Home Remedies for Sunburn

Sunburn is due to excessive exposure to the sun's ultra-violet ( UV ) rays. The sun's ultra-violet rays are the ones responsible when we have a sunburn. There are two types of ultra-violet rays, ultra-violet A ( UVA ) and ultra-violet B ( UVB ). Both are very strong and harmful to the skin. UVB rays attack the skin's outer layers, while UVA are rays that attack the underlying layers.

When they are reflected on the water, metal, snow, or sand they effects intensifies. The intensity of a sunburn depends of the amount of exposure from the individual, the geographical location, the time, an the atmospheric conditions. Sunburns, like any other burn, are classifies as first degree, second degree and third degree. Normally, sunburns are first degree burns.

The symptoms of a first degree burn include pain, heat, redness and tender to the touch in the skin affected. These symptoms can appear from 1 to 24 hours after exposure to the sun. After a couple of days, this type of burn will "cool" into a suntan or thin layers of skin may peel off.

The symptoms of a second degree burn include extreme reddening, swelling, pain and even blisters can appear. The burn goes deeper into the skin's layers damaging small blood vessels and elastic fibers in the skin, and later there is wrinkling of the skin. In most severe cases, the burn may be accompanied by chills, fever, nausea, and/or delirium. Sunburn such as this, is extremely painful and for children is terribly dangerous.

Today the effects of sun exposure is a common concern because of the decline in the earth's ozone layer. The ozone's layers is what protect us from harmful UV rays which damages our skin and causes many diseases like skin cancer.

We recommend:

Home Remedies for Sunburn #1: Take measures to prevent yourself from getting sunburned:

Home Remedies for Sunburn #2:   Avoid being outdoors between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, when the UV rays are more intense.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #3:    If you have to be outside during this hour, try to wear a hat, sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays, and clothing made of light colored, light weight, tightly woven material.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #4:   Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor ( SPF ) of 15 or higher. Apply to the skin  whenever you go outside or ride in the car, apply it to all exposed areas 30' before going outside, repeating the procedure as often as possible, specially if you are swimming or perspiring. Make sure you buy a sunscreen that contains protection against both UVA and UVB rays.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #5:     Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #6: Eat lots of lean, and high quality protein foods. Also include raw fruits to supply the vitamins and minerals needed.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #7: Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated, and to replace the lost by the sunburn.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #8: To relief a sunburn pain apply over the affected area cool water compresses or fill a bathtub with cold water and dissolve one pound of baking soda or oatmeal in it. Soak in the bath for 30' approximately, until you feel relieve.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #9: Wash the affected area with an antibacterial soap to prevent secondary infection.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #10: Do not burst any blister. They form a natural protection to help the skin sunburned to heal faster.

Home Remedies for Sunburn #11: Do not apply any creams, butter, petroleum jelly or any other greasy substance to a sunburn. They only cause more damage by trapping the heat and can make a burn deeper. The sunburn will heal faster if left exposed to the air.