Home Remedies for Sunburn

Sunbathing is a favorite activity for many people. But if the right precautions are not taken, then it can cause painful sunburns, which can take the fun out of sunbathing. If you are exposed to the sun for a very long time, then it can cause skin problems like wrinkling and drying, red and scaly spots or brown spots; with skin cancer being the worst case scenario. There are several home remedies for sunburn. You also need to minimize your exposure to the sun and need to find ways to spend less time sunbathing during the midday when the sun’s rays are strongest.

Treatment for Sunburns

It is advisable to protect yourself with hats and shirts made of tightly woven fabric, so that the ultraviolet light can be absorbed by your clothes and you will get more protection. Dry fabrics can protect your skin better than web fabrics. You must also use sunscreen that has a minimum of 15 SPF or sun protection factor. You must also apply a thick coat of sunscreen to get more protection for the sun. You might like to use waterproof sunscreen when you go swimming.

You must apply sunscreen about half-an-hour before you step into the pool, and then reapply the cream after another two hours. If you are very fair, then you should apply the cream before you go to bed. This way, the sunscreen can be absorbed into your skin while you sleep. Very often, people forget to protect their ears, nose, hands, and their hairline.  If you are in a profession, where you are exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods on a regular basis, you might like to apply a zinc oxide lotion as this will help to reduce your risk of sunburn. You must also protect yourself from reflected light. Even on cloudy days, don’t forget to use your sunscreen lotion and follow the usual precautions. Coconut oil is considered to be one of the effective home remedies for sunburn as well as sun protection. Other home remedies for sunburn include baking soda and raw cabbage paste. To use these home treatments for sunburn you will have to add either one of these ingredients to your bath water and soak in it for 20 minutes or so.

Your lips can get sunburn too and so it would be wise to use a lip balm that has an SPF of 15 or more, and reapply the balm often. You must also avoid sunbathing because this can result in a serious burn. Keep in mind that sun burn can cause lasting damage and so it is advisable to follow adequate precautionary measures to prevent it.