With summer sun comes a tan—and sometimes sunburn! Exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet rays can be detrimental to your skin and the production of melanin.
The fairer the skin, the less melanin production, and the more likely you are to burn. Regardless of complexion, everyone needs a natural shield of at least SPF 4.
While the best thing to do this summer will be to prevent sunburn, some of us are going to end up burned anyways. Here are 5 naturally soothing sunburn treatments that can be made in your kitchen:
Potato Paste
Potatoes have been used as pain relievers for skin irritations such as scratches, bites, and burns. They have also been known to reduce inflammation.
You will need:
- 2 potatoes
- Grater, blender, or knife
- Cotton balls, cotton pads, or gauze
Wash and scrub your potatoes thoroughly and then grate or cut them to put them in a blender. Blend until they’re liquid and add water as necessary. Pour out the mixture and soak cotton balls in it and apply to sunburn.
Cool Milk Compress
The initial coolness of a cool milk compress will ease the heat and create a layer of protein to heal, protect, and soothe your discomfort.
You will need:
- Gauze or a washcloth
- Chilled milk
Pour a bowl of milk to thoroughly soak your compress in. Once the gauze or washcloth is soaked, let the excess liquid drain off. Drape your washcloth across your burn and press gently so that it stays in place. If the milk becomes room temperature, chill it again before compressing.
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Cornstarch
Cornstarch has a cool and silky texture like that of milk. If you don’t have cornstarch, try baking soda. Both can minimize the pain and blazing red appearance of a sunburn.
You will need:
- Cornstarch or baking soda
- Cool water
Depending on the area of sunburn will determine how much cornstarch or baking soda to use. Add cool water little by little to create a paste-like consistency. Refrain from using cold water as this will cause the starch or baking soda to dry and crack.
Smear the paste over your burn gently until you are relieved of the pain and then rinse off completely.
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Mint & Tea
Mint is a natural coolant that can soothe a sunburn. When applied topically, green tea can help relieve pain and heal damaged skin with its tannic acid and theobromine. Black tea can be substituted, as it also contains tannins.
You will need:
- 1 quart of boiling water
- 5 green tea bags
- 3 cups of fresh mint leaves
- Cotton pads or washcloth
Once your water has come to a boil, remove the strings from the 5 tea bags and add fresh mint leaves to the pan. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags and mint leaves and cover with a lid for approximately an hour.
Strain and chill this mixture. Once chilled, soak cotton pads in the liquid and apply directly to the burn. You can also pour the chilled mixture directly over the burn.
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Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a plant, but only the leaves, bark, and twigs are used medicinally. Like green tea, witch hazel contains “tannins” that can help reduce swelling, repair damaged skin, and prevent bacteria from spreading.
You will find witch hazel in the form of a distilled liquid extract also known as “witch hazel water”.
You will need:
- 3 tablespoons of witch hazel
- Cotton balls or a washcloth
Pour the necessary amount of witch hazel into a bowl depending on the size of your sunburn. Soak the cotton balls in liquid and dab over your sunburn.
At the end of the day avoiding sunburns all together is preferable but in the case you become sunburn hopefully one or more of these natural remedies can relieve some of the pain.
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