Best Sunburn Remedies

Summer is a favorite for so many reasons, great weather, kids are out of school, vacations, boating, swimming, baseball, barbeques, pool parties, and just enjoying the great outdoors. One thing that comes with the nice weather is a lot of sunshine, and with that comes the inevitable sunburns. We searched the internet and have come up with some of the best sunburn remedies we could find. We also found a few that are just downright bizarre. If you have a tried and true sunburn remedy, we want to hear from you! Send us a message on one of our social media platforms, and maybe we will share it with the rest of our followers.

First things first, though, prevention is always the best remedy when it comes to sunburn. Wear your SPF, apply it liberally, and reapply often! Since we know this advice is usually a day too late, here is what we have found for the best sunburn remedies on the web.

Sunburn Remedy For Immediately After Exposure

You realize 5 minutes too late that you forgot your SPF, and now you have a burn; what can you do? The first line of defense is to take a cool shower, pop an ibuprofen to help the inflammation, and drink a ton of water to rehydrate yourself. If the pain is too much, you can add cool compresses and aloe or after sun lotion. The sun exposure has dehydrated your skin, so adding moisture back in is essential.

Does Milk Help A Sunburn?

Milk contains lactic acid, which is a gentle exfoliant. Lactic acid will remove the dead skin from the top of the burn, and milk also has antioxidants to help relieve the inflammation. Since milk is cold, it also will feel nice on your sunburn and give you immediate cooling.

Vinegar For Sunburn

Vinegar is a natural astringent which soothes the pain of sunburn and helps to speed up the process of healing. Apple cider vinegar also has acetic acid, which helps to alleviate any itching and reduces inflammation. One thing to be aware of, the smell is pungent and a lot to take all at once in an enclosed place like the shower. Be mentally prepared for an olfactory assault to reap the rewards of this sunburn remedy! Some say to add 1-2 cups to a bath and soak in it, while others say to just stand in the shower and pour it all over your sunburned areas. A good way to test the theory is to apply it to a compress and place it on the sunburn. One thing to note, not everyone agrees this is a great remedy, so try it on a small area before committing to a full-body application.

Hydrocortisone Cream For a Sunburn

You can buy 1% Hydrocortisone Cream over the counter just about anywhere with a first aid section. Most people already have this remedy in their home medicine cabinets since it's a popular first-aid remedy for many skin conditions. Cortisone helps to calm the sunburn down and offers a bit of pain relief. For severe sunburn, you might even consider going to the doctor for a prescription-strength of hydrocortisone cream. Some brands also have oatmeal and aloe, which up the inflammation-fighting ingredients for added relief.

Get Sunburn Relief From an Oatmeal and Soy Milk Bath

Many homes have oatmeal in their pantries, making this an easy go-to sunburn remedy. Soy milk is preferred here because it is a natural anti-inflammatory and it helps to soothe. Combine the two and apply as a paste and sit on the sunburned areas for up to 20 minutes two times per day. This sunburn remedy is also great for bug bites, heat rash, and other skin issues. Talk about a low-cost solution that is multi-purpose!

Tomatoes For Sunburn Relief?

Tomatoes contain lycopene which can help to improve the skin’s ability to protect itself from UV rays, so eat your veggies that are high in lycopene but don't skimp on the sunscreen! If you are reading this and it's too late, fresh tomato juice rubbed onto a sunburn helps alleviate redness and inflammation while also soothing the skin. Cut a tomato in half and rub it all over the burn. Once it dries, jump in a cool shower and then apply a soothing lotion on top while your skin is still damp. Moisturizing on moist skin will help to lock that moisture in, this is especially helpful on a burn that by nature has lost its nutrients and moisture content. Pomegranate seeds are also full of antioxidants that can help you fight off the sun's harmful rays from the inside out. Tomato and pomegranate salad, anyone?

Sunburn Remedies Should Start With Prevention

We can't stress enough that prevention is best when it comes to sunburns. Fair skin takes as little as 10 minutes on days with a higher UV index, so even if you are just going for a quick walk or taking a break to get some fresh air, your skin is at risk of getting a sunburn which can lead to long term health consequences. Your best friends this summer should be your SPF, a wide-brimmed hat, and clothing with SPF built-in.

Hopefully, these sunburn remedies will be options you have immediately available in your pantry or medicine cabinet, so you won't have to suffer longer if you accidentally got too much sun exposure. 

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