Home Remedies to Treat Sunburns

It is that time of year again when we spend more time out in the sun and the inevitable happens; we get sunburned. For many of us we get sun burned very badly to the point where it hurts and we look like lobsters even when we wear sunscreen and sun tan lotion. We all know some of the dangers of the sun's rays including skin cancer like melanoma which is the fastest spreading skin cancer and could be fatal if not caught in time, so we all need to be careful when we are in the sun. Being in the sun can cause more damage than just skin cancer; it can cause damage even before redness appears or before there is pain. We can over-expose our skin to the harmful effects of the sun without even realizing it.

The sun can lead to pre-mature aging such as wrinkles, loss of muscle tone and flexibility. Think of older women who are tan as can be but wrinkled and look older than they really are. You could also cause yourself to gain second degree burns if you are not careful about the amount of time you spend in the sun, this could lead to infections. Not to mention that burning the skin can compromise the immune system making it harder for your body to defend itself against disease during the summer season. Many people suffer from heat/sun strokes and even over-heating from being in the sun too much. Being in the sun too long could also lead to sun stroke, sun poisoning, cancer and worst case is death.

If you do get sunburned there are some natural remedies that you can do to help your skin heal faster, and better than if you were to buy some of the expensive products. If you want buy something: lotion is the most popular go to thing to do to help ease the pain. One of the best lotions to use is Aveeno Skin Relief because it has oatmeal in it which soothes the skin and the menthol helps cool the burning sensation. Calamine Lotion is also a product that helps sunburns because it takes the itchy feeling away, the same way it does with poison ivy. Some of the natural remedies include aloe vera extract. Many people have an aloe vera plant in their home and know the benefits it has. The aloe within the plant cools the skin to stop the itchiness, and it stops the inflammation and pain caused by a sun burn. You can add baking powder into your bath help soothe your skin and it would help draw some of the heat out as well.

Many times different oils can help with sunburns. Mustard seed oil takes the heat away from the burn and makes it easier to stand the hot air. Almond oil also helps because it nourishes the skin and helps soften the skin and helps it adjust to the loss of moisture. This helps the skin from peeling as it losses moisture. You can also take a cool bath in baby oil which will help give moisture back to the skin and relieves irritation exposure to the sun can cause. Juice from fresh mint can help prevent dryness which limits the chance of your body peeling from being sunburnt. Grated cucumber that is applied over the affected area for about fifteen to twenty minutes can prevent dryness and works great on the face.

Things you would want to avoid is products with benzocaine, lidocaine and petroleum jelly because they actually make the symptoms worse. You also want to avoid the sun when it is at it's peak which is from 10 am until 2 pm. If y ou have to be in the sun during this time, use sun screen that is 30 or above and wear sunglasses. Keep in mind that water can actually reflect and intensify the sun's harmful rays. You will want to eat food that is high in vitamin E and vitamin C. It is helpful in healing your skin. Make sure you drink lots of water and eat lots of fruits, meat and eggs because they contain the vitamins and minerals that your body will need to heal after being burnt.

We all love being out in the fresh air once the weather gets nicer and the sun is shining bright. Pools are being opened and the sound of children's laughter fills the air. But as we spend more and more time in the sun, our skin gets too exposed to the sun and gets burned. It is inevitable that we will get sun burned or simply tanned depending on skin type. If you are like me your skin will get burnt and these home remedies will help heal your skin so you will not be in pain for more than a day or two. Go out enjoy the sun, but be cautious about how much time you spend in the sun and wear sunscreen and sunglasses. Protect yourself from the harmful rays.