Sunburn Home Remedies

We have all had it happen to us. It's a nice day, the baby is taking a nap, so we decide to get outside for some
fresh air and maybe tend the garden a bit. The one thing we forget, sunscreen. Even if the sun is not beaming
down full force you can still absorb damaging rays. The clouds do filter some ultraviolet radiation but just
enough seems to leak through to harm your skin. Prolonged exposure to these UV rays can cause sunburn and
even skin cancer.

The ideal would be to protect yourself at all times, but just in case it is too late and you need some relief, you can try any one or a combination of home remedies. The one thing that my grandmother taught me, and I think is the best option, is to use milk. You don't want to take it straight out of the fridge though, it will feel shockingly cold to your hot skin. Let it warm up to room temperature then take some gauze or a small hand towel and dip it in the milk. Gently lay it on the affected area for twenty minutes. Do this every two or three hours and it should help to relieve the pain somewhat. If you don't have any milk you can simply use a towel dipped in cool water.

Another one Granny was fond of was tea. Just brew up a nice strong pot of tea and let cool to room temperature. (You can speed up the cooling by adding a few ice cubes if you like) Then do the same as with the milk, using gauze or a towel. For easier use you can also pour the tea into a spray bottle and spray it directly onto your skin. Be careful though, tea tends to stain clothing.

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to replace what you may have lost with the heat exposure. Staying hydrated will also help your body to heal faster.

You will want to keep the skin from drying out so you should use an aloe vera lotion or gel. Just be sure it is not scented or colored. These chemicals could cause even more pain.

If all else fails you can resort to taking an over the counter anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin or ibufprofen. Follow dosing instructions on the packaging being sure to never give a child or teen aspirin due to the risk of Reyes Syndrome.

There are times when a sunburn does require medical attention. If you experience blisters that cover
a large area of your skin, a high fever, extreme pain, confusion, nausea, diarrhea, increased swelling, oozing
blisters or red streaks leading away from a blister, be sure to see your healthcare professional immediately.

http://www.LifeScript.com
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/bookshelf/Books/47/124.cfm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sunburn/DS00964/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies