Aloe vera gel may be the greatest thing for sunburned skin, but few people have access to the plant and know exactly how to extract the soothing gel while avoiding the irritants that are also found in aloe leaves. Try a few solutions that can come in handy when you want to only use natural ingredients to treat your aching and inflamed skin.
Get some relief with the most natural ways to treat sunburn, using only ingredients that you’ll find in your pantry or even in your bathroom, without opening your medicine cabinet.
1. Cold Water
The simplest and easiest temporary solution for soothing your skin is simply using cold water compresses. Make sure that you use a soft textile, like an old 100% cotton t-shirt, in order to avoid any further irritation. Add some ice cube to drop the temperature even more, and don’t forget to drink a lot of liquids as well, avoiding caffeine and alcohol.
2. Potatoes
If you have two potatoes and a blender, you can quickly try one of the natural ways to treat sunburn. Make sure you wash them thoroughly, then blend them with or without their skins. The mixture should be very runny, but you can also add water. Soak cotton balls in it and apply it on the affected area. You can also simply slice the raw potatoes and apply the slices directly on the sunburn.
3. Witch Hazel
It’s an excellent natural astringent, but witch hazel is much more than a cheap and effective toner. You can also use it to treat sunburned skin. On small areas, use cotton balls to apply it on your skin. If you’re dealing with a larger patch of skin, use a soft cloth. Simply pour some witch hazel on it (but don’t soak it completely), then apply on your skin for its anti-inflammatory action and pain relief.
4. Yogurt
Forget about flavored yogurt with pieces of fruit in it. Plain live cultured yogurt is great for your digestion and it’s also one of the natural ways to treat sunburn. Apply it directly on your skin for relief. If you’re rather the yogurt, you can also use fat-free milk mixed with water (1 part milk, 3 parts water). Use cotton swabs or compresses on your sunburned skin to a little relief.
5. Baking Soda
Another great remedy for your skin is baking soda. There are two ways of using it, you can mix it with water or apple cider vinegar and make a paste that you apply on your skin, or you can use it for a bath. Fill your tub with tepid water, then add half a cup of baking soda. Soak and relax, then let it dry on your skin when you’re done, instead of drying yourself with a towel.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
With or without mixing it with baking soda, apple cider vinegar is also one of the natural ways to treat sunburn. You can mix it with the same quantity of water if you want to dip a washcloth in it then apply to your skin. Another way to go is to add a cup of it to your bathwater.
7. Cucumber
They’re good for more than just soothing your eyelids at a spa. Cucumbers are a good remedy when you’re dealing with mild discomfort caused by sunburn. You can simply apply cool slices directly on your skin, and flip them over once they get warm. You can also drop them in a blender and make a paste to apply on sunburned skin. Add a little baking soda or cornstarch if the end result is too runny.
8. Lettuce
The water you get from boiling lettuce is one of the most natural ways to treat sunburn. Vitamin E will help your skin recover, and so you can also add some spinach or kale to the mix. After boiling them, strain the liquid, put it in the fridge once it’s cooled off a bit, then apply it gently on your skin using cotton balls.
9. Cornstarch
Make a paste with cool water, and cornstarch will act similarly to baking soda in soothing your skin. Leave the paste on until you experience a bit of relief, then rinse it off.
10. Green Tea
Whether you just soak tea bags in cool water and apply them on your skin or actually make tea and cool it before using cotton balls to apply it, green tea is filled with antioxidants and tannic acid, which helps relieve swelling and pain, so it’s one of the best natural ways to treat sunburn.
