Treating Sunburns the Right Way

   

It’s 5 p.m., the sun is setting and your skin is redder than the Bloody Mary in your hand.
You’re wishing the handprints on your back were from the pool boy and not from sloppy sunscreen application.  Tomorrow is going to hurt like a bitch.

Sunburns are painful, itchy and no more attractive than Lindsay Lohan after Day Four at Cannes.  So, how does one turn into a hot, burning mess?  It’s simple. Redness and soreness occurs when the capillaries in the epidermis are damaged and dilated from UV exposure, while the external layer of the skin gets thinner. Repeat sunburns can lead to allergies, wrinkles and even skin cancer.  Ouch.

Put the Lotion in the Basket

After a nasty sunburn, it’s mission-critical to avoid applying greasy or oily lotions, salves, ointments or butter because they will obstruct skin pores, block heat and pain within the epidermis that needs to escape. Soaps that contain chemical compounds are also a big no-no.

At-Home Natural Remedies

Apply aloe vera.  Aloe vera, in its true form, is the most common home remedy against sunburns.  Apply the gel to the damaged area of the skin to help the epidermis recover faster.  The sterols in aloe vera are anti-inflammatory and will prevent skin from swelling, while the mineral zinc will get your tissue regenerating faster.
Take a bath.  Try taking a lukewarm bath with one cup of baking soda or apple cider vinegar to cool down your skin. Chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus, rose hip and buckthorn essential oils are also beneficial for inflamed skin and can be added to the bath.
Cut some veggies. Slice some raw vegetables and apply to the burned area to help soothe your skin: potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and cold juice from lettuce leaves will help do the trick.

Comfort with comfrey. Juice or lotion extracted from the comfrey leaves can be applied right to the skin.  Comfrey is a natural compound that is an anti-inflammatory and aids in anti-aging and skin cell regeneration.
Soothe with lavender. Natural properties in lavender make it killer for reducing redness and skin irritation. Put a few drops of lavender essential oil in a spray bottle with some water, shake it up and spritz your sore skin.
And next time? Get your man to rub you down with SPF. He won’t complain.