We have all been there. You stayed for a long time on the beach, or there was a long gap between SPF reapplications, you stayed for a while and thought you would be fine and now you have sunburns.

EASE THE PAIN!

It’s red and it hurts and now your skin is about to start peeling! If you have over exposed your skin for that golden tan and have ended up with sunburn, these home remedies can make you a bit more comfortable and will help ease the pain till the time the burn heals. Sometimes home remedies are the best and the greatest fix can be found in your fridge or kitchen. Read on to find our home remedies for sunburns.

#1 Take a bath

Take a bath with cool and not cold water to soothe your skin. Don’t use soap or loofah as they might irritate and hurt your skin. For added relief, add one cup of cider vinegar to balance the pH of sunburned skin and to promote the healing process. You can also try adding some tablespoons of baking soda to your bath water. Another option is oatmeal; add 1 cup of oatmeal into cool bath to soothe your skin. Whatever option you choose, keep the water cool and don’t stay for more than 15-20 minutes or else you will dry your skin even further. Remember to pat dry and do not rub.

#2 Aloe Vera

This is a classic remedy. You get sunburn and almost everyone’s initial response would be ‘apply some aloe’. So take an aloe vera plant (easily found at your local plant nursery) and squeeze the get out of the leaves onto your burn. Rub the gel gently. Aloe constricts your blood vessels and soothes a painful burn. Alternatively you can also use lotions that contain aloe Vera to soothe and moisturize your skin. Some products contain lidocaine (an anesthetic) that can help in relieving extreme pain.

#3 Potatoes

Yes, you are right! The plain old potato works wonders as a pain reliever. It’s a tested technique known throughout the world. Take 2-3 medium sized potatoes, wash them and cut them into small pieces. Blend them in a processor and add water if needed. Pat the sunburnt areas with the blended potatoes and leave them for 15-20 minutes. Take a cool shower to rinse it off.

#4 Tea Bags

Tea seems to work miracles for sunburns. Try soaking tea bags in cool water or brewing tea and then apply the brewed tea once it has cooled off on the sunburnt area. You can try mint tea or tea with calendula which has soothing properties. The tannic acid in tea helps draw heat from sunburnt skin and also helps in restoring the pH balance.

#5 Vinegar

Make a spray bottle of half vinegar (preferably apple cider vinegar) and half water and spray it on your burns. There is not much research behind this but many people swear by this.

#6 Coconut Oil

Coconut oil seems to be a one-stop solution. Not only does it works as a sunblock but it also helps in soothing existing burns.

#7 Milk

Using a clean washcloth, apply cool not cold milk on your skin. Milk will help in easing the discomfort caused by the sunburn.

#8 Vitamin E

Vitamin E oil can also be applied topically on the affected areas to accelerate the healing process. The antioxidants in Vitamin E help in decreasing the inflammation too.

#9 Water

It is very important for you to keep your body well hydrated to kick-start the healing process. Drinking lots of water will help you heal faster and will replace the moisture lost due to sun exposure.

#10 Prevention

The best remedy for sunburns is PREVENTION. Always use sunblock, wear protective clothing and avoid over exposure.

What are your tried and tested home remedies for sunburn? What works? What doesn’t? Let’s hear from you!

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