Best 10 Sunburn Treatments

Sunburn, as the name suggests, is a burn of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sun rays.

UV radiation is actually a form of energy that moves at the speed of light. All such energy types are referred to as electromagnetic radiation or simply as light. The name of ultraviolet radiation actually derives from its spectrum with consists of electromagnetic waves with frequencies higher than those that people identify as the colour violet (UV is situated between visible region and X-rays).

Sunburns appear when the amount of exposure to ultraviolet sources (natural or artificial) exceeds our body’s ability to protect the skin thought its protective pigment (melanin). Melanin, a compound found in the human body, is the main determinant of skin colour.

When trying to prevent sunburns, we should not try to calculate a general exposure timeframe. Normal skin colour and the time of exposure are two very important factors that determine how quickly a person is sunburned. Light-skinned persons can get sunburned in less than 20 minutes of exposure to powerful midday rays, while persons with darker skin can tolerate sun rays for hours without any problems.

Although most of us probably had the chance to “experience” sunburns some time in our life and some might not think of them as a real problem, but more like a proof of our summer vacation, we should all consider them as a real skin and health problem.

Some of the health problems caused by sunburns include: premature aging of skin, skin peeling, blisters, wrinkles, keratosis (a thickening of the superficial layer of the skin), skin burns or skin cancer.

Some of the most frequent clues that might let us know if we are near or already exceeded the sun tolerance limit are:

• Rapid pulse
• Feeling dehydrated
• Dizziness, nausea, chills, fever
• Eyes hurting and very sensitive to light
• Looking pale etc.

As for other health problems, is better to prevent sunburns than to treat them. Still, if we were caught off-guard and we suffered sunburns we should know how to treat them. In this respect, I thought it will be interesting to see what home remedies for sunburns we can use:

1. Apply lotions containing Aloe Vera (plant highly rich in amino acids – 20 of the 22 amino acids, 7 of which cannot be manufactured by the human body; plant sterols – act as powerful anti-inflammatory agents; lignin – substance that allows all plant’s nutrients to penetrate deep into the skin);
2. Take frequent cool showers and stay in cool rooms to reduce the heat sensation;
3. Drink lot of fluids to stay hydrated and accelerate the sunburn treatment
4. Vitamins (vitamin E creams – can reduce sunburn damage; increase vitamin C intake to heal sunburns faster – both vitamins have antioxidant effect)
5. Make cold chamomile compresses and add extract in your bath
6. Use baking soda or oatmeal in your bath
7. Use milk compresses or apply yogurt to the damaged skin (one of the best food and home remedy for sunburns)
8. Applying slices of cucumber or potatoes can also be used as a sunburn remedy
9. Vinegar and olive oil compresses
10. Do not touch the blisters formed from sunburn (they are body’s natural protection and can help sunburned skin to heal faster).

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