Natural Remedies For Sunburn

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

29 May 2007 10:57 PM

Nobody's perfect. We forget the sunscreen, and end up with sunburn. We find ourselves in situations where we wouldn't imagine a burn was possible. That happened to me when I drove cross-country earlier this month -- my left arm got toasted in the afternoon sun and I found myself in the middle of Iowa with a serious burn.

So what can you do to ease the sting of sunburn?

• Cool water can be very soothing -- if you can stand the sting of the shower water pummeling you. Try a washcloth or towel soaked in cold water if the shower is too much.
• An oatmeal bath is soothing for burned skin. Put uncooked/dry oatmeal into a cloth bag (or the toe of an old pair of pantyhose) and run the bathwater over it.
• Apply aloe vera gel or cream. Aloe gel gets nice and cold in the fridge or even by the air conditioner and feels GREAT.
• Lotions with tea tree essential oil, chamomile essential oil, or lavender essential oil can promote healing.
• Witch hazel can give you a temporary cool feeling and help ease the sting.
• Stay hydrated. If you've had too much sun, you may also be a bit dehydrated. Make sure you get plenty of fluids after a burn.

Need something a little stronger to deal with your burn? A 1% hydrocortisone cream can help ease the pain and swelling. If your sunburn brings a mild fever, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.

If your skin blisters after a burn, there are some things you can do to ease the pain and promote healing. Wash your hands with soap and water before touching broken or unbroken blisters -- they can easily become infected. Try not to break the blisters if they are less than one inch in diameter, and leave them uncovered unless something (like your clothes) is rubbing against them.

You may want to drain large blisters; clean a needle with rubbing alcohol, then gently puncture the edge of a blister. Press the fluid out through the hole and wash carefully afterwards. Apply antibiotic ointment and a loose bandage to help keep the blister clean. Change the bandage daily. Watch for infection while your blister is healing.

It is far easier to prevent sunburn than to deal with the consequences! Be sure to wear sunscreen if you'll be in the sun -- even if you're in the car.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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