Caring For Sunburns...

[admin]

Naturally

The sun is our greatest benefactor, giving heat, energy, and life to our Earth. But too much of a good thing can be a painful issue. No one wants to get a sunburn, especially since sunburns increase our risk of getting certain kinds of skin cancer, but even the most diligent sunbather has had the occasional mishap resulting in lobster-red skin. Once you get a sunburn, what is the best way to care for your painful skin? Quick treatment with supportive, healing ingredients can help reduce the damage and protect from future damage to your vulnerable skin.

Natural Treatments

Aloe Vera—extracts from the aloe vera plant have been used for centuries for burns of all kinds, including sunburns. It's antibacterial and stimulates the immune system, which increases the skin's resistance to further injury. But aloe vera's immediate benefit is its soothing effect on painful skin.

Vitamin E—used in creams, ointments, and oils, this antioxidant is one of the most important treatments for skin damage caused by the sun. It helps to heal damage and shortens recovery time.

Calendula—the flowers of the calendula plant have wonderful medicinal properties, and have become popular in personal care creams and oils. It has many beneficial effects, including anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune stimulating effects. It's uses for skin range much further than sunburns, from rashes to joint inflammation, but it can be an excellent healing treatment for sunburns as well.

St. John's Wort Oil—to soothe itchy, dry, sun damaged skin, there is nothing better than this plant. The sunny yellow flowers steeped in oil produce an interesting deep red substance that has many medicinal properties, including an almost miraculous healing of sunburns. This oil sooths itching on contact, decreases the chances of peeling, and turns most sunburns brown almost overnight.

Baking Soda—used in a bath, this substance can decrease the discomfort of a sunburn before the use of other treatments. Be sure to pat skin dry instead of rubbing, to ease pain and minimize further damage.

Water—drinking plenty of water will keep wounded skin hydrated and minimize further damage from drying effects.

Prevention is Key

While Nature provides many wonderful treatments for sunburns, the best treatment is prevention. The sun is not our enemy—moderate sunlight is very healthy for our bodies, giving us needed Vitamin D and stimulating necessary functions. But in the event that moderating your exposure is impossible, remember to use the appropriate strength of sunscreen as often as necessary. With the right treatment and prevention, luxuriating in the sun can be a pain-free, naturally healthy experience.


by Michelle O'Leary
Aug 2009