Sunburn : Causes, Prevention and Home Remedies

A sunburn,as in Wikipedia is a burn to living tissue, such as skin, which is produced by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, commonly from the sun's rays. Usual mild symptoms in humans and animals include red or reddish skin that is hot to the touch, general fatigue, and mild dizziness. An excess of UV radiation can be life-threatening in extreme cases.

Sunburn usually appears within a few hours after sun exposure and may take from several days to several weeks to fade. Intense sun exposure that results in sunburn increases your risk of certain complications and related skin diseases. These include dry, wrinkled skin; liver spots; actinic keratoses; and skin cancer, including melanoma.

You can prevent sunburn and the related skin conditions by protecting your skin whenever you're outdoors, even on cloudy days. If you do get sunburn, several home remedies and treatments can relieve your pain and speed the healing of your skin.

. Before going out in sun it’s always better to apply sunscreen lotion to prevent tanning and sunburns.

. Lotions containing lanolin should be avoided before going out in sun.

. Applying lavender essential oil to the area will reduce pain and itching.

. Application of any cream containing vitamin E to the affected areas will reduce itching. This is a very simple sunburn treatment.

. Applying ice to the area will also be beneficial

. Keeping cold tea bags on the area will remove tanning from the sunburns.

. Drink plenty of fluids. Sun exposure and heat can cause fluid loss through your skin. Be sure to replenish those fluids to prevent dehydration.

. Milk is the best food remedy for any kind of burns. Applying the cloth to the burn dipped in milk will provide relief. Good home remedy for sunburn.

. Make a mixture by mixing, yogurt, turmeric and barley, apply on the affected area. This is one of the simple and good home remedies for sunburn.

. Sliced pieces of raw cucumber or potato when applied to the affected area reduce inflammation of the skin. This is one of the best sunburn remedy.

. Pouring one cup of white cider vinegar to the bathtub will provide relief from sunburns.

. Application of sandal wood paste to the area will provide relief from the burning sensation.

. Taking a bath of tide laundry detergent will provide relief from sunburn blisters.

. Make a mixture of one part tomato juice and 6 parts buttermilk and apply it to the affected areas and wash it after 30 minutes.

. Apply a mixture of one part olive oil and one part vinegar to affected areas and wash it after an hour.

. Make a mixture of wheat flour mixed with milk, olive oil, or barley flour, honey, and raw egg white paste. It will be a best facial for sunburn skin.

. Boil some lettuce in water, allow the liquid to cool and strain it. Then apply to the affected area with cotton balls.

. If blisters form, don't break them. They contain your natural body fluid (serum) and are a protective layer.

Use these methods to prevent sunburn:

. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Because the sun's rays are strongest during these hours, try to schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day. Seek shade whenever possible.

. Wear tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs, and a broad-brimmed hat, which provides more protection than does a baseball cap or golf visor. Also consider wearing clothing or outdoor gear specially designed to provide sun protection.

. Use sunscreen frequently and liberally. Apply sunscreen liberally 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply about every two hours — sooner if it's washed away by perspiration or water.

. Wear sunglasses when outdoors. Look for a manufacturer's label that says the sunglasses block 99 percent or 100 percent of all UV light.


~source:mayoclinic.com~