Natural Remedies for Sunburns

This post may contain affiliate links.

Click here to read my affiliate policy.

It's July and summer vacations are in full swing. Families are getting outside to enjoy the warmth and sunshine by hitting the beaches.

While the sun provides excellent health benefits, too much can cause harm to our skin. Getting out in the sun can give us much needed Vitamin D, improve our moods and cognition, help regulate our sleep, and give our immune system a good boost. But too much sun can lead to heat related illnesses and sunburn.

So before you head to the beach or spend time outdoors, learn how you can prevent sunburns and what natural remedies you can use to treat them should you be one of the lucky ones who gets to look like a lobster this summer.

Sunburn Basicsdline

Sunburns occur when a person is exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. It's a type of radiation burn that occurs from the UV light given off by the sun.

Sunburns may present in a few different ways. The skin can become red, hot, and inflammed. It may cause skin eruptions that itch. Or it may be so severe as to cause blistering.

Associated symptoms may also be present with a sunburn. If you have a more severe sunburn, you may also experience nausea, fatigue, or headaches. And sometimes the eyes can feel very dry and painful.

Most of the time, sunburns will heal fairly quickly on their own. But more severe sunburns may take a week or two to fully heal or may need additional support.

Preventing Sunburnse

If you know you're going to be spending more time outdoors, there are a few precautions you can take to reduce your chance of getting burned.

Get outside in the mornings - not only is it cooler in the mornings, but the sun's UV rays are not as strong as they are in the afternoons. So spend your time outside in the mornings rather than the afternoons.

Get indirect sunlight - if you must be in outside in the afternoons, stay in the shade. You'll still receive the benefits of sunlight while preventing burns.

Expose yourself gradually - just as we can't jump into a full-on exercise routine after being sedentary for a long time, you can't just sit in the sun for long periods of time and expect it not to harm you. Gradually work up to spending more time out in the sun and you'll be less likely to burn.

Wear protective clothing - another way to stay protected if you have to be outside in the sun in the afternoons is to wear protective clothing such as a wide brim hat and long sleeve shirt. Sunglasses can also be worn so that you protect your eyes from overexposure to sunlight.

Eat your sunscreen - yes, there are foods that can help prevent sunburns. Increase those fruits and veggies in the summer. Make sure you're getting in more Omega-3 sources and staying away from Omega-6 sources. Eat good proteins and fats. And ladies...eat that dark chocolate! Stay away from highly processed foods and sugar.

Topical sunscreen - I don't advocate for the use of most sunscreens on the market due to their harmful chemical components. But there are some good, clean sunscreens that can be applied if you plan to be in direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Natural Remedies for Sunburns

If you end up with a sunburn, there are a variety of natural remedies that aid in relief and healing. Here are a few that you should keep on hand during the summer months.

Aloe vera - while there are many aloe vera gels out on the market, they also contain other ingredients that you might not want to put on your body. Instead, grow your own aloe vera plant and just break off a leaf of the plant to apply directly to the sunburned area. Instant cooling, and a great plant for purifying the air in your home.

Ice cubes - when any part of the body is red, hot, and inflamed, you might put ice on it. The skin is no different. It not only cools the skin but will also calm the inflammation.

Essential oils - lavender and peppermint essential oils are great to help promote skin healing and decrease inflammation. Not to mention they are a nice way to help calm and relax our mind and body.

Homeopathy - Homeopathy is a form of medicine that is safe and gentle without harmful side effects. Here are some of the most helpful remedies that can be used for sunburns:

Cantharis 30c - This is one of THE BEST sunburn remedies. As a matter of fact, it can be used for ANY type of burn or sensation of burning throughout the body.
Belladonna 30c - This remedy is one of my favorites to use for sunburns that are bright red and angry looking. The skin may also be extremely hot to the touch, and the person may describe a throbbing sensation of the skin.
Urtica urens 30c - This remedy is best used when the skin feels prickly or someone describes that it feels like something is stinging the skin.
Ferrum phosphoricum 6x - This remedy could be used in conjunction with any of the above mentioned remedies. It's a cell salt (a special category of homeopathic remedies) that I like to use in the first stages of inflammatory conditions and would just aid any of the other remedies to help speed healing.
Calendula cream - This is a topical homeopathic cream that can help soothe and heal the sunburned skin. Again, it can be used as an adjunct to the remedies listed above.

Decide which remedy best matches the description of the sunburn and take a dose every 3-4 hours for a couple of days to reduce the symptoms.

Key Points

Here's what you need to remember about sunburns:

Sunlight is beneficial to our health, but too much sunlight can harm our skin.
There are a lot of effective ways to prevent getting sunburned that don't require slathering harmful chemicals on your skin.
A wide variety of natural remedies are available to help relieve sunburn symptoms and heal the skin.

If there are other ways that you protect yourself from getting sunburned or you know of other natural treatments for sunburns, I'd love to hear from you and share those resources with my VIPs.

As always, I hope you'll share this information with friends and family members that may need it.

Hi! I'm Dr. Kristi!

I’m a wife, mom, and alternative health care practitioner. I like to live a little differently and go against the grain.

I consult with people of all ages who are looking to ditch the drugs for alternative methods of healing. But I’m most passionate about teaching parents how to care for their kids illnesses at home using homeopathy and other alternative health care practices such as nutrition, natural remedies, minimalist ideas, and more.

I’m completely obsessed with ice cream, waterfalls, and all things travel related.

Click for access!!