Home Remedies for Sunburns

Ah, summer. It's a wonderful time of year filled with warm weather, vacations and family get-togethers.

However, it's also a season of sunburns. Here's some information about and remedies for this common downfall of summer.

Sunburn occurs when skin is overexposed to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are two types of UV rays: UVB rays, which attack the skin's outer layers, and UVA rays, which attack the underlying skin layers. UV rays intensify when they are reflected off water, metal, snow or sand.

Severity of a sunburn depends on a number a factors, such as how long a person is exposed to the sun, where they are geographically, the time of day and conditions of the atmosphere.

Sunburns, like other types of burns, are classified as first, second and third degree.

Symptoms of first degree sunburns are stinging pain, heat and redness and skin tenderness. These signs can set in anywhere from one to 24 hours after exposure to the sun. This degree of sunburn usually fades to a tan after a couple of days, and some minimal peeling may occur.

First degree sunburn pain can be relieved at home by applying aloe lotion or by applying cool compresses (these should be cloths soaked in water; ice should never be applied to a sunburn). Another way to get relief is to dissolve oatmeal or baking soda in a bathtub filled with cool water and soak for 30 minutes. You can also add a half-cup of vinegar to help with the stinging. When you're done, don't towel off. Allow skin to air-dry.

When you do bathe, don't use soap (if you feel you have to, use a mild one like Aveeno). Don't use a wash cloth or bath puff of any kind, and don't stay in the tub too long. It may feel good, but soaking to long can cause your skin to dry out, and that will make it so you itch and peel more.

Besides the tried-and-true baking soda and oatmeal, there are other sunburn remedies in your kitchen cupboards and refrigerator and in your bathroom cabinets.

Potatoes

Take two washed potatoes, cut them into small chunks, and toss them in a blender or food processor. Blend or process them until they're liquefied, adding water if they appear dry.

Pat the pureed potatoes onto burned skin. Wait for them to dry, then take a cool shower. Alternately, you can put the mashed potatoes onto gauze and apply them to the burn, changing the dressing frequently.

Chamomile Tea

Combine one teaspoon of dried chamomile with one cup of boiling water (you can also use a teabag). Cool the brewed tea, then soak it up with a sponge and apply to affected areas.

Note: Do not use this method if you have pollen allergies, as it may cause an adverse skin reaction.

Cornstarch

Often, you'll get sunburned where your bathing suit ends -- places like the bikini line, just underneath your buttocks or around the breasts and armpits. Unfortunately, these are also the places that will be rubbed by bra straps and underwear the following days.

To ease the pain of chafing, dust cornstarch onto burned areas.

Milk

Soak a washcloth in equal parts cold milk and cold water. Wring out the excess liquid and press the cloth gently onto burned areas.

Moisturizer

A sunburn not only hurts, it causes your cells and blood vessels to leak, which leads to moisture loss. After soaking, a moisturizer (such as Noxzema or aloe) should be applied. For even more relief, put the moisturizer in the refrigerator before applying.

OTC Pain Relievers

Pain and inflammation from a sunburn can be lessened by taking pain relievers you probably already have in your medicine chest, such as ibuprofen or aspirin. You can take acetaminophen, but it won't help the swelling.

Anesthetic sprays and creams

Topical anesthetics such as Bactine and Solarcaine can offer temporary sunburn pain relief. You should look for products that contain lidocaine, which is less likely to lead to an allergic reaction than other topical anesthetics (you should always test a small area of your skin for allergic reactions before using anything all over).

These anesthetics usually come in sprays and creams. Sprays are good for widespread or hard-to-reach sunburns (such as on the back). You should never spray anesthetic directly onto your face; rather, put it on a piece of gauze and pat it on.

NEVER apply lotions that are oil or petroleum-based to a sunburn. These lotions hold heat in and can actually cause a burn to go deeper.

When you are sunburned, it is very important to drink plenty of fluids to replace those being sapped from your body by the burn. You should also wash burned areas with antibacterial soap to prevent any infections.

In second and third degree sunburns, reddening of the skin is extreme. There is swelling, intense stinging pain, and blisters often appear. In third degree burns, the skin's small blood vessels and elastic fibers can be damaged, and later wrinkling of the skin can occur. The most severe sunburns can result in chills, fever, nausea and delirium. Sever sunburns in children are extremely dangerous.

Blisters are your skin's way of protecting itself and helping a sunburn heal faster. You should not break blisters.

If you or someone in your family has what you suspect to be a second or third degree sunburn, you should seek medical attention.

Here are some tips to avoid sunburn:

The sun's UV rays are at their most intense between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you have to be outside during these hours, wear a hat, sunglasses and clothing made of light-colored, lightweight, tightly woven material.

Sunscreen should always be used (one with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher). It should be applied whenever you go outside or ride in a car, preferably about 30 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied often, especially of you are sweating or swimming.