Home Remedies and Herbs for Sunburn

A sunburn is literally a burn from the sun. The sun is beneficial to our skin in small amounts because our bodies use the sun’s ultraviolet rays to create vitamin D, which is used for healthy bone formation.¹ Melanin is a pigment in the skin that helps protect against the harmful effects of the sun’s rays.¹ However, too much sun exposure can cause the UV rays to penetrate deeper into the skin, resulting in permanent skin damage.¹ This prolonged sun exposure can cause a skin condition known as sunburn.

What Causes Sunburn?

Sunburn occurs as a result of long-term sun exposure. Each person reacts to the sun’s rays differently. Fair-skinned individuals are more likely to burn faster because they have less melanin in their skin to protect them from the sun’s harmful rays.² For some fair-skinned people, sunburn can occur with just 15 minutes of sun exposure while other people can withstand hours of sun exposure with no effects.² Conditions like lupus and medications like antibiotic doxycycline can increase your sensitivity to the sun.² To reduce sunburn risk, it helps to wear protective clothing, apply sunscreen, and limit your exposure to the sun.

Sunburn Symptoms

Sunburn symptoms do not appear immediately. Instead, they develop about 4 hours after exposure and worsen over the next day or two.³ Sunburn symptoms usually get better in 3-5 days.³ Symptoms include red, tender skin. In severe cases, sunburn can result in blistering, nausea, headache, and fever.³ Bad sunburns can cause skin peeling at the affected area.

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Sunburn

If you’re sensitive to the sun, the right lifestyle and diet choices can help reduce your risk of sunburn. However, if you end up with a sunburn, there are a variety of sunburn home remedies that reduce symptoms and promote healing. Start with these sunburn herbal remedies:

• Coconut Oil - Coconut oil is known for its positive benefits on the skin. It helps nourish the skin, soothe the pain, and prevent peeling. Apply to the affected area daily until the sunburn heals.
• Aloe Vera - Another popular sunburn herb is aloe vera. It soothes the skin and contains anti-inflammatory properties to help the sunburn heal. Apply topically to help reduce symptoms.
• Egg White - Egg whites are packed with nutrients to promote skin health. They can be applied topically, left for 20 minutes, and rinsed off to help soothe the skin.

References

1. http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/animations/suns-effect-on-skin
2. http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/sunburn
3. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/sunexposure/sunburn.html