Before talking about home remedies for sunburn, we should know what sunburn is, its causes, and symptoms.
Sunburn is the damage that occurs in the outer layers of the skin, due to unplanned sun exposure, getting too much UV radiation.
The immune system reacts by increasing blood flow to the areas that have been affected.
Which leads to inflammation in the skin causing sunburn.
Some degrees of sunburn can be treated by home Remedies for sunburn.
It causes painful skin, (you can feel your skin is so hot), inflammation, redness, blistering, and peeling.
Causes of sunburn
Sunburn depends on the type and the color of the skin, it is caused as a result of the following:
Exposing the skin to UV rays (UVA, UVB) for a long time.
Certain medications (like doxycycline, bactrim, retinoids, and heart medications).
Not applying sunscreen when using tanning pads.
Symptoms of sunburn
You can detect sunburn after several hours of standing in the sun.
To choose the best home remedies for sunburn, you have to know the degree of sunburn.
There are 3 degrees of sunburn:
First-degree
It takes only a few days to heal by itself or by simple home remedies.
As the damage is only in the outer line of the skin.
Its symptoms are as follows:redness, skin pain, swelling, and peeling.
Second-degree
The skin needs weeks to heal, it can be treated by home remedies but some cases need medical treatment.
As the damage not only happens in the outer layer of skin but also in the middle section of your skin.
Its symptoms are as follows: more redness than first-degree, wet skin, and white discoloration within the burn.
Third-degree
It occurs rarely, and you will need emergency treatment.
As the damage is in all layers of your skin, it can also cause nerve damage.
Most third-degree sunburns are caused by chemical burns or fires.
Its symptoms are as follows:burns, numbness, paleness in the skin, white skin, heat stroke, and shock.
First- and second-degrees you can treat them with home remedies for sunburn.
10 home remedies for sunburn
1.Cold water
Is the simplest method of home remedies for sunburn.
It is used to reduce the pain caused by sunburn and prevent further damage to the outer layers of the skin.
Especially if you are outdoors, you should apply a clean towel moistened with tap water.
However, if you are at home, it’s preferable to take a cold shower to cool and soothe your skin.
You can repeat this treatment many times as needed, and avoid applying ice directly to sunburned skin.
As it can cause further damage to the skin, and also avoid swimming in a pool as it contains chlorine, which can worsen sunburn.
2. Chamomile tea
You can use it to soothe your skin by brewing it, then letting it cool.
Soaking a clean towel in chamomile tea, and applying it to the affected areas.
3. Aloe vera
If you have aloe vera plant in your home, you should use the gel inside it to cool, soothe skin, and relieve pain.
If you don't have aloe vera in your home, you can find the gel in pharmacies.
It is better to choose gel which is free from alcohol, as it can irritate.
For best results you can refrigerate the aloe vera before applying it on the skin.
4. Baking soda and oatmeal
Use 3 or 4 spoons of baking soda in a bathtub filled with cold water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Baking soda helps reduce the damage that has occurred to the outer skin layers as a result of sunburn.
Use a cup of oatmeal in the bathtub works to soothe irritated skin and retain the body's natural moisture.
Do not try to scrub your body either in the bathtub or after you finish bathing.
As it will only make the situation worse, just dry your body gently with a towel.
5. Vinegar
Soaking in a bath filled with cool water and vinegar (one cup of vinegar) may reduce itching, inflammation, and skin pain.
Some research says that the high acidity of vinegar may make sunburns worse.
So if you've never used vinegar to treat smaller areas of sunburn, it's best not to use it.
6. Drinking lots of water
You need to drink plenty of water to replace the amount of water you have lost during sun exposure.
And also to keep your body hydrated and avoid dehydration.
7. Take pain relief
You can take nonprescription medications to relieve pain like: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
8. Wearing loose clothing
You need to wear loose clothing that doesn't stick to your skin.
9. Take an anti itching-drug
When the skin begins to peel, it can become itchy.
So it's best to take some antihistamine drugs such as diphenhydramine may reduce itching.
10. Witch hazel
Applying it on the sunburned areas of the skin by using a clean cloth, can soothe the sunburn by reducing the inflammation, redness, and pain.
When should you see a doctor?
Some cases of second-degree can't be treated by home remedies for sunburn especially sunburn with blistering.
Here you should have medical treatment to avoid infections that may occur during the healing of the skin.
You should also see a doctor if any of the following symptoms happen to you:high fever, chilling, and unbearable pain.
How to prevent sunburn?
1.Use sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.
2.Avoid direct sun exposure as you can from 9 am to 3 pm.
3.Wearing clothes protects your skin from the sun, like shirts with long sleeves, pants, etc.
4.Use sunglasses to protect your eyes.
5.Wearing a cap to protect you from the sun.
Summary
Sunburn is the damage that occurs in the outer layers of the skin, due to long exposure to the sun.
You can treat sunburn by home remedies for sunburn as ( aloe vera, cold water, chamomile, vinegar, witch hazel).
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