With the summer season here at last, I thought it might be useful to remind everyone about a few inexpensive, natural ways you could soothe skin which has been overexposed to the sun’s damaging UV rays.
Generally, most of us start the right way. Before we hit for the beach we apply our SPF 30 (at least) and if it says on the label water proof, then, we assume we are set for the entire day and going in and out of water would not affect being protected.
Just in case, if you do go in the water and especially if after you did you dried off your body using a towel, please reapply the SPF.
Falling asleep while reading at the beach seems to be an all time favorite and as a result, burned shoulders and back abund.
If for one reason or another your delicate skin is burned from overexposure to sun, try the following:
Take a bath in lukewarm water. Add some regular oatmeal to the water or even better, an Aveno oatmeal bath packet, available at all pharmacies.
After you bathe, do not rub the already irritated skin, but pat gently or let dry naturally.
On the dried skin you may simply apply cold, plain yogurt and keep it on the affected areas for about 10 minutes, then wash it off gently.
If you choose to apply cold compresses, do not apply ice directly to the inflamed skin, as it will irritate it further.
Aloe Vera gel is an all time saver! If you have a fresh plant, cut the leaf and apply on the affected skin only the clear slimy gel found inside the leaf. Or buy Aloe Vera gel at the pharmacy and apply as directed.
Another all time remedy is well diluted apple cider vinegar.
Personally, I’d first go for the yogurt, cold compresses or aloe solutions, which I tried personally and they work.
Whatever your choice, please do not rub, irritate, or overexpose further the burned areas. The worst it could happen is that the area gets infected and that leads to further complications.
Enjoy the Sun, soak all the vitamin D you need and stay cool and safe!
The Nude Truth by Rodica Mihalis 
I have always used oatmeal but my daughter doesn’t have any on hand at the moment. She asked me to ask you if you know: Will taking a vitamin D supplement (immediately after the burn happens) help promote healing? (I told her it couldn’t hurt!)
Do you know what dilution-ratio of apple cider vinegar to water? Apparently the bottle of vinegar she has on hand in her pantry! Thank you so much in advance for your time and expertise. Hugs.
LikeLike
Hi Valeri,
Thank you for your question.
Vitamin D is not one of the vitamins known to help healing a burn. Vitamin D and calcium are taken to promote bone health and exposure to sun provides our bodies with the much needed vitamin D necessary for bone strength.
Vitamins E and C are the two most known to promote healing of burns. Vitamin E may also be applied directly to the skin as well as taken orally. However as with ALL SUPPLEMENTS each person is different and she should consult with her physician before taking anything.
I wouldn’t add more than a 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar to 12 oz of water (WELL DILUTED), and really using our common sense: if it hurts, do not use but go immediately to seek medical help. It really depends on the DEGREE of the burn. I feel this really must be decided after someone professional determines the gravity of the burn. We do NOT want more irritation to the already burned skin. If it hurts, do not use, wash off and take your lukewarm bathe. The most important is to avoid an infection and further irritation, so if any of these symptoms occur, a professional should see her. I like this site for further information on burns and vitamins: http://www.livestrong.com “How To Heal Burns With Vitamin Supplements.”
I hope this helps:) Hugs. Rodica
LikeLike
Pingback: R4PG