Spring is here, which means swimsuit season is just around the corner. Unfortunately, this also means you are going to want to spend a lot more time outdoors. And, generally, that leads to sunburns.
Sunburns can be quite painful and take a long time to heal. There are plenty of home remedies out there that you can use to speed up the healing process. A few popular ones include aloe vera gel and tea tree oil. But did you know that vinegar also works?
Vinegar is an acid, so it will help balance your skin’s pH levels. This will help reduce infection, redness and swelling. It also helps remove dead skin cells, revealing new healthy cells beneath. You can buy products containing vinegar at your local grocery store or mix your own solution at home by mixing 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water in a spray bottle or bowl. Apply this mixture directly to your sunburn with a cotton ball or cloth once every hour until the pain subsides; you should notice improvement within 24 hours! If you do not have any vinegar on hand but still want relief from the burn there are other alternatives such as: coconut oil or Vitamin E oil which can be applied directly over the affected area using clean fingers fingertips gently mass
Using the right products can help soothe, calm and heal your skin.**
1. Aloe Vera. This plant is known for its soothing and healing qualities. If you are able to get the gel straight from a plant, then apply a thin layer to the sunburned area, this will provide instant relief. You can also apply a thin layer of aloe vera based lotion or moisturizer.**
2. Oatmeal bath. Oatmeal can also soothe sunburned skin and relieve itching and inflammation. Add 2-3 cups of colloidal oatmeal to warm water in your tub and soak for 10-15 minutes to get relief from your sunburn symptoms.**
3. Milk. Milk contains lactic acid that can cool off sunburnt skin, reduce redness and relieve pain when applied topically as a cold compress or used in a milk bath. Soak gauze pads or clean washcloth in chilled milk and apply it on your skin for about 15 minutes for immediate relief from the pain caused by a sunburn or other type of burn.**
4. Vinegar soak. Vinegar has been used since ancient times to treat many ailments including burns, bruises and insect bites because of its anti-inflammatory properties that can
While the majority of sunburns are minor, they can often be extremely painful. They occur when UV rays from the sun burn the skin. This can happen in two ways; either by over-exposure to direct sunlight or by reflecting off surfaces such as concrete or water.
Sunburn is most common during the summer months when people spend more time outside and is most likely to happen on a hot, sunny day between 10am and 4pm.
Most people know to apply sunscreen when going out in the sun for long periods of time, however, some people still get burnt anyway. This can be due to a number of factors including getting caught unaware by sunny weather, forgetting to apply sunscreen or using an SPF that isn’t strong enough for your skin type.
If you do find yourself with a nasty sunburn at any point this summer, here are some tips on how you can treat it.
Grab some aloe vera gel from your local pharmacy and apply it liberally over the affected area
Apply cool compresses to help soothe any inflammation – you could use a clean cloth dipped in cool water
Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine as caffeine will dehydrate you further
Get out of the sun as soon as possible and
When you’re feeling the burn, there are steps that you can take to heal a sunburn. Try these suggestions from the American Academy of Dermatology.
If you can, get out of the sun as soon as possible. If you can’t, cover up with a shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Avoid going out in the sun when it’s strongest (between 10 AM and 4 PM).
Take a cool shower or bath to help relieve the pain. Apply a moisturizing lotion while your skin is still damp. This will help lock in moisture and reduce itching. Use a gentle moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe sunburned skin. If your skin blisters, don’t break the blisters. Breaking blisters can lead to infection.
Apply a cool compress or ice packs to help reduce swelling and ease pain. Never apply ice directly to your skin! Wrap the compress or ice pack in a thin towel before applying it to your skin. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) to help relieve pain and reduce swelling. Don’t give aspirin to children or teenagers who have chicken
1. Stay out of the sun.
2. Clean your skin, and pat it dry gently.
3. Apply a cool compress to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time.
4. Apply an aloe vera cream or gel to the affected area to soothe your skin and reduce inflammation.
5. Use an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain and reduce inflammation if necessary.
6. Try OTC hydrocortisone cream on small areas of your body that are red, itchy, and irritated to reduce allergic reactions and help them heal faster.
7. If necessary, apply a topical antibiotic ointment to prevent infection in any open blisters you have.
1. Don’t scratch
2. Apply cool, wet compresses to affected area(s) for 10 minutes, 4-6 times a day.
3. Take frequent cool baths or showers to relieve itching and pain.
4. If blisters develop and break, apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection, but do not pop the blisters yourself. If they don’t break on their own, don’t try to force them open; the fluid inside is sterile and will be absorbed by your body as part of the healing process.
5. Use moisturizing lotion at least twice a day after bathing – it helps plump up the skin cells and reduces peeling and drying.
ws is a contributor at WhySkin. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
