10 Great Ways to Soothe Sunburn

Sunburns can happen even when you are very conscientious about preventing them. Here are the best ways to avoid it happening in the first place:

Minimize or avoid sun exposure altogether between the times of 10am and 3pm. This is when the sun is at its hottest.

Apply sunscreen of 15 SPF or higher and reapply often, especially after sweating or swimming.

Wear protective clothing and sunglasses. There are many garments that have sunscreen in the actual material.

Perhaps you missed a spot with the sunscreen or just forgot all the rules for the afternoon and now you are beginning to regret it! Here are some great tips on how to ease the pain and speed healing:

1. To help cool down your skin; try using a compress saturated with cold water or soak in a cool bath.

2. Add a cup of white vinegar to your cool bath.

3. Take a baking soda or oatmeal bath.

4. Apply fresh Aloe Vera or a 100% Aloe Vera gel product. To use the fresh plant, break open a leaf and squeeze the gel out or slice open and rub on skin. Be sure to remove any sharp edges.

5. Make a paste with corn starch and water and apply to sunburn.

6. Apply veggie slices. Raw cucumber or potato will bring relief.

7. Cover your sunburn with plain yogurt. Then take a cool shower.

8. Boil lettuce leaves in water. Strain, and then let the liquid cool several hours in the refrigerator. Dip cotton balls into the liquid and gently press or stroke onto irritated skin.

9. Supplement with a quality whole food supplement. The beta carotene in vegetables will actually make your skin more resistant to sunburn over time and will also speed in the healing of any injury.

10. Drink water and lots of it!

Have fun in the sun but remember skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers. (So protect yourself!) The damage starts young; in fact most people experience 80% of their lifetime sun exposure by the age of 18!

Michele Curtin
Wellness Coach