4 natural remedies for sunburn
Yep, it’s April and yes, that’s a photo of my back. A spring bank holiday spent digging the garden and I was rewarded with that.
How horribly embarassing! This blog is all about taking responsibility for your own health and I go and get sunburn the first time I go outside to garden in a vest.
So, yes Mrs Green we all know prevention is better than cure, but what are the best natural remedies to treat the occasional sunburn?
Fluids
Fortunately, I get ten out of ten for my water intake. Every day I drink 1 1/2 to 2 litres of water, so that’s something in my favour. Today, and until the redness has gone, I shall be making sure I keep my water levels right up to prevent any further dehydration.
Colloidal silver
Spray it on and keep spraying it for instant relief! Colloidal silver has been used in the burns units of some hospitals because it is so powerful, effective and safe for treating burns.
You can’t overdose on it and it helps prevent scarring and infections.
Aloe vera
Once the colloidal silver has dried, snap the leaf off an aloe vera and apply the sticky, soothing gel to the burn.
Again, you can apply this as often as you wish. Aloe vera is a wonderful plant and heals most skin conditions.
Lavender essential oil
If you can stand it, a cool (not hot) bath with a few drops of lavender essential oil in it can soothe the skin. DO NOT apply the essential oil in a base oil, as the base oil will trap the heat in your skin – ouch!
If the burned area is small, you can apply a couple of drops of lavender essential oil neat to the burn. Gently, gently…
Finally …
That’s it! Time is the other healer and of course, learning from your mistakes and prevention next time you’re out is the way forward. You can take some antioxidants for a couple of months; such as vitamins A, C and E to help your body to heal.
What about you? Do you have a natural, soothing remedy for sunburn?
Ouch! That looks sooooo painful! I like using Aloe Vera too – I got a rosey neck from driving to Cornwall last weekend (I was told you can’t get burnt through glass!) and aloe vera did the trick. I like to pop mine in the fridge to make it extra soothing 🙂
I agree on the Aloe Vera. It’s great stuff! I do love the smell of lavender, and find it really relaxing to add some of the oil to a bath, but I’ve never tried it for burns. I’ve heard of using it before. Fortunately I don’t burn that easily.
@Gemma: Hi Gemma; yes! it is painful. Thankfully today is cloudy; I never thought I would be saying that LOL!
I was told you couldn’t burn through glass too – hope your neck is ok now. I love Cornwall; where did you go?
@Alison Kerr: Hi Alison; lavender is great for burns. In fact, that is how it was first discovered! I must dig out the story, but someone years ago, plunged his hands into a vat of lavender water after burning himself (it was the first thing available) and he was amazed to see the results. Serendipity at its best!
What is your favourite essential oil for use around the home?
Aloe Vera is very good for burns as it helps to regenerate skin cells, prevents infection and maintains moisture in the skin layer. All essential factors in burn treatment. Apparently, it will reduce the severity of burns by 1 degree, which is an amazing feat of natural healing. The nice thing about Aloe Vera is that the gel, found in the older leaves sits comformatbly on the burned skin without flowing off. It provides a soothing cooling effect, bringing relief as well as healing.
I never knew that aloe could reduce the severity of burns by 1 degree. That is astonishing and could be the difference it takes to stop further damage.
Thank you for sharing that with us 🙂
How else do you use aloe vera in your home?
I got a pretty bad sunburn this weekend. Been treating it with Aftersun Lotion that contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. Vitamin E helps heal all kinds of things, including burns & scars. Try it out.
I first learned about it when my mom badly burned her leg by dropping a broiler pan on her shin. She had a huge gash in her calf for several weeks but the healing process sped up significantly once she started opening Vitamin E gel tabs and rubbing them on the wound.
I know this sounds completely crazy but vapor rub is not just for colds anymore!! It is the greatest relief for sunburn I know of. I work with teenage girls, who are absolutely impossible when they get burned!! We use the vapor rub on their burnt skin and it takes out the itching, burning and stiffness.
Try it…. what have you got to loose?
@Melissa M.: Hello Melissa, sorry to hear you had sunburn too. The results of the vitamin E on the skin sounds amazing doesn’t it. What else have you used vitamin E for and does it work as effectively if you take it internally?
@Nora Collins: Hi Nora, thank you for leaving a comment on the site. Vapour rub sounds intriguing; I wonder what the magic soothing ingredient is – do you know?
I am from Arizona and have had my fair share of sunburns.
I have tried “Aloe” everything – the green gels, lotions, and even taking an aloe vera plant and rubbing its goo right on me. NOTHING works as well as the Made from Earth PURE ALOE FACE TREATMENT (from the Made from Earth skin care line).
When I sunburn, I tend to blister and the Made from Earth Aloe Treatment makes it so I don’t even peel – it keeps my tan (which I wanted to get), but moisturizes so well that I don’t have to worry about all of the ugly peeling!!!
My family went to the lake this week and because everyone loved this lotion so much, they used up my entire bottle – well, I guess that means its time to stock up!! 🙂 Take my word for it, this is AMAZING!!!
@paul m: Hello Paul, welcome to the site and thanks for your comment.
It sounds like an amazing product; thank you for telling us about it. I find Aloe vera to be wonderful.
Why is it better than the leaf – what other active ingredients does it have in it?