Taking Care of Sunburn Skin

Aloe, Water & Essential Oils

Taking in the rays of the sun can be good for the body, but getting to much sun can cause serious skin damage, or sunburn.  I love that warm feeling of the sun's rays on my skin, but to much UVA and UVB rays from the sun can alter DNA causing damage to the skin and premature aging. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are more than three million cases of sunburn in the United States every year. Many of these cases are mild and can be treated at home. 

 If you find yourself out in the sun to long, here are a few natural ways to care for sun burn skin. The most common response I have seen in my research for treating sunburns, is drinking lots of water. Keeping yourself hydrated is key in  healing sunburns. In addition to drinking water, you could drink herbal teas and water kefir. Another way to treat sunburn is Aloe Vera. This has been in use for not only sunburns, but many other types of burns for a long time. Getting the aloe from the plant instead of using a lotion with aloe may be the best option for nursing your sunburn. 

Oatmeal can be another way to tend sunburn skin. Add half a scoop or one cup to cool bath water, then soak. It's that easy! If  the sunburn is only covering a small area, you can add oats to cool water, put inside a cheese cloth or gauze, then place onto the burnt area. You may want to change gauze and re-cool the oatmeal as needed.  In addition to putting oatmeal on sunburn skin, you could use a clean potato. You would want to puree the potato first, placing the puree inside gauze, then applying to burnt area. My favorite way to ease sunburn is the use of essential oils, like lavender. I love the way essential oils smell and feel on my body without sunburn. Just image how much comfort you could have if  these oils are used on sunburn skin. When using these and any other remedies, try keeping the ingredients cool. This can help soothe that searing sensation felt on the skin. There are many other natural remedies used for the treatment of sunburn. Some items you may even have in your home. It's summer time and the sun is out longer. Sunburn can occasionally occur on anyone, what's essential is knowing how to treat it.

Here are other Sun Burn Relief Remedies:

after making keep cool

Andrea's Comment from Wellness Mama Blog: add into a 2 oz bottle with a mist top.

• aloe vera juice-1/8 tsp.
• vitamin E oil-1 1/2 tsp. 
• fractional coconut oil  
• roman chamomile 2 drops 
• lavender 2 drop 
• 2 drops melaleuca 

Herb Spray from Wellness Mama Blog:

• Boil 1 cup of water and add 2 tablespoons of dried mint leaf, lavender flowers, and dried plantain leaf. 
• Remove from heat and let cool. 
• Once cool, strain out the herbs. 
• Add an equal amount of apple cider vinegar to the cooled tea mixture and pour in to a spray bottle

Koketta Knowles