Summer is just about here and it’s getting hot out. The warm sun feels nice, but can take a toll on your skin. Kids are almost out of school, so there are plenty of vacation hours and outdoor adventures filled with solar baking to worry about. When you get a little crispy, here are some ways to take away the sting and speed your recovery, naturally.
- Less Sun. This is purely preventative. We need a dose of sunlight each day, but only about ten to twenty minutes, not hours and hours baking our skin. Stick to the shade and use some natural sunscreens when you know you’ll be spending a lot of time outside.
- Aloe Vera. This is the most often reached for remedy and for good reason. The gel from this plant cools, protects, eases the burn, and speeds healing. Use fresh cuttings from live plants whenever possible to avoid unnecessary chemical additives.
- Vitamin E and C. Vitamin E can be applied directly to the skin to help with hydration and encourage healing, but these two vitamins are best if taken internally before sun exposure. They are both antioxidants that will help stop damage from ultraviolet rays beforehand.
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Apple Cider Vinegar. Vinegar has a cooling effect on skin as it evaporates and apple cider vinegar is packed with vitamins and minerals that speed the healing process. It can be mixed into a tepid bath or mixed with equal parts water to use as a misting spray.
- Cool Shower. Cool water pulls away the heat to soothe and lessen the burn.
- Baking Soda. Baking soda is antiseptic and relieves itching skin. Mix some in a tepid bath or mix with cool water to form a refreshing paste that pulls out heat as the water evaporates.
- Honey. Honey is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It can be used on cuts, abrasions, bruises, and burns to encourage healing.
- Tomatoes. Slices, paste, or puree, tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. They cool and protect the skin from damage. The effect works even better in preventing sunburn, and not just topically. People who eat tomatoes are less prone to ultraviolet damage.
- Oatmeal. This has also long been a home remedy for sunburn, because it works. Oatmeal soothes the burn and has anti-inflammatory properties that take away the pain. It can be used in a tepid bath or as a cool paste.
- Avocado. Avocado is one of the most nutrient dense foods we have. It has many beneficial vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats that help rehydrate the skin and aid the healing process along. Apply it as a paste and blend it with aloe vera for even more cooling and healing power.
Need something more? There are hundreds of natural home remedies out there. Try chamomile, lavender, tea tree, mustard, ketchup, milk or yogurt, and even soaked chia seeds to help get rid of the pain, redness, and discomfort of too much sun. Then remember to get less next time.
