Sunburn - How To Tackle It?

After a cold winter, the first few weeks of summer are welcomed by everyone, but as the days get hotter, the sun gets harsher and sunburns become common. Sunburns are caused by exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiations from the sun. The symptoms of this condition may not appear immediately and can take up to 5 hours to become noticeable. A few home remedies that could help treat this condition are:

1. Aloe Vera: The aloe vera plant is easy to grow in containers or in the ground and has a number of medicinal benefits. Aloe vera gel is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe sunburns and ease the pain associated with it. This gel can be extracted from an aloe vera leaf and applied on your skin as it is or you could buy aloe vera gel from a store.
    
2. Baking Soda: The alkaline nature of baking soda makes it very soothing to the sunburnt skin. Baking soda also has antiseptic properties that help relieve itchiness caused by sunburn. To benefit from this, you could apply a baking soda and water paste to the affected area and leave it for ten minutes before washing off or add a cup of baking soda to your bath water and soak in it for about 15 minutes.
    
3. Black Tea: Black tea is rich in antioxidants and has tannins that protect the skin from damage caused by UV radiation. This can also help reduce inflammation and restore the pH balance of your skin. To use this, put a few tea bags in a pot of water and dip a cloth in the brew. Dab the tea onto the affected area of your skin and let it dry. You can repeat this 3-4 times without washing it off.
    
4. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil can be used to treat a number of skin conditions including sunburn. It is rich in fatty acids that nourish and moisturise the skin thereby reducing redness. The vitamin E in coconut oil also works as an antioxidant to reduce inflammation. The best way to use coconut oil to treat sunburn is to massage warm coconut oil into the affected area three times a day for a few days. Since it is very light, it is quickly absorbed by the skin and will not leave you with an oily sensation.
    
5. Honey: Honey has natural properties that help prevent infections in case of sunburn and reduces inflammation. One of the enzymes in honey also helps repair the damage caused to the skin. To benefit from honey, take a tablespoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water thrice a day and apply a thin layer of honey over the affected area and let it dry.

If the sunburn is not treated in time, it can cause the skin to blister and peel off. Therefore, you can adopt any of these home remedies, which are very effective in treating sunburn.