Natural Remedies for Sunburn

It’s that time of year, lots of sun and lots of outdoor activity, which can lead to sunburns. If you read this article in the winter, well skiing, windburn and shafting from cold winter months can give your skin a burn too. Here are our top picks for natural home remedies for relieving sunburns.

Not only can sunburns be irritating, they can be painful and damage your skin, causing premature aging and possibly cancer. It is important to prevent sunburns by using sun blocks, sunscreens and sun wear that has special sun blocking properties. In the event that you do get a sunburn we have some tips to help relieve the pain.

WHOLE MILK YOGURT MASQUE

Apply plain whole milk yogurt to sunburned areas. The coolness and fat content of the yogurt help soothe the burn. Rinse with cool water when yogurt becomes warm. Reapply as needed.

BLACK, GREEN, OR CHAMOMILE TEA BATH

Steep 5 tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water for 20 to 30 minutes. Pour tea into a bathtub filled with cool water. Soaking in chamomile tea helps soothe inflamed skin. Black and green teas contain tannins, which help take the sting out of sunburns.

STRAWBERRY MASH

Mash ripe strawberries and apply directly on sunburned skin.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SPRITZ

Fill a spritz bottle with apple cider vinegar (do not substitute white vinegar-it won’t work) and spray sunburned skin. Alternatively, pour cider on a washcloth and apply to skin. Rinse with cool water.

ALOE VERA GEL

Break off a leaf from the aloe plant and apply the gel to the sunburned skin. You can buy aloe vera gel in the store as well. Be sure to look for 100% aloe vera with no added ingredients.

CUCUMBER SLICES

Place peeled, thinly sliced cucumbers directly on sunburn. Remove when cucumbers, are warm. Cucumber slices are especially good for delicate skin, for example the face and neck.