Warm temperatures and sunshine are good for body and soul. But if you spend too much time in the sun without the proper protection, you can quickly end up with a painful sunburn. Read here which remedies provide immediate relief, which home remedies can be an effective secret weapon, and which you should definitely avoid.
Immediate Sunburn Relief:
Get out of the sun immediately
This is the first immediate measure for sunburn. You should immediately get out of the sun to avoid putting even more strain on already damaged and stressed skin. Get into the shade, go inside, or cover your skin with clothing.
Drink Water
Sunburn causes the body to lose an incredible amount of fluid. To allow the skin to recover and heal quickly, it is important to drink enough fluids – preferably water, unsweetened teas, or juice spritzers.
Moist Compresses
Moist compresses can work wonders for sunburn. Wet washcloths or small towels with cold water and apply to the affected area. As soon as the compresses have warmed up, soak them in cold water again and apply them.
Use cooling “after-sun” creams, gels or lotions
One of the best remedies for sunburn is after-sun products. These have been specially developed for sun-stressed skin and can relieve pain and inflammation.
Home Remedies for Sunburn
There are some home remedies that can help immediately with sunburn:
Greek Yogurt for Cooling
Probably the best-known home remedy is Greek yogurt. Apply a thin layer of chilled Greek yogurt to the sunburn. As soon as the curd has warmed up, remove it with a damp washcloth and apply a fresh layer.
Medicinal Honey
Honey has anti-inflammatory properties. If you want to treat a sunburn with honey, you should definitely use medicinal honey. “Household honey” can be contaminated and make the skin irritation worse.
Cold Camomile or Black Tea Compresses
In addition to moist compresses with water, compresses with cold chamomile tea can provide additional relief. Chamomile tea can have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Black tea can also provide relief. The tannins in black tea, in particular, help to soothe sunburn.
Either treat the skin with the cooled tea bags or make cold compresses with the teas.
Aloe Vera Plant
Aloe vera plants are very popular in skin care. This also helps with sun-stressed skin. The plants are extremely moisturizing and anti-inflammatory. If you have a plant at home, cut off a piece and treat the affected areas of skin with it. You can also use an aloe gel for this.
No effective home remedies for sunburn!
As practical as home remedies can be, there are also some that can irritate sun-stressed skin even more. So you should stay away from:
Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice
The acid in apple cider vinegar and lemon juice can further irritate the skin and lead to inflammation.
Ice cubes and cool packs
Ice packs or ice cubes are unsuitable for sunburn. As the skin is already damaged and cannot regulate the temperature properly, this could lead to frostbite.
In summer, it is extremely important to protect your skin properly from the sun. If you are looking for other practical lifestyle tips, you are welcome to read the other blog posts!