Sunburn can be very harmful and should be avoided at all costs. In this article we will discuss some sunburn remedies. Sun protection practices will be reviewed.
How does sunburn occur?
When the body has had enough sun exposure, it produces melanin (which is what causes tanning) to protect the skin from further exposure. But this can only help to a limited extent. When the skin is exposed to the sun much longer than is safe, it causes sunburn. This occurs when UV light damages theDNA of the skin. The body senses this damage and sends blood to help heal the skin, causing inflammation.
No matter how much sunscreen you wear or how dark your skin is, if you stay in the sun for hours on end, you're at risk for sunburn.
Home remedies for sunburn
Careful sun exposure can be very beneficial. Here are some benefits of this activity.
Hydratation
A sunburn, like any type of burn, can dry out the skin. And often the time spent in the sun to get sunburned causes dehydration. Just as nutrition is important to avoid sunburn, hydration is important to help the recovery process.
Aloès
Aloe vera is one of the natural remedies for sunburn. It can be very refreshing, but it has been found to work better than a gel or lotion. If you use a gel, look for a high quality gel without preservatives.
Spray ACV & Herbes
These are the most effective sunburn remedies. Apple cider vinegar (diluted) is considered an effective remedy for sunburn. It is most effective when combined with a strong, soothing herbal tea. Here's how it's done:
Boil 1 cup of water and add 2 tablespoons of dried mint leaves, lavender flowers and dried plantain leaves.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Once cooled, drain the herbs.
Add an equal amount of apple cider vinegar to the cooled tea mixture and pour into a spray bottle.
Spray on the burn as often as needed to cool and soothe the pain.
This remedy is cooling, so it helps with the heat of the sunburn. The herbs and ACV are also healing and soothing to the skin.
Huiles essentielles
Essential oils like lavender and helichrysum can also help soothe burns and speed healing. You can mix them in a bottle of water and spray them on the skin as needed.
Huile de noix de coco
We can use thecoconut oil as a mild sunscreen. It's not strong enough to use alone for all-day sun exposure, but it's a great daily option for gentle sun protection and skin health.
Vitamine E
This nutrient is a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent and reverse skin damage caused by sunburn. Eating foods rich in vitamin E such as leafy greens, avocados, nuts and seeds can help prevent damage. But topical use of vitamin E can help soothe already sunburned skin. Add a few drops of vitamin E oil to the aloe vera gel before applying it to the skin.
Yogourt cru
Although there are no studies to support this claim, many people have found relief from sunburn using yogurt or raw milk. It is logical that the cold of yogurt or milk can be soothing for the skin. It is also thought that the probiotics in yogurt and the live enzymes in milk may help heal the skin.
Bain rafraîchissant ou compresse
Cool water can help relieve the heat and pain of a sunburn. A cool or lukewarm bath is one way to do this. Add a few cups of chamomile or calendula tea or a quarter cup of ACV to soothe and heal the skin.
A few cups of baking soda added to the bath water can also be soothing. Black tea also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help relieve the pain of sunburn. Prepare a strong cup with a few tea bags. Then add it to bath water, spray it on the skin or add it to a cool compress.
What not to do after a sunburn
Now that we know what to do to relieve a sunburn, let's talk about what not to do.
Do not burst blisters or peel skin. Let your body do the healing it needs to do.
Do not put oil or oil-based lotions on your sunburn in the first 24 hours. It can trap heat and make sunburns worse.
Do not go back into the sun (even with sunscreen). Cover up with clothing and stay out of the sun until the skin heals.
Don't cover your sunburn with makeup until it's healed.
Avoid tight clothing.
Ultimately, don't do anything that will make the sunburn worse or slow down the healing process.
Safe sun protection practices
As with most health-related topics, prevention is just as important (if not more so!) than treating sunburn. The exposure to UV radiation is very important for optimal health. But many of us don't know what safe sun exposure looks like. Here are some guidelines:
Get a short dose of midday sun - At noon, UVB rays (the ones that produce vitamin D) are at their highest concentration, so the body can get more vitamin D in less time.
Eat right - It's no surprise that diet plays an important role in the health of the skin and, therefore, how it reacts to sun exposure. The healthy fats, the
antioxidants
(from vegetables and fruits) and healthy proteins are important for healthy skin and to avoid sunburn.
How long should I expose myself to the sun?
The amount of sun you should get each day depends on many factors, including the position of the sun, the UVB index on a given day and your skin tone.
People with very fair skin should start with only 5 minutes of sun exposure and work up from there. People with slightly darker skin (those with light skin who tan easily) may be able to tolerate up to 20 minutes of sun. The darker the skin, the longer you can stay in the sun.
People with darker skin can stay in the sun for an hour or more without getting a sunburn. Of course, this all depends on other factors like those mentioned above and also on how well a person's diet protects their skin.
The key is to start at the bottom and work your way up. Don't wait for a sunburst to find shade!
Relieve sunburn
The best thing to do is to avoid sunburn. This means improving diet to promote skin health, getting enough sun each day (10 minutes or less for light skinned people and up to an hour or more for very dark skinned people). Covering up or staying in the shade also helps to avoid too much sun. When you can't avoid the sun, natural mineral sunscreen is the best choice.
But sunburns can still occur. The remedies listed above are easy ways to soothe and heal the skin after a sunburn that can make the healing process easier for everyone. If you have a severe sunburn, consult your doctor for the best treatment.
Sources
Remèdes coups de soleil Telegraph, T. (2014, May 07). Why Avoiding Sunshine Could Mean An Early Death In Women. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/why-avoiding-sunshine-could-mean-an-early-death-in-women-2014-5
Sunburn Remedies, Hoel, D. G., Berwick, M., Gruijl, F. R., & Holick, M. F. (2016). The risks and benefits of sun exposure 2016. Dermato-Endocrinology, 8(1). doi:10.1080/19381980.2016.1248325
Mead, M. N. (2008). Benefits of Sunlight: A Bright Spot for Human Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(4). doi:10.1289/ehp.116-a160