You may have had a great day in the sun, chilling and lounging on the beach. As you talk to friends and relax you end up spending too much time in the sun without realizing it. Now, you have a sunburn. You’re probably wondering, what can you do to make that sunburn go away faster?
While there is no miracle lotion or potion that eliminates sunburn instantly, there are ways to speed up the recovery and heal your skin faster.
In this article, you’ll learn about some of the most effective home remedies to use on mild and moderate sunburns. Seek medical advice if you have severe sunburns.
Home Remedies to Make Your Sunburn Go Away Faster
Nobody likes being in pain after getting sunburn. Just taking a shower or wearing your clothes can be painful.
Fortunately, there are home remedies that can make your sunburn go away faster.
Aloe Vera
Also known as the “burn plant,” aloe vera has a long history of use for skin burns and healing wounds. There are several studies supporting the benefits of aloe gel for various skin conditions. Aloin is one of the key ingredients that speed up the healing process. According to a systematic review of multiple studies, you can use aloe vera for first and second-degree burns. It also has the ability to shorten the healing time of the wounds.
In other words, aloe vera could help manage mild and moderate cases of sunburns.
If you have an aloe plant available, simply cut a leaf, scoop the gel, and apply generously on the sunburn a few times daily. Aloe vera gel is widely available in pharmacies and natural food stores.
Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola is medically known as Centella Asiatica. It is an herb from the parsley family. Traditional Chinese and Indian medicine have used it for thousands of years.
Research studies suggest the active compounds responsible for its medicinal qualities are pentacyclic triterpenes. These compounds help decrease inflammation and boost collagen production. This is important for healing wounds. Although mostly known for its potential to help manage burns, varicose veins, and wound healing, this herb may also help improve psoriasis and scleroderma.
You can buy Gotu kola creams created for nappy rashes, insect bites, sunburns, and irritated skin. You can use Gotu kola capsules for ongoing skin and brain health.
Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It helps the skin stay firm and healthy, nails strong, and hair shiny.
Some hospitals use collagen wound dressings to promote faster skin healing. This supposedly speeds up the growth of new tissue. You can use collagen topically on the skin or ingest it. Many people blend collagen powder with fruits and vegetables in a smoothie. Bone broth is a great natural source of collagen peptides too.
Raw Honey
Raw honey is one of the most researched natural supplements, especially for wound care and its strong antimicrobial activity. It is suitable for the management of skin ulcers, burns, and infected wounds.
Apply the honey topically to facilitate even deep and infected surgical wounds. Honey’s healing properties are due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities. Its high viscosity also provides a protective barrier that promotes healing and prevents infection.
For sunburns, simply apply raw honey on the affected area of the skin a few times daily.
Unsweetened Yogurt or Kefir
Fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir are popular home remedies for sunburns. However, there aren’t research studies specifically for healing sunburn.
Yogurt has a cooling effect, as it seems to absorb the heat from the skin affected by the sunburn. Kefir and yogurt are rich in enzymes, live probiotics, B vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients are likely the source of soothing and healing sunburns.
The lactic acid also promotes the exfoliation of dead skin cells. Some people who use yogurt or kefir claim that sunburn doesn’t peel. It’s important to note that kefir contains more probiotics than yogurt.
To make your sunburn go away faster, simply apply yogurt or kefir on the burn. Leave it for ten minutes and wash it off. Repeat as needed.
Things That Make Sunburn Last Longer
Generally, the healthier you are, the faster you will recover from medical conditions. This includes healing from sunburn. However, there are factors that can slow down or even prevent your sunburn from healing.
Unfortunately, you can’t control all of these factors. Unmanageable factors that make sunburn last longer include aging or genetics.
The factors that you can control that may contribute to a slow sunburn healing process include:
- Infections
- Diabetes
- Poor circulation
- Certain drugs
- Excess weight
- Smoking
- Heavy drinking
- Stress
Your diet also plays a large part in making your sunburn go away faster as well as other medical conditions. A plant-based diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits is great for your skin. These foods are rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants that nourish skin cells.
Olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fish provide healthy oils with anti-inflammatory qualities. Lean meats, legumes, and pseudo-grains, like quinoa, are great protein sources for skin repair.
A diet full of refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and processed foods leads to unhealthy skin. It also promotes inflammation throughout the body.
Take Steps to Prevent Sunburn
The best way to handle sunburn is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Make sure you limit the exposure to the sun, use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply every few hours. Wear a hat and sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection and keep your body covered with clothes or in the shade.
