Natural Sunburn Treatment

Sunshine is essential for life on earth, but too much of a good thing can lead to problems. As soon as your skin starts to turn the slightest bit pink, you have had too much sun exposure. You are then doing damage and your vitamin D3 production halts.

Sunburns can be painful, bothersome and dangerous. Sun exposure can also be very therapeutic when received in proper amounts.

A sunburn is an inflammatory response of your body from damage done by overexposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun. UVA and UVB rays can both cause tanning, as well as burning, but UVB does so much faster. UVB is also what converts a cholesterol derivative in your skin into vitamin D3.

The April-June 2012 issue of Dermato-Endocrinology, cited the health benefits of sensible sun exposure to include:

• Producing vitamin D3
• Improving mood and energy levels
• Regulating melatonin production
• Synchronizing your circadian rhythm
• Protecting against melanoma and UV damage
• Suppressing symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Relieving pain from fibromyalgia
• Treating neonatal jaundice
• Treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

The information below is from Dr. Mercola:

Signs of sunburn include:

• Redness of the skin or erythema
• Skin that's warm or hot to the touch
• Discomfort when skin gets touched or rubbed against clothes
• Peeling or flaking of the skin
• Extreme dryness or wrinkling of the skin

These symptoms are not immediately visible after a few hours from exposure and are most painful in the first 24 hours.

Sunburns are classified into three degrees:

First- and second-degree sunburns are fairly temporary and are manageable at home.

Third-degree sunburns can be accompanied by; infection-prone skin breakouts, fever and chills. Immediate serious medical attention is highly recommended.

How to Protect Your Skin from Sunburn:

• Protect your face and eyes by wearing a wide-brimmed hat or a cap.

• Moisturize your skin naturally.

• Limit your initial exposure and slowly work your way up.

• Build an internal sunscreen with beneficial antioxidants.

Home Remedies to Treat and Soothe Sunburns:

• Aloe Vera - One of the best remedies to help repair your skin, it is loaded with powerful glyconutrients that accelerate healing. Ideally, it is best to use the gel from a fresh plant. Cut a matured aloe vera leaf open, and a thick gel-like juice that will come out of it. Use that as a topical ointment to reduce the sting and redness of your sunburned skin. Apply it five times a day until your condition improves.
• Potatoes -Potatoes have starch-based compounds that may help soothe sunburn. Chop an uncooked potato into slices, and rub or pat down a piece on your sore sunburned spots. You can also try grating a cold raw potato and applying it as a poultice.
• Honey - The ancient Egyptians were known to use honey as a topical salve for skin burns. In fact, "The Holistic Pediatrician" author Kathi Kemper, M.D. says, "Studies suggest it may work better than some antibiotic creams at speeding up healing, reducing infection, and minimizing pain."
• Vinegar - The acetic acid found in vinegar is said to reduce pain, itching, and inflammation. Add a cup of cider vinegar into your bath water and soak your burned skin into it. It can also work like a natural aspirin. Simply dab a bit of white vinegar on to your sunburn for 20 minutes of instant pain relief.
• Coriander Oil - For a soothing effect, use it as an essential oil by lightly rubbing it onto your sunburn.
• Green Tea - Green tea's catechin and tannic acid help soothe sunburn pain. Soak a couple of tea bags in cool water. You can either use the tea bags themselves as a cold compress on the burnt areas, or wash your face gently with the cold tea extract. Studies also suggest that drinking just two cups of green tea a day can provide additional sun-protective benefits.
• Strawberries - Like green tea, berries also have tannin, which helps alleviate the sting of sunburn. Use it as a topical balm by mashing a cup of ripened strawberries and applying it on top of your sunburns. Let it stay after a few minutes, and then rinse with fresh, tepid water afterwards.
• Cucumbers - With cucumber's cooling effect, simply putting it on top of your sunburns is guaranteed to provide instant soothing effects. You can also use it as a paste by mashing it and applying it on your skin.
• Lettuce - To take advantage of lettuce's painkilling benefits, boil its leaves in water. After straining, allow the liquid to cool. Keep it chilled inside the refrigerator. Using clean organic cotton balls, carefully apply the lettuce juice over the affected area.
• Calendula - It has natural anti-inflammatory and healing properties that are especially beneficial for burns. Although there are many calendula creams sold in drugstores today, you can make your own calendula poultice using fresh calendula blossoms for faster healing of your sunburns.

Additional Tips:

• Drink plenty of pure water

• Dip the affected areas into a tub of cold water to lessen the soreness and sting.
• To avoid further irritation, do not wash your sunburns with harsh soaps.
• Refrain from putting petroleum jelly on your sunburn, as it may only exacerbate the burn by blocking pores.

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