Not using sunscreen often leads to painful and unsightly burns. How to mitigate the effects of intense sunbathing, using food products that we have at home?
Staying in the sun too long without any protection usually ends in painful skin burns, tenderness and erythema. What helps with sunburn? One natural remedy that will help relieve inflammation is bee honey. This health-promoting product is famous for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Just make a poultice of honey on your sunburned skin and you will feel significant relief after a while.
In the fight against sunburn can also help acidic dairy products – kefir or natural yogurt contain live cultures of bacteria, thanks to which the skin quickly regains a normal pH level, reduces its swelling and tension. In addition, the content of cow’s milk protein, vitamins A, D and E in its composition allows the regeneration of damaged epidermis.
Chamomile is one of the most valuable herbs known in folk medicine for centuries – it has strong anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. A cool infusion of chamomile applied to the skin will speed up the healing process and bring soothing relief.
Calendula, which reduces inflammation and is a universal remedy for burns of various origins, can also be applied to the affected areas. Just pour boiling water over a glass with 2 tablespoons of dried calendula flowers and set aside under a lid to brew. When the infusion cools down, we need to soak gauze in it and apply to the skin in problem areas.
A great home remedy for sunburn is also aloe vera juice, which helps to maintain the acidic pH of the skin. Aloe vera is a plant with beneficial effects, and it works well whenever your skin needs regeneration and hydration. It is antiseptic and cools the skin topically. It is enough to squeeze the juice from the leaf of the plant and spread it on the burnt area of the body (repeat this action several times a day).
Many people don’t realize that raw potatoes can also be helpful for sunburns – thanks to the substances in them, these popular vegetables relieve pain and prevent blisters from forming. Simply slice the potatoes and place them on the burned skin or grate them into a mashed potato. An alternative method can be a paste of potato flour mixed with water.
Cold water helps lower the temperature of a sunburned body. The coolness effectively relieves pain associated with sunburn and reduces redness on the skin. Remember to gently rinse the redness, gradually lowering the temperature (to avoid thermal shock) – from lukewarm to cool water for 10-15 minutes.
Due to its high menthol content, peppermint oil can also be our ally in the fight against skin burns after sunbathing, as it is fantastically cooling and anesthetic. This natural preparation also has anti-inflammatory properties and accelerates the healing of inflammation.
The basis is the use of preparations with UVA and UVB protection (at least SPF 30). You should be aware that one application of cream or lotion per day is definitely not enough – most manufacturers recommend applying sunscreen every 2 hours or so. For the sake of the skin in hot weather, avoid sun exposure between 10 am and 4 pm.
Remember that the above-mentioned home remedies can be used only for 1st degree burns. If you experience 2nd or even 3rd degree burns, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Read also: Sunbathing – should it really be avoided?
Main Photo: Maridav/ adobestock.com
