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Some people seem to get sunburns just by osmosis, while others stayed out in the sun much longer than they should have. Regardless of how or why you got a sunburn though, there are many natural ways to either relieve the pain, reduce or prevent blisters, and often heal the burn too. Let’s look at several…
1. Plain old fashioned tea. There are many ways to do this, but we’ll look at the two easiest: Soak some regular old tea bags in cool water, then lay the wet tea bags onto the burned area of your skin. Leave there for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively: Brew up a gallon of tea however you normally would, cool it in the refrigerator, then wipe down the burned skin with it repeatedly for 15-20 minutes.
Tea will take the sting, heat and pain away, plus it will turn the burned skin to a tan. This remedy has been used in burn wards for more severe burns too.
2. Vinegar. Use either plain white distilled vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. Both will take the pain from the burn, and apple cider vinegar can often prevent or heal blisters. You can either create a cool compress of vinegar to apply to the affected areas, or put some vinegar into your bath water and soak in it.
3. Vitamin E. Buy 100% vitamin E oil capsules, or liquid vitamin E with a dropper applicator. Make sure it’s 100% vitamin E though, and doesn’t have additives in it. Apply this to the affected areas of your skin. It will remove the pain and itching, soften the skin, and often prevent peeling. Taking extra vitamin E by mouth also helps.
4. Aloe Vera. Use pure aloe vera gel, juice, or a live plant leaf. Smear the aloe vera onto the affected area to ease the pain and itching, prevent peeling, and speed up healing.
5. Salt water or baking soda. Both of these help take away the sting and pain of a sunburn, and can help prevent blistering too. Sea salt is best if you have it on hand, but plain old table salt can be used too. Baking soda is already salty, so there’s no need to add salt to it. Note that these may also make the skin drier, so following this remedy with aloe vera or vitamin E oil is usually best.
6. Mustard also works in a pinch, mainly because it also contains vinegar. Some people prefer using mustard instead of vinegar though, because it stays in place better due to being thicker.
7. Preparation H will also work in a pinch. It helps relieve the heat and swelling. A more natural remedy to use would be white willow salve or paste. Open a gelcap of white willow bark, mix it into some aloe vera juice or mineral water, then apply it to the burned area.
8. Old fashioned oatmeal. This will soften and soothe the skin, reduce the pain, and help you to start healing. Make the oatmeal slightly watery, then apply it to your skin. You can either cook the oatmeal then cool it, or use it raw oatmeal mixed with cool water. Don’t massage the burned area if you’re using raw oatmeal though, because it’s an exfoliant and may cause the skin to start being removed before it’s ready. Mixing aloe vera juice and/or tea into the oatmeal helps further.
Avoid using oils or lotions on sunburned skin because these will hold the heat in and cause more blistering. Also avoid products with alcohol, fragrances, and misc other chemicals because they can cause additional pain, stinging and irritation.
Statements made in this article may not be approved by the FDA, and should not be taken as professional medical advice
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