Sunburn Remedies From the Kitchen and Garden

When a mild case of sunburn strikes, relieve the discomfort with these natural home remedies.

Ahhh…the sun. Gotta love it, right? But sometimes it doesn’t love you--and the proof is in that painful sunburn you get every year. You swear it won’t happen again, but here you are heading to the office on Monday morning sporting that telltale red lobster look.

It happens to all of us at one time or another.

You’re out on the water for a day of canoeing, attending a family reunion, or going to the ballgame with friends, when you realize you’ve forgotten to pack the sunscreen. When you arrive home feeling invigorated after a day of outdoor fun, you are relieved to observe that you have escaped the dreaded sunburn.

Unfortunately, you’ve forgotten that it takes several hours for the symptoms of sunburn to appear until you suddenly realize your skin feels hot and tingly. You carefully examine yourself for the telltale reddish-pink color. Ouch!

Other than submerging yourself in a bathtub of cool water (which is actually not a bad idea), what else can you do to relieve the discomfort of sunburn?

To begin with try these natural remedies using ingredients found in your kitchen or in the garden. Most of the remedies involve soaking in herbal baths or slathering yourself with cool fruits and veggies. As strange as some of the ingredients may seem, these remedies actually work and are based on medical and scientific practice.

While you’re soaking or chilling don’t forget to treat yourself to a refreshing herbal drink to help you stay hydrated!

1. Whole Milk Yogurt Masque
   
   Apply plain whole milk yogurt to sunburned areas. The coolness and fat content of the yogurt help soothe the burn. Rinse with cool water when yogurt becomes warm. Reapply as needed.
    

2. Black, Green, or Chamomile Tea Bath
   
   Steep 5 tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water for 20 to 30 minutes. Pour tea into a bathtub filled with cool water. Soaking in chamomile tea helps soothe inflamed skin. Black and green teas contain tannins, which help take the sting out of sunburn.
    

3. Apple Cider Vinegar Spritz
   
   Fill a spritz bottle with apple cider vinegar (do not substitute white vinegar—it won’t work) and spray sunburned skin. Alternatively, pour cider on a washcloth and apply to skin. Rinse with cool water.
    

4. Aloe Vera Gel
   
   Break off a leaf from the aloe plant and apply the gel to sunburned skin. You can buy aloe vera gel in the store as well. Be sure to look for 100% aloe vera with no added ingredients.
    

5. Strawberry Mash
   
   Mash ripe strawberries and apply directly to sunburned skin.
    

6. Cucumber Slices
   
   Place peeled, thinly sliced cucumbers directly on sunburn. Remove when cucumbers are warm. Cucumber slices are especially good for delicate skin, for example the face and neck.

-Heleigh Bostwick Staff Editor

Growing up in Vermont, her education and work as a botanist and landscape architect, and now her job as a mom of twins, have all contributed to Heleigh’s “Green Living” lifestyle. She has a BA in Botany from Connecticut College and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.