4 days ago
Here are some home remedies for sunburn
Forgot to reapply sunscreen after a dip in the swimming pool?
Or didn't apply any at all before going outside, perhaps because you didn't expect much sun?
Well, you might be in for a nasty sunburn.
While you won't be able to do much to counter the lasting skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, you can alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of sunburn.
Here are some common questions about sunburn:
What does sunburn do to skin?
If solar UV radiation overpowers your skin's protective mechanisms, it damages the skin's upper layers.
'The body recognises the damage and lets the affected cells die, so to speak,' says German dermatologist Dr Marion Moers-Carpi.
The skin then produces an inflammatory response, i.e. sunburn.
Chemical messengers are released by skin cells that lead to sunburn's typical symptoms and your skin feels hot, becomes red (on light-skinned people), sensitive to pressure, painful and/or itchy.
On more severely sunburned skin, you may see fluid-filled blisters.
'If you get sunburned, it's important to get out of the sun immediately and avoid it for the next 48 hours,' Dr Moers-Carpi says.
If your shoulders get sunburned at an outdoor pool, the first thing to do is cover them with clothing or a towel.
How should you treat sunburn?
Cooling your skin is key.
A good start, as it's easy, is to run clean tap water over the affected areas – for instance, while taking a cool shower.
'The cooling effect is only brief though,' says Dr Ursula Sellerberg, deputy spokesperson for the Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists (ABDA).
You'll get longer-lasting relief by slipping into a dampened T-shirt or placing a cool, damp cloth on the sunburned skin.
Cooling will alleviate the pain, but 'don't cool too long or too much, which can damage the skin,' warns Dr Sellerberg.
So, if you use ice or a cold pack, don't put it directly on your skin, but wrap it in a cloth first.
'Otherwise, there's a risk of overcooling the skin and causing (more) blisters to form,' says Dr Moers-Carpi.
The sap from the aloe vera leaf is used to produce a gel that has a soothing and cooling effect on the skin, ideal for treating sunburn symptoms. — AFP
What home remedies are there for sunburn symptoms?
One – for mild sunburn – is quark, a soft, fresh cheese, which has a pleasant cooling effect.
Take a container of quark – its fat content doesn't matter – out of the fridge and directly apply the dairy product about finger- thick on the skin.
Let it soak in for about 10 minutes, then wash it off.
'You'd best not leave it on longer, since it can overstimulate blood flow', and thereby, warm up the skin again, says Dr Sellerberg.
You could use yoghurt instead of quark, she notes, but says yoghurt is harder to apply to skin as it has a thinner consistency and tends to be runny.
You can make a quark wrap if the sunburn is more severe, she adds, 'because direct contact [with quark] would irritate the skin too much.'
To make a quark wrap, spread quark of any fat content – but at room temperature – about finger-thick onto a damp compress, fold the compress over so that the quark is inside, cover it with another cloth and apply it to the skin for about 20 minutes.
Another home remedy is black tea.
It contains high levels of tannins – chemical compounds that can soothe sunburned skin and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Here's how to use it: Make a strong brew by steeping many tea leaves or several teabags in hot water for a long time.
When the tea has cooled, soak a cloth in it and place the cloth on the skin for 20 minutes.
Tea's advantage over quark is that it doesn't have to be washed off the skin.
Another option is aloe vera gel.
Aloe vera is a widely-cultivated medicinal plant that grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical and arid climates.
The sap in its large succulent leaves is the source of a commercially-prepared topical gel.
Single leaves can be bought in organic markets and large supermarkets.
'The gel has a soothing and cooling effect on the skin,' Dr Sellerberg says.
What home remedies are inadvisable?
'The application of cider vinegar or lemon juice is wholly inappropriate,' warns Dr Moers-Carpi.
She says that they're much too aggressive for the skin and can exacerbate inflammation.
Applying coconut oil isn't a good idea either, she says, as it won't soothe the skin.
Black tea contains tannins, which have an anti-inflammatory effect and can help soothe sunburn. Soak a cloth with the brew and lay it on the affected skin.
What skincare products can or can't help?
Those containing plant extracts – marigold or camomile, for example – can be useful, according to Dr Moers-Carpi.
'And skincare products with vitamin E have an anti-oxidant effect and counter sunburn.'
You should definitely steer clear of greasy ointments or creams, which could occlude (block up) pores, causing the skin to swell because water can't evaporate.
Speaking of water, it's important for sunburn sufferers to drink plenty of it – at least two to three litres daily – to prevent dehydration.
Is it OK to pull off peeling skin?
No, as it can stress your skin.
'It's better to let the flakes fall off on their own,' says Dr Sellerberg.
If badly-sunburned skin starts peeling or burn blisters form, you should see a doctor.
The same applies if your sunburn is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever or feeling faint.
How can you prevent sunburn?
Every sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer.
For this reason alone, you should try to prevent them.
It's naturally important to apply sufficient sunscreen, which 'should be applied 20 minutes before sunbathing to let the sun protection factors (SPFs) work in the skin,' says Dr Moers-Carpi.
And before applying sunscreen, you should make sure to apply a moisturiser.
If your skin is well-hydrated, it can better absorb the SPFs.
A solar UV index is reported along with the weather forecast in many countries.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a level of zero to two is safe.
From three to seven, protection is advisable.
At eight or above, you should avoid being outside during midday hours, seek shade, and a shirt, sunscreen and hat are a must. – By Sabine Meuter/dpa
