For many people, summer means pool days, beach trips, cookouts, and soaking up lots of sunshine. This exposure to the sun often leads to sunburn. If your skin isn’t properly protected, it can take only a few minutes for the sun to damage your skin. Sunburn can be painful, itchy, and irritating, but thankfully there are some things you can do to reduce the discomfort and encourage healing. Here’s a list of some of the top remedies for sunburn that actually work:
1. Cool Shower
To start the healing process and minimize pain, it’s important to take action as soon as you notice your skin getting burned. One of the best remedies for sunburn is to lower your skin’s temperature immediately to prevent further damage. Get out of the sun and take a cool shower or bath. Though this might not be the most comfortable solution, it will help lower your skin’s temperature and reduce inflammation to keep damage and irritation to a minimum.
2. Aloe Vera
One of the most well-known remedies for sunburn is aloe vera. The gel inside an aloe vera plant has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, and it’s the most common over-the-counter relief for sunburn. You can either break off a piece of the plant and apply the gel inside directly to your skin, or pick up a bottle of 100 percent aloe vera gel from the pharmacy. This remedy provides immediate soothing, cooling relief for the affected skin.
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a remedy for sunburn that you likely already have in your kitchen. It’s an effective treatment because oatmeal has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Make a paste of oatmeal and cool water or milk, then apply it to your sunburned skin. Alternatively, you can add a cup of oatmeal to a cool bath and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. This remedy will reduce swelling, soothe irritation, and help the skin keep its natural moisture.
4. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is known to soothe stress, but it can also be used to soothe a sunburn. Brew a cup of chamomile tea and let it cool. For added relief, place it in the refrigerator to cool further. Then, soak a clean cloth in the tea and apply it to your sunburned skin. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory agents that can help relieve swelling and pain, making it one of the most effective remedies for sunburn.
5. Moisturizer
After you initially treat your sunburn, it’s important to continue caring for your sunburned skin. That’s why one of the top remedies for sunburn is moisturizer. Regularly apply moisturizer to the affected skin to minimize peeling and encourage healing. Make sure you use dye-free and scent-free moisturizer or one that is labeled for sensitive skin to reduce the risk of irritating your damaged skin.
6. Hydration
When you have a sunburn, one of the best things you can do for your skin is drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Sunburn dehydrates you and leaves your skin dry and fragile. Your skin requires extra moisture as it battles the damage from the sun’s UV rays. Drinking more water sends extra fluids to your sunburned skin, increasing hydration to promote healing.
7. Over-the-Counter Medication
Some tried-and-true remedies for sunburn can be found in the pharmacy without a prescription. Applying an over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream may offer some relief for an inflamed, itchy sunburn. If your sunburn is painful, you can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Need help treating a sunburn? The experts at Moore’s Compounding Pharmacy are here to help! Please reach out to us today to ask questions and get recommendations from our knowledgeable pharmacists so you can help your skin heal and feel better.
