The pain of sunburn is from ultraviolet radiation burn of your skin. The underlying nerves receive damage and signal to your brain that not all is right and you need to fix it now.

Any treatment that is recommended for skin burns is appropriate for sunburn as well. You can’t cure the burn itself, only your body’s natural immune system can do that, so you’re left with treating the pain symptoms. Acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen will help in the long term, but for immediate pain relief you’ll need to apply something directly to the burns. As interesting side note, you can crush up aspirin and mix with water to make a paste and apply that directly as well.

A quick warning, you want to keep the burns clean. Do not apply anything that is sticky or greasy, the wounded area must get air circulation to heal.

Many topical remedies are available in drugstores, but you can save a lot of time and money by using your own home remedies for sunburn.

Vinegar Treatment for Sunburn

A popular choice is vinegar or other food items containing vinegar. Any type of vinegar will do, but the darker types like apple cider or balsamic vinegar will stain your skin, so take that into consideration.

Applying the Vinegar

First of all, dilute the vinegar with a half water, half vinegar solution. You don’t need to be soaking in vinegar, simply apply it to the burn with a soft rag, or squirt it on from a spray bottle. Let it soak into your skin dry naturally. You’re going to smell like a salad, but you will feel better immediately.

Reapply the vinegar if the pain returns, as needed.

Cool Vegetables for a Sunburn

Some people swear by the use of potatoes or tomatoes applied to a sunburn. In most cases, it will be better if you can find a chilled vegetable as the additional cooling will help as well.

Applying Potatoes

Potatoes are to be sliced in half and rubbed onto the sunburn gently. When the cut end warms up or gets dirty, slice it off and start with the new surface.

Applying Tomatoes

Tomatoes should be cut into thin slices (1/4 inch), and applied directly to the sunburn. The natural acids in a tomato work like the acids in vinegar, soaking in and numbing the nerves underneath. Reapply tomato slices as needed.

Cool Bath Treatment

Your skin will actually get hotter after a sunburn from all the blood rushing to the area to heal it. So any way to cool yourself down will help reduce the pain. Get into a cool lukewarm bath and soak the pain away.

Aloe Vera Treatment for Sunburn

Many homes have Aloe Vera plants on hand for medical emergencies. Look for a plant with long, thick leaves. Break the tip off and see if a clear, greenish liquid comes out. Do not use any plants that ooze a white or other color liquid, it should be clear.

Applying Aloe Vera

Break the plant leaves into sections, and squeeze the Aloe Vera gel onto the burn. You don’t need to cover it with anything, just keep applying the gel as necessary.

For your main healing process, drink lots of fluids and stay cool, and your sunburn will be healed in a few days.

Posted by Mike on May 4, 2011 in Home Remedies