Your skin care regimen and lifestyle habits are the primary predictors of your skin’s health. Some of the leading factors that take a toll on the quality and texture of your skin are stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, pollution, damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, excessive smoking and drinking alcohol.
Learn about 8 natural and easy topical solutions that soothe sunburnt skin and help with tissue regeneration.
1. Cold compress:
Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin caused by an overexposure to UV radiation. As with most of skin inflammation cases, applying a cold pack to the affected area can help relieve the symptoms and reduce the swelling. However, ice applied directly to sunburned area is not recommended because it may cause the blood vessels underneath the top layer of skin to narrow or constrict and lead to less blood flow and may delay healing. Instead use a cool compress. Dip a clean cloth or a towel in a cool (not ice cold) water and apply to the skin.
2. Dairy:
You may have heard that applying milk compress or yogurt may also help with sunburns. This may be due to the proteins in dairy that help with retaining moisture in skin. Also since dairy needs to be kept cool, it may act similarly to the simple cold compress.
3. Oatmeal :
Oatmeal is another great natural products that helps hydrate and soothe skin. You probably noticed how often colloidal oatmeal (simply speaking, a very finely ground type of oatmeal) is used in baby care products and products designed for sensitive skin , Colloidal Oatmeal is one on the few natural ingredients that FDA recognizes as a safe over-the-counter skin treatment. Thankfully, you do not need to purchase special products to ease your pains and discomfort. You can make your own paste from finely ground or rolled oatmeal and water. However avoid quick oats, as it has been heavily processed and may contain many unwanted additives. Instead opt for unprocessed raw oatmeal.
4. Sea buckthorn seed oil:
Rich in vitamins and nutrients this oil has been recognized for centuries for it's medicinal and nutritional properties. Native over a wide area of Europe and Asia this oil can be frequently found in pharmacies, where it is sold as a treatment for burns, scars, poorly healing wounds and other conditions that require tissue regeneration. This is a great oil for dry, irritated skin, eczema and wrinkles.
5. Vitamin E:
Vitamin E (usually found in form of tocopherol in the US) is a strong antioxidant. It's free radical scavenging properties make it a great ingredient for skin care after the sun exposure. Most soothing products on the market already contain vitamin E. There are also natural oils, such as wheat germ and sunflower, that are rich in this vitamin.
6. Aloe:
Aloe vera, also known as Fruit Of The Earth, has been used in herbal medicine since the beginning of first Century AD. This common plant contains over 150 chemicals, that all work synergistically and help heal and moisturize skin and hair. Pure Aloe Vera usually can be found in a form of juice, gel or powder. It is being widely used in various types of cosmetic and personal care products. Please note that concentrations and quality of aloe in many products on the market leave a lot to be desired.
7. Witch hazel:
Witch hazel is an astringent with soothing properties. It can be found in any pharmacy and is great for minor cuts and scrapes. It can also be super useful for sunburnt and irritated skin. You can either spay it on the desired area or apply it as a compress.
8. Moisturizer:
Even if you didn't develop a sunburn, being exposed to the UV radiation will damage your skin. To help skin retain moisture and fight free radicals using a soothing moisturizer with antioxidants will be beneficial. Check out our Aftersun , which contains just the perfect amount of regenerating Sea Buckthorn Berry oil along with other hydrating oils and botanicals from the list above, such as aloe, Vitamin E, oats. It also contains cucumber seed oil, chamomile, licorice and lavender which are known for their soothing properties.
Take care of yourself and practice safe sun!
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References:
- Consumer Reports July 2, 2014
- UV forecast; Met Office
- Mead MN; Benefits of sunlight: a bright spot for human health. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Apr;116(4):A160-7.
- Heatwave Plan for England: Protecting health and reducing harm from extreme heat and heatwaves; Public Health England (May 2014)
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