There are tons of things to love about summer: summer Fridays where work ends at noon, the sun setting at 8, and glasses of frosé being offered up at virtually every restaurant, just to name a few. However, there’s one thing that can put an end to your summer fun in seconds: a sunburn. According to research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, just 14.3 percent of men and 29.9 percent of women admitted to using sunscreen on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this not only contributes to the 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosed in the United States each year, it also contributes to some painful and potentially serious sunburns, too. Fortunately, for those who want to treat their skin in both a healthy and natural manner, there are plenty of options. When you’re ready to take the sting out of that burn, try one of these all-natural options:
Soak your skin in some chamomile tea: Chamomile tea is known for its cooling and soothing effects, and that extends well past the effects of having an occasional cup in the evenings. If you want to cool your skin and make your burn feel less tight, brew some chamomile tea and allow it to cool in your refrigerator. Next, soak some compresses in the cooled liquid and apply to the burned parts of your body.
Apply some aloe: One of the easiest plants to keep also happens to be one of the most useful. Upon maturity, this easy-to-care-for succulent produces one of the best sunburn-fighters out there. Fortunately, it’s easy to use (and a whole lot cheaper and more natural than what you’d buy at your local drugstore): just snap off a stem and apply the gel to your skin for immediate relief.
Add some turmeric to the equation: While some people swear by taking NSAIDs to relieve the pain of a sunburn, there’s a natural alternative: turmeric. This natural anti-inflammatory can be taken in capsule form or added to your favorite recipes to help reduce the inflammation throughout your body and heal your burn faster.
Drink plenty of water: One of the often-overlooked side effects of too much time in the sun is dehydration. The good news? If you can down just a few glasses of water after enduring a sunburn, you can shorten its duration and side effects. Being adequately hydrated will help reduce inflammation and promote healthy circulation, helping your body heal itself quickly.
Take a dip: If you want to make your skin feel better in an instant, try cooling off in a pool or bath. Lowering your body temperature in water can help relieve the pain of a sunburn, addressing both the internal discomfort and the skin issues the burn has caused. Just make sure you’re wearing plenty of sunscreen—those rays do penetrate through the water, after all.
Just because you’re saddled with a sunburn today doesn’t mean you have to worry about pain plaguing you for the foreseeable future. Regardless, if you live in a big city or sunny Los Angeles, by using these suggestions you can soothe your burn and feel better in no time.
© 2018, Candice Schaffer. All rights reserved.
