5 home remedies for sunburns

   You lost track of time or snoozed away, and now you know you’re going to be lobster-red and miserable. It can take several hours for the full damage to show itself, so do not waste any more time and take some action! It is actually much easier than you might think to attend to a sunburn when using these home based remedies.

   First of all, make sure that you  drink plenty of fluids since sunburns are dehydrating – try to drink at least 10 full glasses of water each day for a week after your sunburn. This will help your body to re-hydrate which will, in turn, aid in the healing process. Drinking water while you are out in the sun will also help you to avoid heat stroke and other heat-related medical conditions.

   Applying aloe vera  is the traditional go-to remedy when dealing with a burn. It can be used alone and in combination with other natural ingredients that repair damaged skin and keep it healthy. The gel from inside the  cactus plant eases discomfort, speeds healing, and moisturizes skin. Split a plant leaf and apply the sap directly to skin for instant comfort. Some aloe products on the market also contain lidocaine, an anesthetic that can help relieve sunburn pain. Aloe vera is also a good moisturizer for peeling skin after a severe sunburn, so it can help at any stage.

   Take a bath, adding lavender or bergamot oil to the bath water. Also, you can add one cup of apple cider vinegar to a bath to help balance the pH (acid or alkaline) of sunburned skin or  some black/green tea  to soothe sunburned skin and promote healing.

   Make cold milk compresses by soaking a clean cloth in a bowl with equal parts milk, ice cubes and water. Then hold the cloth on the burned area for five minutes. Repeat three times. The fat, protein and pH of milk have a soothing anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. What’s more, cold temperatures constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling.

   Again, as with aloe vera, honey is often recommended as a treatment for burns.To apply honey on your sunburn, you can dab the honey directly on smaller areas, or apply the honey to a bandage and apply the bandage to a larger area. It seals in the good tissue fluid containing enzymes and proteins that promote healing. It provides nutrition to the tissue and decreases inflammation.

   So there you have it! Protecting from the sunburn is easier than it seems like, have fun in the sun and stay protected!