If you have pale skin or spend a lot of time in the sun, you’re at a heightened risk of burning. In general, more severe sunburns take longer to heal than milder burns.
Other factors that determine how quickly you heal include how well you manage your sunburn and whether you have a condition that slows down wound healing, such as diabetes or arterial disease.
There are no magical cures for sunburns, but there are a number of ways you can support your body’s natural healing process.
Let’s take a look at the most effective ways to heal a sunburn faster.
1. Chamomile tea
Brew a pot of chamomile tea and then, chill it. Apply the chilled tea to the area that’s sunburnt and it’ll calm down your skin plus bring down the redness. The anti-inflammatory properties found in this tea can help in bringing down the inflammation and help in a faster recovery.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Although using an acidic substance seems counter-intuitive and can work wonders for your skin. Vinegar is a perfect solution for such skin issues. An infected sunburn is worse than a normal sunburn, and because the skin is quite sensitive when it’s irritated, infections can happen easily. Apply diluted apple cider vinegar on the affected area using a cotton pad or a washcloth and repeat every hour.
3. Cucumbers
As you already know, cucumbers are hydrating and refreshing, therefore, are great for cooling down the irritated skin. But, other than that, cucumbers are also rich in antioxidants and have pain-relieving compounds. If you have a little sunburn, apply sliced or minced cucumbers to the affected area.
4. Milk
Cool milk is great as it creates a sheen of a protective layer on the sunburnt skin to prevent infections and also to avoid further damage. The coolness of the milk will bring down the inflammation and soothe the irritated skin. Dip a washcloth in milk and squeeze out the excess, apply it on the affected area for 5 minutes and then repeat the process multiple times.
5. Aloe Vera
Even the visuals of aloe vera are soothing, but to actually treat a sunburn, apply a generous amount of its gel to the affected area. It has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe and mollifies the inflamed skin. Aloe Vera also has two key enzymes that help in repairing the broken and burnt skin cells, and the 90% water content moisturizes the moisture-drained skin. Make sure to either use a pure form of the aloe vera or buy a product with the least number of ingredients (i.e. the aloe vera gel should be the closest to its purest form.)
6. Oatmeal
This seems like an out of the blue home remedy but it’s one of the most effective ones. To make sure that the sunburn doesn’t get worse, apply a thick paste of oats and milk to the affected area. Oatmeal has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and provides relief from within. The internal pain from the sunburn can be hard to manage, but this thick paste of oats and milk can hydrate the dry skin and soothe the internal pain plus reduce the stiffness of the skin and muscles surrounding the area.
7. Honey
Honey is as good as any other to treat sunburns. It moisturizes the skin while treating it. The moisture in the honey is absorbed by the skin, bringing the swelling and redness down. It also provides all the nutrients required to repair the broken tissues. The antibacterial properties eliminate the risks of getting any infection. Apply a layer of honey on the affected area and wrap a bandage around the area.
8. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is known for its various benefits and treating sunburns is another one. Apply a layer of coconut oil to the sunburnt area to repair and rejuvenate the irritated skin. It also soothes the burning skin and heals it, plus stops the skin from peeling and itching and speeds up the process of healing.
