Last Updated on March 18, 2023 by Ellen Christian
When I was in high school, it was all the rage to cover yourself with baby oil and lay in the sun to burn tan. We didn’t know about the dangers of tanning and I never heard anyone talking about skin cancer. Of course, now we know better but if you’re fair skinned like me, you still have to deal with sunburn occasionally.
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Healing Sunburn Naturally
With summer right around the corner, we’ll be spending more time outside in the sun. If you do end up with a sunburn, it is possible to reduce redness and pain naturally with a few of these tips for healing sunburn naturally.
- Use a cold washcloth. When you get a sunburn, the skin is red and inflamed. You can cool it down with cold water. Simply soak a washcloth in cold water and lay it gently against the burn. Repeat as needed when the washcloth warms up.
- Apply yogurt. Really! Apply a thin layer of plain, unflavored yogurt to your burn. Let it sit for 5 minutes and rinse off gently with cool water. Pat dry.
- Skip the soap. Soap will dry out your skin. Until all traces of sunburn are gone, avoid using soap when you wash.
- Apply a moisturizer. If your skin is burned, you can find relief by adding a plain, unscented moisturizing lotion. For extra relief, put it in the refrigerator for an hour first.
- Drink extra water. Replenish the loss of water in your skin by drinking extra water. For something a bit different, toss a handful of fresh cut fruit in the water for an infusion of flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar. Add a cup of apple cider vinegar to a cool bath and soak away some of the irritation.
- Aloe vera gel. Add gel from an aloe vera plant to soothe sunburn. Don’t have a plant? You can buy a bottle of aloe vera gel at most drug stores.
Prevention is the best medicine so before you go out in the sun, please be certain you put on sun protection. I use products that have at least an SPF45 because I burn easily. Even if you rarely burn, you should at least use a product with a SPF30. Remember that you can get a sunburn even on a cloudy day so be prepared!
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Ellen believes you can feel beautiful at any age and size. She shares healthy beauty and fashion information geared toward women over 40. She is a direct sales rep for several fashion and beauty businesses.
These are some great tips! I always have apple cider vinegar around the house, I will have to try this the next time I get a sunburn.
Definitely, Susan. Give it a try.
We used to cure it with Kefir in the old country. It does look pretty good
That would work too, Lena!
These are great natural care tips. Did you know black tea bags (cooled) applied to your skin works well too?
I didn’t know that, Amy. Thank you!
I would have never thought of applying yogurt! These are some really great tips that I hope I won’t need but are nice to have for this summer!
Glad to help, Jeannette!
These are all awesome tips. I’ve used apple cider vinegar before for a burn and it really does help!
It really does. I was surprised too!
Aspirin to reduce to inflammation and vinegar to soothe the sting.
Thank you! That’s good to know!
Great tips! I didn’t know that Apple Cider Vinegar could help! I always have some on hand (the good kind, with “The Mother”) and I will definitely try this if anyone gets sunburned. Hopefully not, but it is summer afterall!
That’s the best type to use, Erika!
Ugh I wish I would have read this a couple weeks ago! I would have definitely tried anything. I was helping my Gram in the garden with a tank top on and had no idea I was getting totally fried on my back. I’m going to keep some plain yogurt in the house just for this purpose! Thanks for the tips!
Oh no! Glad to help, Shelley!