Sunburn

Looking for sunburn remedies because you had too much sun exposure? There are many natural remedies that are used to help heal sun damaged skin.

What causes sunburns?

• If you’ve got fair skin, you’ve got less melanin in your skin and you burn more easily. Melanin is activated by UV rays and protects your skin from sun damage.
• Too much activation of melatonin
  

Sunburn remedies: healing nutrition

• Essential fatty acids help restore skin elasticity and make your skin more resistant
• Eat foods high in potassium, foods rich in proteins for tissue repair, and foods rich in vitamins and minerals
• Drink plenty of liquids (containing electrolytes) to avoid dehydration and sunstroke

Sunburn remedies: supplements

• Vitamin E promotes healing
• Vitamin C fights against infections (common after sunburns)
• Vitamin A and betacarotene renew damaged skin cells
• L-Cysteine promotes healing of burns

Sunburn remedies: herbal remedies

• Aloe vera gel (as a preventive or after being burned) speed healing, moisturizes and relieves dryness
• Comfrey root, plantain, horsetail applied on the skin promote healing
• Saint John’wort oil and calendula also promote healing and are good for infected burns
• Cayenne stops sunburns. You can take it internally diluted in hot water.

Sunburn remedies: essential oils

• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Melaleuca
• Tea tree. To prevent blistering from sunburn, tea tree cream can be applied.
  

Sunburn remedies: homeopathic remedies

• Urtica urens relieves itching
• Cantharis is used for pain and blisters

Sunburn remedies: tissue salts

• Ferr phos
• Calc culph

Sunburn remedies: other skin remedies

• Take a cool bath after sunbathing to avoid wrinkles
• Don’t pop blisters otherwise you can get infections
• Avoid sun between 10am to 3pm when the ultraviolet is the strongest
• Wear a hat, sunglasses, protective clothes, a good natural sunscreen (check www.databasecosmetics.com). Keep in mind that natural sunscreens have to be reapplied even more frequently.
• Snow, water and sand reflect the sun even on a cloudy day
• Mix vinegar (1 teaspoon) and sunflower oil (one half cup) and apply it on your skin to avoid sunburn

Sunlight is important for healing most skin conditions and for maintaining a positive mental health. However, too much sun exposure can cause sunburns and even skin cancer. Sun can badly harm your skin and your entire system.

So always remember that prevention is better than cure!

Sunburn remedies: useful links

• Beta-carotene effective as sunburn protector: meta-analysis (cosmeticsdesign-europe.com)

Sunburn remedies: references

• Andrew Gaeddert, healing Skin Disorders, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California, 2003
• Louise Tenney, M.H., Today’s Herbal health, 6th edition, USA, 2007
• Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch, Prescription for nutritional healing, United States of America, 2000
• Siegfried Gursche, Encyclopedia of natural healing, Canada, 1997
• Thomas Bartram, Bartram’s encyclopedia of herbal medicine, The definitive guide to the herbal treatment of diseases, Grace Publishers, UK, 1995