Easy Homemade Sunburn Remedies

I'm sure most of you have suffered from sunburn once in your life and if you haven't, you definitely know someone who has. What about the times you've been burnt while away in another country or on a cruise in the middle of the ocean? These sunburn treatments vary from common to bizarre remedies with one thing in common; they are all extremely easy to find!

What inspired me to write this blog was my recent cruise vacation. It had rained for 3 days straight, so you can imagine our excitement when the sun came blazing out. With 2 days at sea ahead of us we had nothing else to do but swim, eat, and well, swim some more. Long story short, despite my application of SPF 30, the day ended with my husband and I crispy, red, and moody. I was able to buy Aloe Vera at the boat's gift shop, but it wasn't enough, we were hurting! I spent the next half hour at the ship’s internet cafe (40 cents per minute, KILLER) and jotted down every possible remedy I could find using ingredients I knew the boat would have.

Although the sunburn was terrible, our little treasure hunt and application of these “ingredients” is a memory I will never forget. You know I have to give you a visual: We stood in our tiny 160 sq ft. room, not much bigger than a shoebox, while my 2-year-old sat on the bed and watched mommy, who was covered in shaving cream, rub sliced tomato all over daddy’s back.

Pain Relievers

Take a pain reliever, like aspirin or ibuprofen; this will help with the pain. Unlike topical applications that act instantly, a pain reliever will take a bit more time to kick it, but it will last longer also. Use a pain reliever in addition to a topical treatment for the best results.

Aspirin Paste

With your left over aspirin, break up a few pills with the back of a spoon. Mix the powder with a little water until it’s a paste-like consistency. Apply this to smaller patched areas of sunburn, like your nose, face, ears, and top’s of feet. I have also read that instead using water you can mix the aspirin with Maalox for an extra cooling effect.

Aloe Vera (Duh)

Apply aloe vera, the most commonly recommended sunburn remedy, for its anti-inflammatory qualities and antioxidants. The instant chilling effect is euphoric. Straight from the plant is best but bottled works as well. For an extra chill we like to keep our aloe vera in the fridge. Heaven.

Cold Milk

Milk, it's not just for coffee! Apply some cold milk on a cloth or towel and place on the needed areas. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, no longer. By then the towel won't be cold anymore and you will start to smell like sour milk! Kinda gross, but it does work in healing the burn.

Tea

Tea is great, easy homemade sunburn remedy (sorry Snapple Peach Tea isn't going to cut it!). Boil some tea (regular and green are best) then cool off in fridge. Pour some in a spray bottle and spray for relief. This remedy is a two for one deal. The bags can be used to relieve pain as well.

Shaving Cream

Okay so, this has no scientific proof it works, but from personal experience, it did cool off the area for a bit. I wouldn't recommend shaving said area though with that same cream though, ouchy.

Vinegar

While balsamic may taste good, it won't do anything for your burn so stick to white and apple cider vinegar. Try soaking in a cool bath with a generous amount of vinegar added.

Vitamin E Oil

This ones another no brainer sunburn remedy, and should be because it works. It might not feel as cooling as the aloe instantly, but it keep your skin from dying out and stop peeling.

Ice

Obviously, the ice will cool off the burn as well as reduce swelling but be careful when applying for a length of time. You DO NOT want ICE BURN on top of sunburn.

Cooked Oatmeal

Remember when your mom made you take an oatmeal bath after you got the chicken pox? Same premise. Cook it, cool it, and apply like a paste. Non-flavored is preferable as the less sugar the oatmeal has, the less stick you will end up.

Tomatoes

Slice a tomato and run all over skin, then place the pieces along the burns, letting the juices run. This is another unproved method, but has been said to calm inflamed skin and reduce swelling, and is husband approved!

Honey

Honey is wonderful because it is not only an ant-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, but honey is known to heal wounds. Applying honey to the burn can actually help the skin grow and heal.

Finally, the best sunburn relief of all is…TO NOT GET SUNBURN! USE SUN PROTECTION. If you like to tan, do it gradually, apply SPF, and then reapply it again! Wrinkles, skin cancer, and horrid tan lines are all you’re asking if you don’t!