Natural remedies for healing sunburn naturally and help relieve the pain, itching, and redness that comes with it.

While mindful sun exposure can be very beneficial (bringing with it vitamin D), sunburn on the other hand can cause quite a bit of damage to skin and should be avoided.

Whenever I go to the beach or plan on being out in the sun for extended periods of time, I use a natural sunscreen and make sure to cover up (hat, sunnies, the works).

But on the occasions where I do get a little burnt, these are some of the remedies I use.

Aloe Vera

One of the most common and well-known remedies for sunburn, aloe works best when used straight from the plant rather than in a gel or lotion form that you purchase from the store.

When using aloe gel from the plant, ensure you apply it straight away as it begins losing its healing properties the longer it’s off the plant. If you opt for a gel, choose a high quality one with no additives or preservatives. Here’s a step-by-step guide for extracting the aloe gel from the leaf.

Essential Oils

Lavender and helichrysum can help to soothe burnt skin and even speed up recovery. Simply pour a few drops into a bottle of water and spray onto affected areas as needed.

Cool Bath

Taking a hot shower after getting sunburnt is not recommended, but having a cool bath can do wonders in relieving red, hot, sore skin. When you’re ready to soak, fill up the bath with cool water and slowly get in. Toss a handful of baking soda into the bath water for an added soothing benefit as it relieves inflammation; reducing itching and treating sunburn. 

Note: Baking soda can be drying, so keep your soak time to a maximum of 15 minutes.

Herbal Apple Cider Vinegar Solution

When diluted, apple cider vinegar works as a soothing remedy for sunburns, and when combined with certain herbs, its effects are doubled.

To make the solution, boil one cup of water and add two tablespoons of lavender flowers, tea tree oil, dried rose petals, and dried mint leaves. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, strain out the herbs and add an equal amount of apple cider vinegar to the cooled tea mix. Pour into a spray bottle and spritz onto affected areas as needed.

Cold Compress

Applying a cold compress to sunburnt skin can help take the sting out of burns. This works by absorbing the heat and providing immediate cooling relief to painful burns. Do not apply ice directly onto the skin, as it can cause a cold burn, which would just add more pain to the already affected area. Instead, pop some ice into a bag and wrap a paper towel around it.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can help stop peeling and reduce redness. It also acts as a mild sunscreen, but it’s not strong enough to use alone for all-day exposure. It works best as an everyday option for mild sun protection.

Rehydrate

The sun evaporates moisture from the skin, effectively drying it out. Rehydrating the body can help in the recovery process after getting sunburnt. Drinking plenty of water, herbal teas, kombucha and kefir can help in rehydrating the body.

CBD Oil

CBD oil acts as a potent anti-inflammatory which actively suppresses the body’s inflammatory response to reduce pain and redness. It can be incorporated into a soothing sun spray to provide immediate relief.

To make the spray, combine one and a half cups of witch hazel with two tablespoons of aloe vera, twenty drops (or more) of CBD oil, ten drops of rosemary oil, forty drops of lavender essential oil, ten drops of peppermint oil, forty drops of calendula oil, and one teaspoon of vitamin E oil into an amber glass spray bottle. Cap the lid and shake well to combine. Spray on affected areas as needed and store in fridge.

After-Sun Spray

This homemade after-sun spray contains all-natural ingredients specifically targeted towards helping to soothe and relieve sunburnt skin:

• Lavender: Helps soothe skin irritations.
• Peppermint: Delivers a soothing, cooling sensation to skin.
• Tea tree oil or frankincense help soothe irritated, inflamed skin.
• Aloe vera: Helps relieve pain and redness by reducing inflammation. The gel also stimulates the production of collagen, which helps with healing and improves skin firmness, dryness, and elasticity. It also acts as a moisturiser, helping to prevent peeling that often comes with sun damage.
• Witch hazel: A natural anti-inflammatory (just like aloe), and can help reduce the discomfort that comes with sunburn.

As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.

What are your go-to remedies for sunburn? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

🖤 Vanessa

Sources:

Wells, Katie. (January 23, 2019). Natural Remedies for Sunburn. Wellness Mama. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/3039/sunburn-remedies/

10 Home Remedies for Sunburn Relief. Colore Science. Retrieved from https://www.colorescience.com/learn/10-home-remedies-for-sunburn-relief

Shea, Taylor. Home Remedies for Sunburn: 11 Treatments to Feel Better Fast. Reader’s Digest. Retrieved from https://www.rd.com/health/beauty/home-remedies-for-sunburn/

Wells, Katie. (Updated: January 3, 2020). Soothing DIY Sunburn Spray Recipe With CBD and Lavender. Wellness Mama. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/414771/sunburn-spray/

Krans, Brian. (Updated: November 19, 2017). 8 Ways to Treat Sunburn at Home. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/sunburn

Hrustic, Alisa. (May 30, 2021). 17 Home Remedies for Sunburn That Will Heal Your Skin Fast, According to Dermatologists. Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.prevention.com/beauty/a20513758/natural-sunburn-cures/

York Morris, Susan. (Updated: February 12, 2019). Apple Cider Vinegar for Sunburn Care?. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/apple-cider-vinegar-for-sunburn-care

CBD for Summer Skin and Sunburn Relief. (July 7th 2020). Also Organics. Retrieved from https://alsoorganics.com/blogs/cbd-stories/cbd-for-summer-skin-and-sunburn-relief

Fowler, Mary Ross. (June 29, 2017). DIY: Sunburn Spray. Daily Dose of Greens. Retrieved from http://dailydoseofgreens.com/2017/06/29/diy-sunburn-spray/