Under India’s blazing sun, sunburn strikes when you least expect it!
Whether you spent a little too long at a beach during holidays or lost track of time during cricket match, your skin has now become red, sore, and you are begging for relief. The good news? You don’t have to spend a lot for expensive treatments to heal sunburn. Your kitchen has some soothing ingredients to provide relief from painful burn. Let’s explore simple and effective homemade remedies to make your skin feel comfortable again and summer ready.
The first and most important step to reduce sunburn irritation is to lower skin’s temperature. Run extremely cool (not icy) water over the affected skin. You can also take a cool shower. During shower, add a few tablespoons of baking soda or oatmeal to the water for extra relief. It reduces inflammation and provides instant comfort.
The time-tested remedy for sunburn, Aloe vera is widely known for its cooling and healing properties. Simply break off a leaf of an aloe vera plant and apply the fresh gel directly onto affected areas. If you are using store-bought aloe gel, make sure it's free from artificial colours and fragrances. Aloe soothes the skin as well as speeds up healing.
Sunburn takes away moisture of your skin, leaving it very dry and peeling. Thu, you need to drink lots of water, fresh coconut water, or homemade lemon water. Hydrated body speeds up the recovery process and prevents associated skin damage.
Loaded with probiotics and cooling enzymes, curd or yogurt along with honey, a natural antibacterial agent provides instant relief from sunburn. Mix a spoonful of honey into a bowl of chilled yogurt. Now, apply the paste to the affected areas. Keep it for 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water. This unique combination helps to reduce inflammation while nourishing your skin.
Once the initial heat or itchiness subsides, you can apply coconut oil to restore moisture. Enriched with fatty acids and vitamin E, coconut oil aids in skin repair. Massage a small amount of coconut oil gently onto the affected skin before bedtime to keep your skin soft. It will also prevent peeling.
Believe it or not, raw potatoes do wonders on sunburn. The starch present in potatoes helps your skin to cool and reduce swelling immediately. Simply slice a potato and place those small slices on your skin. You can also make a paste of potato skin using blender and apply the same. Wash off the paste after 10-15 minutes.
Prepare a cup of green tea and let it cool. Now, soak it with a clean cloth and apply as a compress to your sunburned skin. Loaded with antioxidants, green tea repair skin damage and reduce redness and itchiness.
High water content and natural anti-inflammatory properties of cucumbers make it ideal for treating sunburn. Slice a chilled cucumber and keep it over the affected area. You can also prepare a cooling mask by blending cucumber. This works best for sunburned faces.
As your skin is sensitive to sun, do not use strong soaps, exfoliators, or products containing alcohol. Always use gentle and fragrance-free cleansers until your skin becomes normal again. Also, opt for loose and breathable fabrics like cotton in summer season. The next time you go outside under the sun, don’t forget to apply sunscreen and a bottle of water.
Say goodbye to sunburn irritation and hello to happy, healthy skin!
