How to get rid of Sunburns Fast with Home remedies and Treatments
Summer’s here and the inevitable thing is Sunburn. Jeez! It’s not fair.
But what could we do? Pretty much nothing. We have to soak up the sun and when we do that for long hours we get sunburnt. So, here comes the question, Is there any prevention?
Well, Yes, there are plenty of Home remedies to treat and get rid of Sunburns. The home remedies can heal, cool, and soothe the burning, itching, and peeling sensations that come with damage from the Sun’s rays.
Let’s get deep and learn more about how you get sunburns? And how to prevent or get rid of sunburns fastly with some fantastic home remedies.
How and When you get Sunburnt?
Sunburns are usually red, swollen, and sometimes painful skin caused due to overexposure to the sun’s UV rays. Sunburns can vary from mild to severe in some cases. It depends on the amount of sun exposure and by your skin type.
Sun emits UVA, UVB, and UVC ultraviolet rays. UVA stands for Ultraviolet Aggressive which penetrate to deepest parts of your skin and cause damage from within.
UVB stands for Ultraviolet Burns which mostly affects the surface of your skin. These rays are responsible for burning your skin, changing the skin color, dehydrating your skin, and for developing age spots.
Whereas, UVC rays are the shortest and never reaches the earth because they’re absorbed by the Ozone layer. However, in some parts, like Australia, where there is a hole in the ozone layer, it can pass UVC rays. In such cases, if your skin absorbs UVC rays, it might cause skin cancer. So, that’s when you must use a triple block sun protection which protects you from all the three rays.
When you get Sunburnt? It happens when you don’t apply sunscreen/ sunblock or when the protection gets worn off because of water, perspiration, or sweat. Therefore, if you apply Sunscreen, it protects the top layer of your skin by absorbing UV rays and reflecting them back.
That being said, applying a Sunscreen ideally won’t give you 100% protection unless and until you keep re-applying. If you wanted to know, How to use Sunscreen? and the Myths of Sunscreens, check here.
2. Stages of Sunburn
Sunburn can occur right after 15 minutes of constant exposure to the sun’s rays but it doesn’t show any immediate harm on the skin.
The symptoms of Sunburn can vary from person to person. Initially, you might notice the redness of the skin for several hours after getting sunburnt. The redness might last 12 to 24 hours depending on the severity.
Some people get minor sunburns that cause slight redness and tenderness in the affected areas. Extreme or Severe Sunburns can lead to blistering and sometimes perhaps require medical attention.
In severe cases, the symptoms could be, a fever, nausea, vomiting, weakness, skin irritating, skin bubbling, blistering, and chills. Extremely severe cases can also lead to low blood pressure, fainting, and extreme weakness.
The stages of Sunburn are – After the exposure to the sun, skin turns red after 30 minutes or it might take up to 2 to 6 hours. Then the affected area starts swelling and pain occurs between 4 to 48 hours after exposure. But when skin burns it continues to develop for 24 to 72 hours or may even continue for a couple of days. In addition, peeling and itchiness also continue for several weeks.
3. How to Prevent Sunburns
The best way to not get sunburnt or bronzed is to avoid going out during the midday or when it’s scorching outside. Other preventive steps could be:
- Always Wear Sunscreen. It’s basically like Slip, Slop, and Slap which means slip a dress, slop a hat and slap some sunscreen
- Wear accessories like Sunglasses, Scarves, Hat, and things which don’t expose you to sun’s rays
- Wear Light color clothing that will reflect the sun’s rays
- Stay hydrated which plays a vital role in not getting sunburnt
- Always re-apply sunscreen regularly
4. How to Treat Sunburns
Sunburn is never a joke. In severe cases, it might also lead to permanent skin damage or cause skin cancer. So, follow these treatments immediately after getting a sunburn to ease the discomfort of Sunburn. BTW, these treatments are suggested by MNT(Medical News Today).
- Cool the skin by applying a dampen cloth that got soaked in cold ice water on the affected areas.
- When your skin starts to peel, don’t pick. It’s the final stage of sunburn. Let it cure by itself because the new skin is coming.
- Don’t break small blisters. If it breaks clean it with a mild cleanser or soap. Popping a blister can cause damage to your skin.
- Hydrate yourself to keep your body cool and to get rid of sunburns fastly.
- For Pain, use over the counter treatments such as Ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. These can relieve pain and swelling. Hydrocortisone creme can reduce inflammation and itching.
- Stay out of the Sun to avoid making the burn worse by again exposing it to UV rays.
In more severe cases, consult your health care professional for immediate medication.
5. Home Remedies to get rid of Sunburns fastly
Moisturizer is what you want
One of the most important things to prevent skin from peeling or at least keep it minimum is by applying a good moisturizer. Regularly, apply fragrance-free and preservative-free moisturizers such as Moisturizers with Aloe vera or Vitamin E to keep skin irritation to a minimum.
Take Cold Showers
Cooldown your body by taking cold showers or maybe having green tea baths which slow down the burning effect. Hoping into cold showers is the easiest way to treat inflammation but don’t dip into the pools because chlorinated water can irritate your skin. Moreover, don’t apply ice on affected areas. It may increase the severity of inflammation.
Foods to Eat to Reduce Inflammation
- Munch on Blueberries that are high in polyphenols. It protects your skin radiation and boosts skin cellular regeneration.
- Tomatoes contain carotenoids and antioxidants which prevent being sunburnt and reduces melanin production. You can also drink a glass of tomato juice.
- Sweet Potatoes are known as edible sunscreens. Eat them to prevent your skin from being harmed by UV rays.
Green Tea
Green tea is super high in antioxidants which help in the skin repairing process. You can refrigerate green tea bags for a couple of hours and then apply them onto the sunburnt areas or simply soak your body in green tea.
Wear Loose Clothing
As your skin repairs itself, wear loose clothing that doesn’t stick to your skin. Thereby, giving some room to breathe. Cotton clothes are the best for post sunburn recoveries.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is an effective home remedy to provide immediate sunburn relief. Break off a chunk of Aloe vera leaf and apply the gel directly to the affected areas. It gives instant soothing relief from any irritation caused by sunburns.
Baking Soda and Oatmeal
Add a few tablespoons of Baking soda and Oatmeal to your bathtub of cool water. Soaking for 20 minutes in that solution can minimize sun damage, soothes irritation, and retains skin’s natural moisture. But don’t scrub your skin with oatmeal or baking soda, it worsens the condition.
Up to the very end!
In conclusion, combining a good diet, layering skin with sunscreen, and following these home remedies can help you treat sunburns fastly.
Do let us know if you’ve any questions by leaving a comment below. We’d be happy to help.
Also Read
- Dermatologists Recommended Sunscreens for Ultimate Sun Protection
- 8 Different Types of Sunscreens | Find out which one suits you
- 8 Amazing Life-Saving Summer Hacks
- Summer Essential Oils to help you with all skin problems
Related posts:
