It’s always best to avoid sunburn in the first place. However, I don’t advocate completely barring yourself from the sun. It would be best if you got sufficient vitamin D.
If you spend too much time in the sun and you need sunburn relief, you’ve got many natural options! So let’s get right to it!
Natural Remedies For Sunburn Relief
1. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a natural analgesic or painkiller. It also helps soothe burnt areas by providing a cooling sensation. Because peppermint oil is also effective at alleviating headaches, it can also help with the after-sun headache some people suffer.
2. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is my second favourite essential oil for sunburns. It reduces the sting of burns and reduces redness. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, it’ll speed up healing, allowing your body to recover faster.
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal relieves itchy, dry skin and reduces inflammation as burns heal. You can enjoy its healing effects by blending dry oats in a blender or food processor until it’s finely ground and smooth. Add a cup of oatmeal to warm bath water (not hot!) and spend some quality time soaking.
4. Milk
Milk can also help reduce pain and the heat you’re experiencing. You can create a cold compress by dunking a washcloth in chilled milk and applying it directly to burnt areas or adding about 1 cup to a cool bath and soaking.
5. Homemade Sunburn Spray
My homemade sunburn spray incorporates lavender and peppermint essential oils, aloe vera juice, and coconut oil for a soothing sunburn-fighting remedy. Do you want to know how to make my secret homemade sunburn spray?
Well, I will reveal it to you now! Add 2 inches of water to a saucepan and place it over medium heat. Add 1/8 cup of fractionated coconut oil and 1/2 cup of liquid aloe vera juice in a glass jar. Place the pot in the saucepan and stir, waiting for the mixture to liquefy and combine.
Once combined, remove the jar from the saucepan and add ten drops of lavender essential oil and ten drops of peppermint essential oil – mixing well. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and store it in a cool place.
6. Yogurt
Yogurt’s probiotics will help moisturize your skin and reduce pain. Choose a full-fat, plain yogurt and apply it gently on the sunburnt areas — a washcloth is helpful here. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then wash it off in the shower.
7. Cornstarch
Cornstarch can reduce the painful chafing when your inflamed skin sticks to the bed sheets at night. While using it means you’ll be doing laundry the next day, sprinkling cornstarch over the sheets will reduce friction and create a barrier between your skin and the sheets, allowing for more comfortable sleep during muggy nights if your sunburn is excruciating.
8. Black Tea
Black Tea isn’t just delicious to drink; it’s also excellent at reducing sunburn’s redness and quickening recovery. In a pitcher, soak a few bags of black Tea. You want to do this until the water is super black. Then use a washcloth to apply it to the affected areas, and don’t rinse. The tannic acid in the Tea, which gives it a dark colour, eases the heat and provides much-needed relief.
9. Apple Cider Vinegar
You might not smell great, but you’ll feel much better when you include vinegar in your sunburn-fighting routine. Apple cider vinegar covers many health areas, but ACV will also soothe burnt skin.
Add a cup to a cool bath along with ¼ cup of coconut oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil for a healing soak. No time for a bath? You can also make a 1:1 vinegar and water solution in a spray bottle or dip a washcloth into the solution and dab it on the affected areas.
10. Hydrating Foods
Your body is desperate for moisture when you’re amid your sunburn relief routine. And while moisturizers like coconut oil and healing aloe vera gel can help, you can also speed up the process by “moisturizing” from the inside out and eating foods with high water content.
Drink plenty of water and electrolyte-rich drinks like coconut water during a sunburn.
Snack on fruits like oranges and watermelons, which are high in vitamin C and promote healing.
Watermelons are about 92 per cent water. While healing from sunburn, avoid alcohol and sugary foods, which can increase inflammation and slow down the relief process.
While no one likes sunburn, getting natural relief can make the ordeal a whole lot better.
Try these natural ways to fight the pain and enjoy relief. If you found this helpful article, please share it with your friends.
