Home Remedies for Treating Sunburn

Sunburn is defined as a burn on living tissues like skin. It is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, primarily from the sun. Symptoms of sunburn include reddish skin that is hot to the touch, mild dizziness and general fatigue.

Sunburn is fairly common, especially among fair-skinned people. It can be easily treated. However, extreme cases of sunburn can be life threatening and can lead to more serious medical conditions. If you get sunburned, treat it immediately to promote faster skin cell renewal and regeneration. You can use drugs and medicated ointments to treat sunburn but there are several natural home remedies for sunburn as well.

Home Remedies

Increase your water intake. Eat fruits like watermelons and grapefruit that have high water content. This keeps your body hydrated and speeds up healing.
The cooling effects of cucumber make it an effective home remedy for sunburn. Rub some sliced cucumber on the sunburn to soothe the area.
Apply herbal or essential oils on the burnt skin. Massaging peppermint or lavender oil into the skin can speed up the healing process.
Baking soda relieves skin inflammation caused by sunburn. Add a couple of tablespoons to cool bath water and soak in it for 15 or 20 minutes to soothe your sunburnt skin. Soaking for longer could have the opposite effect and dry your skin even more. Do not towel dry after the bath. Air-dry your body instead. Remove the baking soda after a few minutes, not immediately.
Potatoes are a recommended sunburn pain reliever. Cut two washed potatoes into small chunks and blend in a food processor or blender until liquid. Add some water if they look too dry. Apply the liquefied potatoes on the affected areas and wait for them to dry before taking a cool shower.
Pat some chamomile tea on your sunburn. Brew chamomile leaves or prepackaged chamomile tea and wait for it to cool. Then apply it on your skin using a sponge.