With summer in full swing (well, as long as the hurricanes and tropical depressions will give us a short reprieve from gray skies), sunburns can be just around the corner. While we have many options on how to ease the process of healing a sunburn, the good news is that many remedies are already in our home cabinets.
Aloe is probably going to be at the top of your home remedy list for good reason. It’s packed with natural vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and sugars and is a great anti-inflammatory tool. If you don’t already have an aloe plant in your backyard or on your front porch, find a friend with one and ask for an offshoot from the base of the parent plan. If you must use bottled aloe, put it in the fridge just enough to cool it down. You're not only getting the natural effects of it but the coolness also helps to soothe burned skin.
Ok, this may sound crazy, but apple cider vinegar is great as well. It's not going to heal the burn so much as it will take away the sting. Simply get a cotton ball and soak it just enough to cover the area of skin that is burned. The smell is, well, like you’d expect vinegar to smell, but if it means taking down the stinging, it’s well worth it! Vinegar also has natural acids and enzymes from fermentation. It’s best to buy a bottle that is free of chemicals and additives so that you get the purest apple cider vinegar possible, and if it comes with the “mother,” you’re getting the good stuff.
You’ve probably heard of oatmeal baths for chicken pox or >poison ivy. Oatmeal is also a great sunburn home remedy for reducing peeling, blistering and tenderness. Take an uncolored sock and organic rolled oats or colloidal (fine powder) oatmeal, which will be easier to dissolve in the bathtub. Fill your tub with cool to lukewarm water (hot water will dry out your skin even further). Soak the oatmeal-filled sock in the tub for a few minutes, soak for at least 30 minutes, and rinse with cool, clear water. Very relaxing!
Prevention, it’s been said, is the best cure, so before you plan on staying out in the sun, don’t forget your sunscreen!
[Image Via ]
