Monday, January 05, 2009






































privacy policy

Natural Sunburn Remedies You Can Make at Home

By Randi Fredricks return to articles

Sunshine is one of the best, most misunderstood health remedies available. Sun exposure can help with depression and can actually provide protection from some forms of cancer. Strong new evidence suggests overall sun exposure in childhood, not just burns, is a big key to who later develops deadly skin cancer.

If you do, you can may be able to make up some natural sunburn remedies from things you have around the house.

Here are some all-natural home remedies for sunburn:

Aloe Vera - Take some leaves from an aloe plant and refrigerate them. You can peel off the top layer of leaves and apply the side of the leaf with flesh exposed directly to the sunburn. Aloe is very effective in relieving pain and inflammation. You can make other sunburn remedies with aloe vera juice: keep the affected area moist with aloe vera juice. Repeat frequently. This will reduce the pain and the amount of peeling. Combine aloe juice with ½ the amount of vitamin E. Dab on the sunburn. Vitamin E is a good moisturizer. Aloe vera ointment works well, too, as it contains oil and will not evaporate. For a severe sunburn, keep the area moist at all times with aloe vera juice. Since aloe vera is an astringent, you may want to use aloe vera ointment or some sort of oil, such as olive or baby.

Baking Soda Compress - Dissolve baking soda in water, and make a compress using a clean cloth. Alternately, put 1/2 cup of baking soda into your tepid bathwater, then let the affected area air dry.

Cucumbers - Rub the sunburned area with fresh cucumber slices.

Lemon Water - Mix the juice of three lemons into two cups of cold water, and then sponge the mixture onto the sunburn.

Shower - Take a warm shower to draw out the heat of your sunburn. The warm water will increase circulation to the area while hydrating it, thereby speeding the healing process. Be sure to moisturize afterward as the water will dry your skin.

Apple cider vinegar - Apply apple cider vinegar to the burn with a cottonball, or make a cooling compress for a large area to relieve the pain. Keep the skin moistened. This remedy will prevent blistering and peeling.

Aspirin or willow bark - Aspirin kills the pain and reduces inflammation and redness of a sunburn. It short-circuits the whole sunburn process. It must be taken within 24 hours of getting sunburned. Aspirin is preferable to ibuprofen or acetaminophen because it is less stressful on the liver and kidneys.

Herbal Baths - Add 20 drops of each of lavender and chamomile essential oils to a tubful of cool water and soak for 10 minutes. Bergamot, Add bergamot oil to cool bathwater.

Calendula Bath - Put 20 drops of calendula tincture in four ounces of water and bathe the skin until the pain goes away. Calendula is also available in gels and salves. Calendula will help soften and heal burned skin. It is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, and can be used long after the burn to heal the skin.

Lavender Oil - I just recieved an email from someone that has used lavender oil topically to relieve the problems that they had with sunburn and claims that it works everytime - Thanks Cody!

Epsom salts compress - Dissolve epsom salts in water and make a compress using a clean cloth.

Ice compress - Apply ice or cold water to the burned area. This will stop the burning process and cool the skin.

Milk compress - Make a compress of whole milk (or buttermilk) and apply to the burned area for 20 minutes; repeat every two to four hours. Wash the milk off so you won't smell sour! A similar remedy suggests using a cup of skim milk and four cups of water, adding a few ice cubes, and applying as a compress as recommended above. The fat content of the milk is soothing for burns. Plain yogurt with live cultures works good, too.

Oatmeal bath - Put some oatmeal in tepid bath water, soak for a few minutes, then air dry yourself. Oatmeal baths are actually very good for the tratment of many skin problems.

Peppermint - Apply peppermint oil to the sunburned skin. You can also make a mild peppermint infusion and use it as a wash to cool the sunburn.

Yarrow
- Native Americans used an infusion of ground yarrow as a wash.

Potato - Grate a potato and apply it to the burned area. The starch will cool and soothe the burn.

Urtica urens - Put 20 drops of urtica urens tincture in four ounces of water and bathe the skin. This remedy is good for itchy, prickly skin.

Witch hazel - Make a decoction of witch hazel and apply with a compress.

So go have some fun in the sun! That healthy glow that you get from being out in the sun is because it's good for you.



Randi Fredricks has a Masters in Psychology, Doctorate in Naturopathy, and accreditations as a Nutritionist, Herbalist, Hypnotherapist, and Registered Addiction Specialist. She runs her own natural health business, All Things Well, and counsels clients at her office in San Jose, California. She can be reached by phone at 408-315-0645 or you can contact her online. You can visit her website at www.randifredricks.com. This article is from Randi Fredricks' book Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health. Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. No part of this article or website may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems.




Shipping Information
Help Section
Order Status
FAQs
Customer Service
Shop Safe Guarantee
Privacy Policy
Company Policies
Contact Us
About Us
Articles
Newsletter
Recycling Drive
Specialty Shops
Gift Certificates



Click here to go back to the top of the page...


Copyright & Disclaimer © 1982-2008 All Things Well • Privacy and Security Notice