If the hot summer leaves its mark in the form of sunburn on the skin, it is not necessary to visit a doctor or a pharmacy for this. In your own kitchen, some natural and inexpensive home remedies against sunburn are ready to lower such an unwanted “hot body” back to tolerable temperatures.
What helps against sunburn?
If one has overdone it with the sunbathing, avoidance of the sun and cooling of the burned skin parts have first priority. Even if the prophylactic effect of the various chemically produced sunscreens clearly outshines those of natural home remedies, the latter can certainly provide relief and healing in the case of an already existing sunburn – and without any chemical ingredients at all, but with the good feeling of having effectively fought the sunburn with home remedies and without “paid support” from the pharmaceutical industry. In the case of a severe sunburn, which makes itself felt by almost unbearable pain and/or blistering on the burned skin regions, however, a doctor must be consulted urgently. In principle, cooling and moisturizing measures are considered essential when fighting sunburn (as with other burns of the body). Therefore, above all, a lot of clear water should be drunk in order to provide the body with the necessary moisture to fight sunburn. The resulting internal cooling effect is effectively supported by the external application of subsequent home remedies for sunburn, thus ensuring rapid regeneration of the skin. In the case of extensive sunburn, a “skin spread” made of yogurt or curd (diluted with milk if necessary) can be used to moisturize the affected areas and at the same time provide a pleasant cooling effect. Caution: The layer should be removed before it dries, otherwise on the one hand no more air can reach the skin and on the other hand great pain can occur when removing the sticky mass. Also “cold milk wraps” (best with fatty whole milk) are well suited to do the skin plagued by sunburn good in the form of a natural protective cover. They can also be changed quickly and easily once the pleasant effect has faded. The lactic acid incidentally promotes the build-up of the skin’s protective acid mantle.
Quick help
For small-area burns, such as on the nose, neck or feet, a damp, cool tea bag promises quick help. Depending on the size of the affected skin regions, (pocket) cloths or bandages soaked in vinegar, tea or lemon juice are also suitable for this purpose. Furthermore, raw cucumber slices or green salad leaves applied to the skin have a cooling, soothing and moisturizing effect. Another easy-to-prepare home remedy for sunburn is a spray bottle filled one-third with apple cider vinegar and two-thirds with water. This mixture, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, has a pleasant cooling effect on the skin and can be used several times a day (if necessary, store the spray bottle in the refrigerator before use). Ice cubes or so-called cool packs also provide relief, but should only be applied to mild sunburns and even then only for a short time, as they could cause additional frostbite to the already damaged skin cells. Vegetable oils applied to the skin, such as flaxseed or olive oil, should also be avoided in the case of acute sunburn, as they literally deprive the skin of the air it needs to breathe.
Alternative remedies
Alternative home remedies for sunburn, however, are not only found in the kitchen. Especially for extensive burns, a bathtub filled with cold to lukewarm water (depending on what is perceived as more pleasant), enriched with about a liter of kefir, as well as a few tablespoons of honey, is suitable. This mixture cools the entire body and thus relieves the burn pain particularly effectively and also provides the skin with nourishing active ingredients. A cup of violet blossom tea taken several times a day supports the healing process after a sunburn from the inside. When cooled, the tea is also suitable for external use (for example, in the form of a compress).The same applies to the medicinal plant called sage, although this home remedy for sunburn should only be taken in moderation (a maximum of 15 grams of sage leaves per day) for reasons of overdose.
