What is Sunburn?How can we Treat it Naturally?

Sunburn is a condition which occurs when our skin is overly exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or from tanning beds. It is harmful as it can damage the DNA in our skin cells, causing inflammation and reddening of our skin. It also have other symptoms such as swelling ,pain and severe cases also include peeling and blistering. It can also cause skin cancer and increases skin ageing.
This includes various symptoms such as:
Pain from sunburn can be divided into three degrees:
The pain is usually mild and skin is red, warm and tender to touch. When it starts to heal you may feel tight or itchy.
The pain is more intense because deeper layers of skin is damaged and also nerve endings are also effected. Affected area may swell more and fluid filled blisters are also developed which is more painful and increase chances of infection if not treated at correct time.
It is the rarest case in which some people can experience an extreme, deep and unrelenting itch or burning sensation days after the burn. This itchiness is difficult to manage along with pain.
It is an inflammatory response where skin becomes red ,purple or pink and feels warm or tender to touch. It’s peak time is usually between 12 to 24 hours after sunburn.
It various from person to person ,some may have mild irritation or can experience intense itching .Itching usually starts between 24 to 72 hours after sunburn and is at its peak after48 hours and can also last for several days. It will be intensive even when skin heals and peels.
It is a sign of second level degree of sunburn. It happens when both the top layer and layer underneath (dermis) are affected. Blisters are natural protective mechanism of our body which forms a fluid-filled pocket to cushion the damaged skin till it heals.


It is one of the best ways to treat sunburn naturally because of its properties such as cooling,reducing inflammation,moisturization and support healing process for mild to moderate sunburns.For effective result one can use use pure aloe vera gel and store it in the refrigerator for extra cooling relief.


One should stay hydrated by drinking water,juices or any kind of fluid products for staying hydrated. It can reduce swelling, promote healing at faster rate and prevent dehydration as sunburned skin pulls a lot of fluid from your rest of the body.


It can help healing sunburn because of its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties and helps in bringing calm to irritation , hydrating skin and promoting fast healing. For sunburn relief, apply a moisturizer which includes shea butter
in it.


You can use fruits like strawberries,kiwi,tomatoes etc for treating sunburn. You can also use serums which contains vitamin C for applying to your skin.Vitamin C has antioxidant properties which can help in healing and collagen production.It can reduce redness and inflammation.


Just like other it also has anti-inflammatory properties which can heal sunburn easily. It can help by reducing swelling,redness and pain. You can use lavender oil by mixing it with aloe vera oil or add it to a cool bath to provide relief from discomfort.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ's)

1. How long does it take to heal a sun burn?
   Most of the sun burn takes 10-14 days for healing.Severe sunburn may takes more time to heal.
2. What not to put on sunburned skin?
   Do not use petroleum jelly,put ice or ice packs,,pop any blisters,scratch or try remove peeling skin or wear tight-fitting clothes over sunburnt skin.
3. Do bananas help sunburn?
   Yes,press banana peels to extract essential oils for soothing sunburn and reducing itchiness caused by rashes .
4. What foods make sunburn worse?
   Certain citrus fruits and other foods like celery, dill, fennel, figs and parsley can increase sun sensitivity.