Sunburn is damage caused to your skin by overexposure of ultra violet rays of the sun. While sunburn is a temporary short lived mild condition, it should be avoided as it can lead to skin cancer.
Since you can't immediately see the symptom of sunburn as soon as you are already exposed, you may tend to get overexposed. Sunburn will make your skin red, sore, tender and warm. It may itch as well. The sun burnt skin usually peels off within a week and heel.
You can reduce the itch and recover from sunburn quickly with the use of home remedies and extra care of your skin during the healing process.
Most sunburn cases occur during swimming in the sea. Since you get in and out of the sea water frequently, you may not realize the extent of sun exposure as the water cools your skin down.
If there is a nice breeze blowing than it will take even longer to realize that you getting overexposed and getting sunburn.
First Steps after Sunburn
If the sunburn is mild which is generally the case at this stage, then the home remedies will be enough to take care of, but in some extreme cases medical intervention may become necessary. So, meet a dermatologist or skin specialist.
The first and the most important thing to do is to ensure that you skin remains cool. Take a cold water shower or soak yourself into a cold water bath. The immediate impact of sunburn will significantly reduce by these actions.
Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can make the skin condition worse. Drinking lots of water will also reduce itching that may follow sunburn. 8-10 glasses of water is sufficient to keep you sane.
Apply cold compress as and when possible. Avoid any direct sun exposure, even through the windows until you are completely healed.
5 Home Remedies for Sunburn
After taking the base preliminary action of cooling your skin, do the following to get faster recovery.
1. Oat Soak for healing Sunburn Itch
Not every sunburn case will be followed by itch. If you have the itch then soak yourself in an oatmeal bath.
2. Apply Aloe Vera in Sunburn Area of Skin
Aloe Vera is a magic remedy for many skin conditions. It soothes the skin by moisturizing the skin. Apply fresh Aloe Vera gel on the affected area. This will also reduces the itching sensation caused in some sunburn cases.
3. Apply Milk as a Layer on the Sunburn Skin
Milk creates a protein layer on the skin that aids in fast healing of sunburn. Apply a thin layer of cool milk. Make sure that the milk is not cold. it should be just as cool as indoor room temperature. You can dip a plain cloth in milk and spread it over the sunburn affected skin area.
4. Potato Paste for Pain Relief from Sunburn
Potato juice repairs the damage skin fast as well as provides pain relief and itch control. Cut thin slices of potato and apply them on the sunburn affected area. If you have a large area exposed to sun burn which is more likely if you have got sunburn as a result of swimming in sea water for a long periods of afternoons.
In those cases apply potato paste. Grate potatoes on a fine grater. Grind the grated potatoes to make fine paste and apply on the body. Potato slices will not do a good job near the neck area but a paste will do a great job of pain relieving and healing fast from sunburn.
5. Corn Starch for Soothing the Skin
Spread the fine corn powder on the sunburn skin. it will cool the skin, reduce the itch and help in healing fast. Keep the corn starch for 15-30 minutes and then wash the skin clean with cold water.
Of course the best remedy for any condition is prevention, so next time you go out in the sun or swim apply sun protection cream to avoid getting overexposure of ultra violet rays of the sun.