It happens to even the most conscientious of sunscreen users — sunburn. I wear sunscreen every single day and I still will fail to take my own advice. Last summer, for example, we left the hotel and were at Disney World all day long. I was so careful to reapply my children’s sunscreen throughout the day, yet I forgot to reapply my own. By the time we returned to our hotel and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I was as red as a lobster.
Hopefully you will not get another sunburn, but if you do, we have several sunburn care tips to share.
Address inflammation first
- Ease inflammation with a cold compress. Lay cloths which have been soaked in cold water gently over the affected areas of skin. Let it sit there for fifteen minutes. Do this several times per day.
- Witch hazel, a popular skin astringent, also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. You can apply witch hazel with cotton balls to calm inflamed areas.
Head to your kitchen to ease discomfort
- Apply chilled, brewed teabags to the skin. Tea, especially plain black tea, contains natural tannic acid to ease the pain associated with a sunburn.
- Oatmeal wrapped in gauze helps to fight the itching. You can also take an oatmeal bath.
- Milk is rich in protein and lactic acid. Dip a clean cloth in cold milk, wring out and apply to skin. The protein will provide a bit of a protective coating, while the coolness soothes and nourishes.
Aloe vera is a must
Do you have an aloe vera plant? If not, now is a great time to get one. Aloe vera is the most recommended home remedy for sunburn relief. Why? It works. If you’re not fond of plants, then you can certainly head to the drugstore and pick up some aloe vera gel or juice. A fun tip? Try making aloe vera ice cubes! Not only is the coldness helpful to the burned areas, but the aloe provides healing benefits.
Choose skincare products for after-sun care wisely
When you have a sunburn, you want relief. Licorice root extract in your skincare products helps calm inflammation and ease redness. Look for this ingredient in skincare mists and spritz it right on for instant soothing. White willow bark is often referred to as nature’s aspirin. This ingredient contains salicylins, as does aspirin, so this makes sense. Just be careful to avoid harsh alcohols and synthetic fragrances. These will sting and make your sunburn feel even worse.