Migraine

Hey all, I've got me a serious case of sunburn today... here in NZ the sun is pretty harsh...I was at an outdoor charity event today and got burnt on my face... shoulders...a wee bit of my back and chest.... Just wondering if anyone knows of any homemade remedies that would sooth the burn and the itch I think it's going ot blister? It's pretty ouch at the moment and it's not even summer yet....

Aroha Nui

Oh Kiwi you silly girl!!! Aloe. My sister has always kept an aloe plant at home for burns. If you don't have a plant, most natural food type stores carry aloe.

Short of that I would think cool soft clothes on it. You could refrigerate them. I'm sure you are know to be very careful about infection with burns if they blister.

I pulled this off the web:

Home treatment for minor burns
For home treatment of first-degree burns and sunburns:
Use cool cloths on burned areas.
Take frequent cool showers or baths.
Apply soothing lotions that contain aloe vera to burned areas to relieve pain and swelling. Applying 0.5% hydrocortisone cream to the burned area also may help. Note : Do not use the cream on children younger than age 2 unless your doctor tells you to. Do not use in the rectal or vaginal area of children younger than age 12 unless your doctor tells you to.
There isn't much you can do to stop skin from peeling after a sunburn-it is part of the healing process. Lotion may help relieve the itching.
Other home treatment measures, such as chamomile, may help relieve your sunburn symptoms.

Other home treatment:

There is no evidence-based research to support the safety and effectiveness of the following home treatment measures, but they may help relieve your burn symptoms.

Soak a washcloth in equal parts of milk and water to make a cool compress.
Add oatmeal [0.5cups] or baking soda to a cool water bath.
Use a moisturizer or light powder to smooth areas where skin rubs against skin to prevent chafing.
Use calamine lotion for itching.
Cut a raw potato and spread the juice on the burned skin.
Use chamomile diluted in warm water or brewed into a tea to sponge on the burned skin.
Add 2 to 3 drops of lavender essential oil to 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to smooth over the burned skin.
Avoid breaking open any blisters, and watch for any signs of a skin infection while using home treatment measures.


Hope this helps and put on sunscreen next time please!!! You don't want your skin to look like leather when you get older not to mention the skin cancer risks.

Cindy

Drink lots of water. Not tea, not sodas, not coffee. Drink water. Every time you think about drinking, drink some water.

Baking soda compresses will help, as will baking soda baths in tepid water.

NSAIDs - asprin-type drugs - will also help.

Basically, anything that will reduce the heat in your skin and body will help.

Nothing, though, will stop the peeling. You have second-degree thermal burns. Second-level, or whatever the correct term is now.

Rebecca, The Island Mama

I second the aloe vera gel! It's been forever since I've burned, but whenever I did, aloe made things much more comfortable.

Thankyou thankyou thankyou! Will have to try some of the cost efficient ways as I'm currently outta cash at the moment...

I thought my zombie makeup would protect me from the sun but I was wrong *sigh* grr stupid hole in the ozone layer....

Anyhooo thanks again everyone!