Did you know that excessive sun exposure can permanently damage your skin? If you’ve just spent a day at the beach, or maybe you’re working outdoors in the heat, then you probably already know how painful and sensitive your skin can become when exposed to ultraviolet rays. This is what we call sunburn – a normal process by your body to signal that it’s time to rest and recover. However, if you feel like it’s too much for you, this article will help you find the best home remedies for sunburn. Natural solutions are always the best choice as they do not cause any side effects. Let’s take a look!
What is sunburn?
Sunburn occurs when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or other sources such as tanning beds. When UV rays hit the skin, they damage the DNA in skin cells, causing the cells to swell and die.
Your skin reacts to this damage with redness, swelling and pain, which we call sunburn. While sunburn can occur at any time of the year, the risk is higher in the summer when the sun shines brighter. In the northern hemisphere, the sun’s rays are more direct and the hours of sunshine are longer in summer than at any other time of the year.
The best home remedies for sunburn
Let’s take a look at the best home remedies for sunburn:
- Aloe Vera Gel: This plant is one of the best sunburn remedies because of its anti-inflammatory properties. The properties of the aloe vera gel help to relieve the pain and heal the skin quickly. If you have an aloe vera plant, cut the leaves lengthwise and use a spoon to scrape out the gel inside. You can now apply this gel to your skin, it has a cooling effect.
- Cucumber juice: Cucumber has a cooling effect and is rich in vitamin B and minerals, which makes it a very good home remedy for sunburn. So if you have space in your garden, you can easily grow a cucumber plant and use the leaves for this remedy. You can also place thin slices of cucumber on the burned areas for short-term pain relief.
- Coconut Oil: This is another very popular home remedy for sunburn. Coconut oil has an anti-inflammatory effect and also moisturizes the skin. It is rich in lauric acid, a natural antifungal and antibacterial agent that speeds up the healing process.
- Egg Yolk and Honey: One of the old and traditional, yet less common, home remedies for sunburn. To do this, mix egg yolk and a tablespoon of honey into an antibacterial agent and apply it to the burned areas of the skin. The substance is best used when fresh.
- Dry Baking Soda: Baking soda is an excellent home remedy to reduce the pain and swelling caused by sunburn. It also helps reduce skin redness.
- Green Chickpea Flour Paste: Green chickpea flour is rich in vitamin C and minerals, making it an excellent natural remedy for sunburn. It is best used when fresh. You can mix a little chickpea flour with an oil of your choice or a little water until you get a green-greyish paste. Apply this to your skin and let it soak in. You can store the paste in the fridge before applying it.
- Neem and Turmeric Paste: Turmeric is an excellent natural anti-inflammatory that is helpful in treating sunburn. It helps reduce redness and swelling of the skin and also acts as an antioxidant. The neem tree or neem has been one of the most important medicinal plants for centuries and is therefore also popularly referred to as the “village pharmacy”. You can buy neem powder at the pharmacy.
conclusion
Sunburn is one of the most common skin problems we experience in summer. The best way to avoid it is to wear good sunscreen and avoid direct sun exposure.
If burns do occur, these home remedies for sunburn are simple and effective. They can be used to treat early-stage sunburn to reduce inflammation and redness of the skin. All of these remedies are natural and generally suitable for all skin types.
