The two best sunburn relievers

There are Many Natural Remedies for Sun Burns
photo by Phil Kates

Everyone's done it – stayed out in the sun far longer than they should have, until the skin is red, angry, possibly even blistered.  A sunburn.

When all is said and done, whether the burn comes from the sun or a hot oven, the effects on the skin are virtually the same, and thus the treatments are virtually the same, as well.

One often-repeated home remedy you should never use, is to apply butter to a burn.  According to Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, "don't put butter on a burn.  It does not accelerate healing (actually, it can trap heat and worsen a burn), and may contain bacteria."  Similarly, any thick, heavy oils should be avoided.

Aloe is the Top Treatment Recommended for Sunburn
photo by Andrew Rivett

Almost unanimously,  from natural medicine practitioners, to "mainstream" Western medicine doctors, to traditional home remedies, the top recommendation remains the same for burns:  Aloe Vera.  In addition to simply being wonderfully soothing for any kind of burn, it "is also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal, and it speeds healing," according to The Herbal Drugstore, by Linda B. White, MD, and Steven Foster.  The best method is to pick a fresh leaf, slice it open, and scoop the healing gel out and apply directly to the burned skin.  Failing that, every drugstore and pharmacy will have Aloe Vera gel for sale, usually right next to the sunscreens.  Just be sure to get one that doesn't have any colorants or other chemicals added.

The second leading recommendation for sunburn relief is almost as clear: lavender essential oil.  It is soothing and cooling, and is antiseptic and promotes swift healing.  It can be applied neat (without diluting first) on the burn, or mixed with water (shake well) and applied to a cloth for a cooling compress.

For more in-depth looks at more alternatives, see Home Remedy Natural Relief for Sun Burns.