10 Natural Remedies for Sunburns
If your child is under a year old, or if they have blisters, severe pain, lethargy, or a fever higher than 101 degrees, contact your doctor immediately.
Sunburns aren’t always avoidable, but you can ease the symptoms with these natural remedies.
If your child does get a sunburn, make sure they drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and keep them out of the sun until the burn is healed.
If your child is under a year old, or if they have blisters, severe pain, lethargy, or a fever higher than 101 degrees, contact your doctor immediately.
For mild sunburns, try these solutions.
1. Ice
Wrap up an ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables in a soft towel and apply gently to the burn. Don’t put ice directly on the skin, as it can cause frostbite and more damage.
2. Cool Water
A cool but not cold bath, shower or compress will reduce heat and pain. Don’t scrub the skin or use bath oils or soaps.
3. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel from inside the plant will ease pain, speed the healing process, and moisturize the skin. Split a leaf from a plant and apply directly to the painful skin, or buy pure aloe vera gel.
4. Honey
Honey was used as a burn salve by the ancient Egyptians, and some studies suggest that it may work better than some antibiotic creams as speeding up healing, reducing infection and lowering pain.
You shouldn’t put honey on babies younger than 12 months, as they could ingest it and it may put them at risk of developing infant botulism.
5. Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal, or finely ground oatmeal is an anti-inflammatory when mixed with bath water. Make your own by grinding a cup of instant or slow-cook oatmeal in a blender or food processor until it has a smooth consistency. Put into tepid bath water and soak for 10 or so minutes.
6. Witch Hazel
Put this anti-inflammatory astringent on a wet washcloth and apply to skin 3 or 4 times a day to reduce pain and irritation.
7. Milk
Soak a washcloth in milk and place on the painful area to create a protein film that eases pain and reduces heat.
8. Baking Soda or Cornstarch
Soak in a bath with added baking soda or cornstarch to relieve itching and inflammation
9. Cider Vinegar
The acetic acid in vinegar helps to reduce pain, itching and inflammation. Put one cup of white cider vinegar in tepid bath water and soak.
10. Coriander Oil
Some studies suggest that rubbing this oil on to sunburned skin could reduce inflammation.
