Remedies for sun burn

Sunburn is a form of radiation burn that affects living tissue, such as skin, that results from an overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, commonly from the sun . Common symptoms in humans and other animals include red or reddish skin that is hot to the touch, pain, general fatigue, and mild dizziness.

Natural Remedies for Sunburn
While careful sun exposure can be very beneficial, sunburn can be very harmful and should absolutely be avoided. I’ve found that I don’t burn nearly as easily since changing my diet, but (rarely) sunburn still happens. When it does, I try to find ways to reduce the pain and redness quickly but also to help the body heal and hopefully minimize the damage. I’ve noticed that I feel better when I get regular sun exposure and that when I’m eating a diet that supports skin health and sun tolerance , I don’t burn easily at all. When I go somewhere like the beach, I absolutely prefer to get sun exposure carefully, use natural sunscreen when needed, or (better) cover-up or leave the sun when I’ve had enough, but these are the remedies I use if my skin gets a little pink:
Hydration
A sunburn, like any kind of burn, can be drying to the skin and often the time spent in the sun getting the sunburn causes dehydration. Just as diet is important in avoiding sunburn in the first place, hydration is important to help the recovery process. I drink lots of water, herbal teas, kombucha and water kefir to keep hydrated.
Aloe
Also vera is an age-old remedy for sunburn. It can be very cooling, but I’ve found that the plant works better than a gel or lotion. If you use a gel, look for a high quality one without preservatives. I’ve used this one with good results .
ACV & Herbs Spray
This is the most effective remedy I’ve tried for the pain of sunburn. Apple cider vinegar (diluted) is considered an effective remedy for sunburn, but I’ve found that it is more effective when combined with a strong tea of soothing herbs. Here’s how I make it: Boil 1 cup of water and add 2 tablespoons of dried mint leaf ,
lavender flowers , and dried plantain leaf . Remove from heat and let cool. Once cool, strain out the herbs. Add an equal amount of apple cider vinegar to the cooled tea mixture and pour in to a spray bottle. Spray on burn as often as needed to cool and soothe the pain.
Essential Oils
Essential oils like Lavender and helichrysum can also help soothe the burn and speed recovery. I mix them in a bottle of water bottle and spritz on the skin as needed.
Coconut Oil
I use coconut oil as a mild sunscreen. I’ve seen SPF ratings for coconut oil ranging from 5-10 SPF. It isn’t strong enough to use alone for all-day sun exposure but is a great every day option for mild sun protection and skin health. Many people also swear by it for helping with sunburn. I haven’t tried it the day of a burn, but have used it for the few days after that and it seems to help stop peeling and reduce the redness more quickly.




1. Place a cool compress on sunburned skin for immediate sunburn relief.
2. Take a cool shower or bath to cool your sunburned skin. Check out these natural bath therapies to soothe sunburn pain and other symptoms.
Add one cup of apple cider vinegar to a bath to help balance the pH (acid or alkalinity) of sunburned skin, and promote healing.
Soak in an oatmeal bath. This is especially helpful for itchy sunburned skin.
Add some lavender or chamomile essential oil to the bath to help relieve some of the stinging and pain.
Add 2 cups of baking soda to the bath to help ease irritation and redness from sunburn.
Avoid soap or perfumes in the bath water as these can be drying on already dry and sunburned skin.
3. Use lotions that contain aloe Vera to soothe and moisturize sunburnt skin. Some aloe products contain lidocaine , an anesthetic that can help relieve sunburn pain. Aloe Vera is also a good moisturizer for peeling skin .
4. Hydrate: Drink lots of water, juice, or sports drinks . Your skin is dry and dehydrated. Replacing lost body fluids will help your skin heal from sunburn more quickly.
5. Apply a cool compress containing Burow's solution (such as Domeboro Powder Packets -1 pkt in 1 pint of water) to comfort and soothe a sunburn.
6. Topical over-the-counter (OTC) 1%
hydrocortisone cream may help relieve sunburn symptoms like pain, itch, and swelling.
7. Take OTC pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) to help relieve sunburn pain and inflammation.
8. Apply cool, not cold, milk with a clean cloth to your sunburned skin. The milk will create a protein film that helps ease sunburn discomfort.
9. Like milk, yogurt applied to sunburned skin also can be soothing.
10. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and can help decrease inflammation caused by sunburn. Use Vitamin E oil on the skin, or take a regular dose of the supplement. Vitamin E oil also can be rubbed onto peeling skin.
11. Apply freshly brewed tea after it has cooled to sunburnt skin using a clean cloth. The tannic acid in black tea reportedly helps draw heat from sunburned skin, and also aids in restoring the pH balance. Add mint to the tea for a more cooling effect.
12. Apply teabags soaked in cold water to sunburned eyelids to soothe the burn and reduce inflammation.
13. Cucumbers have natural antioxidant and analgesic properties. Chill cucumbers, then mash in a blender to create a paste, and apply to affected sunburned areas including the face. Cucumber also can be soothing for peeling skin following a sunburn.
14. Boil and mash some peeled potatoes, let cool, and apply as a dressing to sunburned areas. It is believed that the starch in the potatoes helps draw out heat, which can reduce pain and speed healing.
15. Cornstarch also can be mixed with water to form a paste that can be applied to skin to help soothe the sunburn.my