Sunburn - Quick fix

"Summertime...And the livin' is easy"
Gershwin, 1935

It's Summer - time for bikinis, sand castles, beach volleyball, sandals, shorts, and the outdoors. More outdoor activities mean more sun exposure. Hand in hand with sun exposure comes the risk of sunburns.

Sunburn

It comes suddenly, resulting from over exposure to the sun rays without sunscreen protection. Sunburns are ugly, painful and dangerous -with an increased risk of skin cancer. It can happen to any skin type and white skin is more susceptible.

The purpose of today's discussion is to give tips on how to manage it in case it happens. Skin redness, pain, sometimes with blisters - these tips will help you to relieve the pain and get rid of the heat. For extreme sunburns, you should also seek out professional help.

Sunburn - Quick Fix tips

While the skin has to have its own time to heal, the following treatments will relieve the pain and help to protect the skin throughout the healing process.

Aloe Vera - Used externally to treat skin irritations for its antiseptic properties. Aloe is used to treat sunburns and also poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumak, and eczema.

Chamomile - known for its natural anti-inflammatory properties. How to use: brew the tea and allow it to cool down. Pour it into a spray bottle, shake, and spritz it on your sunburn. Ingredients in the chamomile tea will calm and sooth the skin. This is one of my favorite solutions.

Peppermint - the cool tea has a refreshing effect that will help to sooth the skin.

Lavender - use a solution of lavender oil and water, 20 drops per 1 cup of water. Use a cotton ball to gently apply the solution on the affected area. Lavender has calming and soothing properties and is also a natural mosquito repellent.

White vinegar or Lemon - Dissolve in water in a proportion of 1:5. Use a cotton ball to gently apply the solution on the affected area. It will cool the sunburn and act as a disinfectant.

Calendula - Calendula is a healing plant. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

Cucumber - Rub cucumber slices on the affected area for a cooling effect.

While you're still healing, avoid hot baths and showers, treat the affected area, and avoid exposing it to the sun again.

Don't allow a sunburn to ruin your fun - pick a good time to go to the beach, use sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, light clothes, hydrate well and...

Enjoy your Summer!

Vanessa