Soothe your Sunburn Naturally.
Sunshine
Summer is finally here (I live in WA, and we get excited when the sun finally comes out)! Sunburns are an unfortunate side effect of the much loved sunshine and warm weather, but you don’t have to suffer indefinitely. Here is some practical Naturopathic advice on how to treat sunburns.
1) Seek medical attention if the sunburn covers a large area of your body in blisters, you develop a fever or severe pain, or if your sunburn does not begin to get better in a few days.
2) Keep the skin cool and moist–apply cold compresses often or ta
ke a cool bath. Add baking soda or oatmeal to the bath for relief from itching and discomfort.
3) Aloe Vera gel–use pure aloe gel liberally on sunburned skin to help moisturize and speed the healing. Avoid the use of aloe lotions, since lotions can have a dehydrating effect on skin. Also avoid aloe products with color additives and other chemical ingredients.
4) Stay hydrated–drink plenty of fluids to help the skin heal faster and to prevent dehydration.
5) Tea tree oil–dilute some pure tea tree essential oil (5-10 drops) in aloe gel or massage oil and apply to burned skin to help ease pain and itching. Avoid contact with the eyes, and mouth, since tea tree oil can cause irritation.
6) Calendula cream–using a calendula based cream or salve on burned and blistered skin will help with healing, moisturizing, and pain relief.
7) Avoid the urge to pop blisters! This can lead to infection, which can become quite serious.
Avoid future sunburn by applying sunscreen and taking appropriate precautions when out in the sunshine. Also be aware of medications and supplements you may be taking that can increase photosensitivity (make you burn more easily). For more information about sunscreen, see my Natural Pediatric blog article: http://naturalpediatricblog.com/?p=101.
About the Author: Dr. Bowker is a Naturopathic Physician and owner of Snohomish Valley Holistic Medicine. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Bowker serves as a Board member for the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She has also been a guest speaker for community organizations and instructor of several community health classes. For more information, please visit her primary website: www.snovalleyholistic.com
