Sunburn results in red, sometimes swollen and painful skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Sunburn can be mild or severe and depends on the duration of exposure and skin type. Although sunburn typically isn’t a cause for concern, it can be incredibly painful and cause discomfort. However, repeated exposure to the sun and regular sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer.

It’s important to keep yourself covered and protected from the sun as much as possible while travelling, but for those who do fall victim to the sun’s rays, here’s how you can naturally treat the damage.

1. Taking a cool shower or bath can soothe irritated and burnt skin but trying the following can soothe symptoms even further:

  • Lavender or chamomile oil to relieve burning and stinging on the skin.
  • 2 cups of baking soda to reduce redness and to ease irritation.
  • AVOID soaps and perfume as these can cause for drying and damage to sunburnt skin.

2. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water or juices to replace lost bodily fluids, this will speed up the healing process because your skin is so dehydrated.

3. Apply lotions containing aloe vera as this is good for moisturising sunburnt and peeling skin. Some aloe vera products contain an anesthetic that helps to reduce the pain of sunburn.

4. Apply cool milk on a cloth to your skin; this eases the discomfort of sunburn by creating a protein film that also speeds up the healing process.

5. Take regular doses of Vitamin E or apply a Vitamin E oil to the skin; Vitamin E works to reduce inflammation and redness of the skin.

6. Apply mashed cucumber to the affected areas to reduce pain and swelling. Cucumbers have a natural antioxidant property, and when cooled, is very soothing on the skin.

7. Take over-the-counter painkillers such as Ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation of sunburnt skin.

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