an infusion of stinging nettles, chamomile, or calendula.
-Witch Hazel: Apply a compress of decocted witch hazel
Essential Oils For Sunburn
-Coriander oil: For a soothing effect, use it as an essential oil by lightly rubbing it onto your sunburn.
-Lavender/Bergamot Essential Oil: Use them in a bath
-St.Johnswort: Use an ointment/Salve with this essential oil for burns that haven’t broken the skin. It is not only anti-inflammatory but also antiviral and antibacterial
Additional note: If you are going to sleep or rest for a while don’t leave your treated skin dry. After the using any of the above remedies, apply cool moisturizer (from a fridge) or some bath oil for added relief.
Oral Treatments For Sunburn
Sunburn also is a sign of dehydration. So drinking water and other liquids that can restore this balance is essential.
-Drink an infusion of cooling peppermint or spearmint tea.
-Eat foods like watermelon, honeydew, beets, and cantaloupe.
Cautionary Note: If your pains are severe and you have chills, fever and nausea after a sunburn please consult a doctor.
By Rachelle Chandraan
