When you stay too long in the sun, you will know it: Symptoms like redness and pain can surface within a few hours. Luckily, the right sunburn remedies can relieve the temporary discomfort that can set in for up to 48 hours after exposure to UV rays, even the worst symptoms, like blistering, dehydration, and fever.
While there’s no conclusive data on the long-term effects of a single sunburn, statistics show that having five or more sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 can increase your risk of getting melanoma, the most deadly kind of skin cancer, by almost 80 percent. While using sunscreen daily can reduce your melanoma risk by almost half, this handy stat will not help you heal after the damage has occurred. What you do after getting sunburnt can play a large part in how fast you heal. Sunburns can take anywhere between three days and a week to heal, depending on severity, that is how much skin has been burnt and how bad the burn is.
What is a sunburn?
A look at how UV rays can damage our skin
A sunburn is caused by too much exposure to the sun or a sun-equivalent like a tanning bed or another UV source. Sunburns are most common during the summer when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Mild symptoms include skin redness and pain to the touch. After about 4-7 days, the damaged skin may begin to peel off. Severe sunburn symptoms also called sun poisoning and may include:
- skin burning and blistering
- dehydration
- electrolyte imbalance
- skin infection
If you are sunburned, keep out of the sun until the burn fades away. Drink lots of water to replenish your dehydrated body, and keep your house cool using air conditioning or fans. Home remedies include using a cool compress and taking soothing baths, applying some essential oils and herbs, eating certain foods or supplements, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
Quick, Easy Ways to Soothe Sunburns
Use products with aloe: Aloe is a key ingredient in any guide on how to heal a sunburn fast. It will minimize this pain, while the moisturizer preserves the skin’s hydration. This includes moisturizers, lotions, gels, shampoos, and ointments.
Use an oil-free eye cream: With most body products you are advised to avoid the eye area because the skin is so much thinner, sensitive, and more susceptible to injury. It’s necessary to boost the eyes’ healing from a burn with a lightweight, gently-formulated, oil-free cream or gel that soothes doesn’t worsen any redness and shields the delicate skin from toxins and further suffering.
Use a sunscreen with high SPF + zinc oxide coverage: You need to use a zinc-based (>7%), high SPF sunscreen until that burn recovers. Avoid the sun at all costs, even when you’re walking, you should shield the burn from more UV exposure.
Try a milk bath powder: It’s recommended to avoid a shower in the days after getting a sunburn since the water pressure might be too painful. Use gentle soaps, and do not use abrasive items like scrubs, washcloths, and loofahs. Soothing bath oils and milk bath powders can soothe the skin as it recovers. Don’t take long baths either because this can end up dehydrating the burn if you let the bath rinse away all your skin’s naturally moisturizing oils.
How to relieve sunburn fast?
Treating sunburns is harder than preventing them. However, most adults experience at least one sunburn per year. To heal a sunburn fast, immediately take a cool shower, treat the burn with aloe or a deep moisturizer, and keep your skin hydrated by taking more water in the days that follow; use other home treatments, like cold compresses, moistened/cooled tea bags, and pain relievers, as needed to ease any discomfort and enhance healing. All sunburns cause harm to your skin, so you should also work on avoiding them.
Sunburn Immediate Treatments
Get out of the sun for immediate sunburn treatment
Once you know you are burned, get out of the sun immediately. Additional sun exposure will worsen your burn. Going indoors is best. If it is not possible, move into the shadiest spot close by. Beach umbrellas provide very little protection from UV rays unless they are very large and made of thick fabric. Sun exposure can also occur in the shade, as UV rays reflect off surfaces and penetrate through everything from clouds to leaves.
Take a cool bath to reduce the severity of your sunburn
Taking a cool shower will cool your skin and may help reduce the severity of your burn. Avoid using soap as it will irritate and dry out your skin. Let yourself air-dry afterward. A towel may cause discomfort and chafing. If you must use a one, pat your skin lightly rather than rubbing.
Apply some moisturizer for immediate sunburn treatment
Apply aloe vera gel or a deep moisturizer to the burn. Spread it across to moisturize and cool your burnt skin. Repeat this step often, at least twice daily, to reduce dryness and peeling.
- Consider applying a lotion or gel that contains Vitamin C and E, as this may help in reducing skin damage.
- Avoid products that are oily or those that contain alcohol as an ingredient.
- If you can get an aloe vera plant, obtain the gel straight from the leaves by simply cutting off a leaf, slicing it lengthwise, then squeeze out the gel, and apply it to your burn. Gel acquired directly from an aloe vera plant is extremely concentrated, natural, and an effective sunburn remedy.
Keep your body hydrated for immediate sunburn treatment
Drink plenty of water as prolonged sun exposure and heat can cause dehydration. A sunburn draws water to your skin’s surface and away from the rest of your body. Remember to drink more water for the next few days. Exceed the daily recommendation of eight glasses until your sunburn has healed, especially if you continue to be in a hot climate or participate in sports or other activities that cause you to sweat.
Sunburn Home Treatments
Make a cold compress to treat sunburn
Drink plenty of water as prolonged sun exposure and heat can cause dehydration. A sunburn draws water to your skin’s surface and away from the rest of your body. Remember to drink more water for the next few days. Exceed the daily recommendation of eight glasses until your sunburn has healed, especially if you continue to be in a hot climate or participate in sports or other activities that cause you to sweat.
Take some anti-inflammatory medication to treat sunburn
Consider taking anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen. This will reduce pain, swelling, and redness, and may even prevent some long-term skin injury for very severe burns. Once started, continue taking it for the next 48 hours.
Wear loose fitting clothing to protect the sunburn
Change into loose-fitting clothing and avoid fabrics that are rough or itchy. Light cotton is the best. Protect the sunburn by keeping it covered when you go out in the sun. Wear a hat, carry a parasol, or wear fabrics that are tightly knit. Also, make sure you wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply every two hours.
Create a cool environment
Close your blinds and try to reduce the temperature of your home. If you have air-conditioning, turn it on. If not, fans can significantly reduce your body temperature, particularly when they are blowing directly towards your sunburn. Basements are the best places to recover from sunburns, as they are generally cool and protected from sunlight.
Sunburn Natural Home Remedies
Black Tea to soothe sunburns
Steep some black tea bags in hot water and allow the water to cool. You can also add some ice to speed up the process. Remove the tea bags and place them directly onto your sunburn. The tannins in the tea help reduce inflammation. You can also use the cool tea on the entire burn. Tannins are a natural astringent, and studies have shown that they help heal burns and prevent infections that may come about.
Yoghurt for sunburns
Pour a cup of plain yogurt into a bowl. Mix in 4 cups of water and dip a wet cloth into the yoghurt mixture, and apply it to your sunburn for 15 to 20 minutes. Reapply every 2 to 4 hours. Plain yoghurt contains many probiotics and enzymes that will help to heal sunburned skin. Make sure you use plain yoghurt rather than vanilla, which contains unwanted sugar and fewer probiotics.
Baking Soda bath for sunburns
Generously sprinkle about one cup of baking soda into a cool bath. Soak in the bath, and after exiting allow the baking soda solution to dry on your skin. It will ease the pain and help heal your damaged skin. Baking soda has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce inflammation and prevent infection.
Oatmeal water for sunburnt skin
Run some cold water through a sieve containing dry oatmeal, and collect the water in a bowl. Take out the oatmeal and soak up the solution with a cloth. Use the cloth to apply the solution to your sunburn every 2-4 hours. Oatmeal contains chemicals known as saponins which clean your skin while moisturizing it.
Apple Cider Vinegar for sunburns
- A clean washcloth
- Raw apple cider vinegar
- Organic coconut oil
- Optional: Lavender and Peppermint Essential Oils
Wet the washcloth with cold water, then splash a little apple cider vinegar to the cloth. Dab the wet cloth onto your sunburn to soak the skin. You should notice immediate relief from any stinging. It feels so good on a sunburn. After a few minutes, your skin should dry. Rub on some coconut oil with lavender or peppermint essential oil to the area. The Lavender helps to support skin health, and the Peppermint cools the skin and releases heat. Continue to use the coconut oil for several days to promote healing and to help ease the skin peeling that is usually inevitable after a burn. Exfoliate and lubricate with more coconut oil.
