Having a multitude of ways to soothe sunburn is a great way to keep yourself as pain free as possible in the hot summer months. While it is of course a much better idea to use sunscreen and not burn in the first place, sometimes we catch ourselves out in the sun with no sunscreen to be found. When you end up with that accidental burn that leaves you cringing when your shirt brushes against your back, try one of these ways to soothe sunburn.
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1. Oatmeal
One of the oldest ways to soothe sunburn is to apply oatmeal. All you need to do is prepare the oatmeal as directed on the package but add enough water to make it a little more fluid, but still a pasty consistency. Once the oatmeal has cooled off completely, apply it gently (no rubbing) to your sunburned skin. Leave it on your skin until it has dried then wash it off in a cool shower.
2. Potatoes
Does this one seem strange to you? Give it a try anyway, you’ll be amazed at how well it works! Cut up 2 potatoes (or more if you have an all over burn) and put them in your blender. Blend them with a tablespoon of water until they are a thin liquid. Leave the peels on, no need to make extra work for yourself. Dab the liquid onto your skin with cotton balls. If you don’t want to take the time to blend them, or the burnt area isn’t significantly large, you can just dab the sliced potato on your skin.
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3. Witch Hazel
For this sunburn relief technique, make sure you use pure witch hazel, not the type that is mixed with alcohol… you’d deeply regret putting that on your burn! Witch Hazel has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties that help make your sunburn feel better. If you store it in your fridge and pour it over a washcloth, then let the cloth sit on your skin, you will notice an instant difference.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
After a cool shower, use a cotton ball or cotton pads to apply straight apple cider vinegar to your burned area. I know…putting acidic vinegar on a burn seems counter-intuitive but, strangely enough, it works wonders. Not only does it give you near immediate relief from the pain, it also helps the redness subside days faster than it normally would!
5. Yogurt
This one is simple… use plain, unsweetened yogurt (full fat works best) and smear it on all of your burned areas like lotion. Once the yogurt is warm to the touch, rinse your skin with lukewarm water. The yogurt helps to re-balance your skin’s pH level and eases the stinging while helping you to heal properly.
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6. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are basically a natural miracle for sunburn! They are full of antioxidants that help fight the damage caused by your burn. They are also great for moisturizing and hydrating your burned, stinging, dry skin! You can either puree them and slather the cucumber cream onto your skin or you can swipe slices across the burned areas.
7. Aloe
I figured I’d end with a classic sunburn soother – aloe. Aloe has been used to treat sunburns for many many years. You can squeeze the juice out of an aloe plant, or you can buy 100% natural aloe gel from the store. Apply it liberally to your skin, or add a good amount to your bath water for a relaxing, pain reducing bath. You can reapply it as many times as you need to throughout the day and it generally provides rapid relief.
I hope these ways to soothe sunburn will leave you pain-free this summer! Remember, the easiest way to keep your skin healthy and happy is to always carry sunscreen with you! Do you have any ways to soothe sunburn that you would like to share?
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