Natural Treatment for Sunburn

Stay in the sun too long and you could end up with a nasty sunburn caused by overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Not only is the redness painful, but damage to the skin is permanent and can cause premature aging of the skin.

You can help lower your risk of burning by:

• limiting the amount of time in the sun, sit in the shade and avoid the mid-day sun from 11-4 pm,

• wearing safe sunscreen,

• wearing protective clothing,

• moisturizing your skin regularly

• eating lycopene-rich tomatoes, which can actually help prevent sunburn,

• supplementing your diet with a natural vitamin E and vitamin A, both of which may help reduce the risk of skin cancer and stimulate healing of collagen,

• be aware of sun sensitive medications that may increase your risk of burning,

• hydration is vital for healthy skin. Drink at least two litres of water a day, more if you are perspiring a lot.

If it's too late for prevention and you have a sunburn, try these home remedies:

• cucumbers, potatoes or plain yoghurt can be very soothing on hot skin,

• slip into a cook bath with 1/2 cup of oatmeal and baking soda, especially if your skin is itchy as well as painful,

• cold tea bags can help relieve the inflammation and pain, lay them right on the burned area,

• 1 cup of vinegar added to bath water may sooth the skin,

• ensure you are consuming adequate amounts of essential fatty acids, they help with the appearance of your skin,

• apply aloe vera gel topically to the affected area twice a day,

• apply a moisturizer that contains CoQ10, sea buckthorn oil, vitamin A and vitamin C. If you can't fin one, consider making your own moisturizer with these ingredients.

There are also some things you may want to avoid as they have been found to negatively impact the health of your skin:

• Replace saturated fats found in meat and dairy products with foods rich in essential fatty acids like avocado, nuts, fish and olive oil.

• Avoid excess sugar and carbohydrates as they can elevate blood sugar and insulin levels, which can lead to inflammation and may contribute to aging of the skin.