Photo by Monica Gozalo

The therapeutic effects of sun exposure can be experienced only in appropriate and measured timeframes. If you get all excited about summer and hit the great outdoors without proper protection, then you could become a victim of sunburn.

In this article, I will discuss the best possible home remedies for sunburn relief. Try them and be careful the next time you venture out.

Sunburn

According to International Dermal Institute, Sunburn is the skin’s response to extreme ultraviolet exposure and indicates severe damage. The redness caused by sunburn may seem like a temporary irritation, but they cause long-lasting damage to the skin.

The redness is the body’s inflammatory response and is a result of dilating blood vessels. Then the skin will start to lose moisture and hydration. Slowly the skin cells will start to thicken, and this action will produce melanin.

Sun exposure can lead to tanning. It is an attempt to stop the ultraviolet rays penetrating deep into the skin layers and damaging the DNA of the cells. The body can cope with the minimal amount of sun damage but if the DNA is damaged and the inhibition of repair mechanisms occur, it can lead to skin cancer.

Your skin starts to peel after the sun damage. Peeling after sunburn is getting rid of the damaged cells which are at risk of losing control and becoming cancerous. The mass death of cells results in the peeling off damaged skin and new cells replacing the old cells.

Dangers Of Sunburn

Dermatologist Dr. Leffell of the Yale School of Medicine says sunburn can increase the risk of skin cancer. A person who has five or more sunburns in his or her life has doubled their risk for melanoma according to Skin Cancer Foundation. Melanoma occurs after a brief and intense exposures such as to blistering sunburns.

UVA rays penetrate into the skin and destroy collagen and elastin tissue that results in fine lines and wrinkles which are signs of premature aging. This action may result in uneven pigmentation, age spots, melasma-the darkening of facial skin and sagging and deep wrinkles.

Sunburn may aggravate skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Other harmful effects include dehydration, second-degree burns, and secondary infections, corneal burns, macular degeneration, and cataracts and in extreme cases, death may occur.

How To Avoid Sunburn In The First Place

A few sensible steps to avoid sunburn will maximize the benefits while limiting any adverse effects.

Dr. Mercola gives you these safety tips.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and eyes. The skin in these areas is much thinner than the other parts of your body. Make sure that you wear a broad spectrum sunscreen when you venture out. See the best sunscreens for sensitive skin by Lotion Challenge.

Build an internal sunscreen with beneficial antioxidants. Interesting isn’t it? A potent antioxidant Astaxanthin protects against sun damage when taken on a daily basis. You should take it a couple of weeks for it to build up in your system. You can also apply it topically. Just add astaxanthin to coconut oil and your lotion is ready.

Moisturize your skin naturally by applying organic coconut oil all over the exposed parts.

Best Home Remedies for Sunburn

1. Potatoes

Dr. Mercola writes that potatoes contain starch-based compounds which help soothe sunburn. The skin benefits of potatoes are numerous; they are used to remove dark circles, in the treatment of wrinkles, for treating dark spots and facial blemishes.

You can use potatoes for skin lightning, for dry skin, to remove dead cells, as a natural cleanser and to promote healthy hair growth. Potatoes work well on minor skin irritations, burns, bites and scratches. It also reduces inflammation.

Potatoes contain a high concentration of vitamin B6. This nutrient is involved in over 100 enzymatic reactions. Many amino acids and nucleic acids require vitamin B6 for protein synthesis and creation of DNA. Due to this process, vitamin B6 is essential for the formation of new cells. So potatoes help a great deal by assisting in the formation of new cells and promoting healing to the sunburnt areas.

Items Needed:

2 potatoes

Cotton balls, cotton pads and facial tissue.

Method:

Wash and scrub the potatoes. Cut them and blend them. You can also grate the potatoes, but it takes time. You don’t need to remove the peels.

Blend the potatoes until they become liquid. If the mass is too dry and sticky, add a small amount of water.

Soak cotton balls and apply to the sunburn. You can soak gauze and lay it over the burn, or you can slice potatoes and place them directly on the sunburn.

2. Aloe Vera

To avoid all the harmful effects of sunburn, it becomes essential to treat it as soon as possible. Aloe vera contains 150 vitamins, minerals, and trace elements and works wonders for your skin. It contains glycoproteins which relieve pain and inflammation.

It stops burning sensation and prevents swelling. It contains polysaccharides which help repair damaged skin cells and trigger the formation of new ones.

Aloe vera contains lidocaine which relieves pain and aloectin B, which strengthens the immune system, prevents infection and speeds up the healing process. The aloe juice soothes, hydrates and moisturizes the skin. It penetrates deep into the skin layers and promotes healing.

Aloe Vera Gel
Cut open the aloe vera leaf lengthwise. Scoop out the gel and apply on the sunburn using your fingertips. Allow it to sit until it is dry and gets absorbed into the skin. Rinse it off with cool water, repeat this process 2-3 times a day.

Homemade Aloe Vera Lotion

Items Needed:

Aloe vera gel- ½ cup

Beeswax -1 tsp

Vitamin C powder-1 tsp

Large carrots -2

Emulsifying wax one tsp

Cucumber-1

Sesame oil-1/2 cup

Method:

Clean, peel and grate the carrots and cucumbers. In a saucepan heat sesame oil and add carrots and cucumbers and cook for 30 minutes in low flame.

Remove from heat and strain the vegetables. Add beeswax and emulsifying wax to the mixture in low heat and stir until melted. Add vitamin C powder and aloe vera gel and stir until smooth.

Remove from heat and pour into a jar. Allow it to become cool. Apply to sunburned skin daily for 2-3 times until healed. Store the lotion in the fridge for two months.

The hydrating aloe gel can be used with other natural ingredients to treat sunburn. You can use any of the following:

Aloe Vera and cucumber

Aloe Vera and lavender oil

Aloe Vera and helichrysum oil

Aloe Vera and yogurt

Aloe Vera and vitamin E oil

Aloe Vera with turmeric

Aloe Vera with apple cider vinegar. They are great combinations to soothe sunburned skin.

You can use aloe vera gel to treat your sunburned scalp. The mixture of aloe vera, tomato, oatmeal, and yogurt works on your sunburned face and brings back the lost suppleness and beauty glow.

Read the entire article by our friends over at Positive Health Wellness here.