18 Popular Sunburn Cures & Remedies That Work Well

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Here’s a familiar story: One day, you’re out by the pool and you decide to get a nice tan. Why not? It’s a beautiful sunny day and you are looking a bit on the pale side. So you grab your tanning oil, lounge out on the cabana feeling relaxed and enjoying your tan. But, you get too relaxed and end up falling asleep. Did I forget to mention that your tanning oil has no sun protection? You’re now awake and in pain from a nasty sunburn. Ouch!

What should I do?

First off, don’t panic. There are plenty of ways to a cure sunburn. Check out these 18 sunburn remedies below!

1. Drink Plenty of Water

Sunburns can dehydrate the skin so drink plenty of water or fluids. Doing so will return your skin to its hydrated self.

2. Luke warm baths

Showers or baths that are too hot or too cold will not help. Take a lukewarm bath and add colloidal oatmeal, chamomile tea bags and a few tablespoons of baking soda for relief.

3. Baking Soda

Soak gauze pads in solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 cup of water. Apply to affected area.

4. Vinegar

Soak a cloth in diluted vinegar preferably apple cider vinegar, wring the cloth out and pat gently on the affected area.

5. Mayonnaise

Slather over the sunburn affected area.

6. Apply Aloe Vera

This is my favorite sunburn remedy. Calming or cooling lotions like Aloe Vera gel are best to treat a sunburn. Here’s an added bonus: leave the aloe vera gel in the fridge. Trust me, chilled aloe vera gel will feel heavenly on your burn.

7. Cool Water

For temporary relief, splash cool water on the sunburn or use a cloth soaked in cold water.

8. Seek Medicine

To help alleviate the pain, try taking an aspirin or ibuprofen. If the burn starts to look worse or if you’re feeling sick, seek medical help immediately.

9. Milk

Soak a small towel in cold milk and place over affected area for 15 to 20 minutes. Then reapply ever 2 to 4 hours.

10. Yogurt

Spread plain cold yogurt liberally on affected area.

11. Cucumber Slices

It’s not just for tired eyes. Slice up a cucumber and place those slices over the sunburn.

12. Bag of frozen vegetables

Take a bag of frozen peas from the freezer, wrap it up in a damp cloth and hold it over the burn. It will absorb the heat from your skin while constricting blood vessels.

13. Hydrate with food

Water will counteract the drying effects left from a sunburn, but don’t just drink plain water. Get water from foods like fruits. Hydrating fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon can contain between 5 oz to 9 oz (over 1 cup) of water.

14. Cornstarch

Mix this anti-inflammatory with some water to make a paste, and apply directly to the sunburn.

15. Lettuce

Lettuce is also known to have analgesic properties. To reap the benefits, boil a couple of lettuce leaves, strain, and let liquid cool for a couple of hours in the fridge.

16. Peeled Potatoes

The starch in the potatoes helps draw out heat, which can speed healing. Boil and mash a few potatoes, let cool and apply over affected area.

17. Fresh Brewed Tea

The tannic acid from black tea can also draw out heat from the affected area and helps restore the pH balance. Apply a damp cloth of fresh brew tea over the sunburn. You can even add mint for a more cooling effect.

18. Burow’s Solution

To comfort and soothe a sunburn, apply a cool compress of Burow’s solution like Domeboro powder packets.

To avoid sunburns, remember to always apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Best Sunscreen Picks

Do you have any sunburn remedies? How do you treat a sunburn?

If you liked this post, then check out Sunscreens for Acne Prone Skin!

Resources: Prevention