Sunburn

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Fresh Whey for Sunburn

Jeanne G. (colorado) on 11/19/2023
5 out of 5 stars

I have seen a nasty sunburned skin look good in morning, after using pure fresh whey, after making home cheese, and letting it drip, that liquid applied as a compress on clean white cloth.

It was left of for 1/2 hour. The fresh whey used to be European beauty secret before we became suntan worshipers.

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Apple Cider Vinegar for Sunburn

Cheri (GA) on 07/08/2023
5 out of 5 stars

Worked amazingly well! My son came home with his face feeling like it was on fire from being out on the lake all day without sunscreen. He was panicking because of how intense the pain was. I soaked paper towels in 1/2 water & 1/2 ACV mix and applied to his face (obviously keeping the vinegar away from his eyes). We only soaked for 15 minutes and he said his pain went from a 10/10 to a 2/10. Minutes later and he said the pain just keeps gradually decreasing. This was a godsend!!
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Clay For Sunburn

MTCO (Brisbane, Australia) on 05/21/2023
5 out of 5 stars

Clay will take out the burn and you will not have any redness left over. just hard to keep it moist if it large areas. I have treated numerous burns with Sod Bent Clay with real success. Cover it with food plastic to keep it moist for several hours. redo if necessary. overnight in some cases. cheap and cheerful cure!
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Clay For Sunburn

MTCO (Brisbane, Australia) on 05/21/2023
5 out of 5 stars

Clay will take out the burn and you will not have any redness left over. just hard to keep it moist if it large areas. I have treated numerous burns with Sod Bent Clay with real success. Cover it with food plastic to keep it moist for several hours. redo if necessary. overnight in some cases. cheap and cheerful cure!
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Vinegar For Sunburn

Marsh (Colo) on 05/18/2023
5 out of 5 stars

In 1977 a group of friends went to Mexico. Thinking I wouldn't burn in my youthful 'wisdom' haha. Well, I burned so badly that bending to sit felt like my knees would burst, even the hair on my legs growing out felt like needle pricks. At dinner, the waiter took me to the kitchen to show the cook. He gave me a bottle of white vinegar and told me to put it in a tub of cool water and soak for a long time. The next day, the swelling was gone as was the heat from the burn. My husband was on a lake 3 years ago, blisters started forming on his face. Put about 1/2 cup ACV in a bowl of iced water, soaked a washcloth, applied it, then aloe, and back and forth - next day no burn. After getting the garden ready yesterday and not wanting to put suntan lotion on because my skin was dusty, I'm paying for it now. The ACV took out the burn but it's itching like crazy. Back to the ACV and aloe. Both need to be applied for quite some time in order for it to work. The skin needs to absorb the liquid, don't wring the cloth out. Be sloppy with it in order for it to work.
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Egg Whites for Sunburn

Cyndi (Martinez, Ca) on 01/01/2023
5 out of 5 stars

I used egg whites on a sunburn a few years back. I used a blush brush and brushed it on several times creating a layered effect. The egg white completely took the burn out of the skin and I was no longer in pain. It works great and I'll always use it for every burn from now on.
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Coconut Oil for a Sunburn

Reader (South Carolina) on 11/26/2022
5 out of 5 stars

dir="ltr">Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) for sunburns

Growing up, each time I got a sunburn, my mom would urge me to put aloe on it. As I recall, that helped a little. So did yogurt. But recently, I got a pretty bad sunburn on both arms. I happened to have aloe (in a tube) and coconut oil. Read on EC that coconut oil was good for burns, so I turned it into a science experiment.

On one arm, I rubbed aloe, on the other, virgin coconut oil. 15 minutes later, the results were clear. The coconut oil arm had ZERO pain, and the aloe are was still stinging. I put coconut oil on the aloe arm, and in a few minutes, it was pain free. I’m 100% convinced of VCO’s efficacy. I use it for all sorts of skin issues, including scrapes and dry skin. It’s out of this world!

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Nettle Leaf for Sunburn

Mama to Many (TN) on 05/07/2022
5 out of 5 stars

My daughter was traveling by plane to a remote area and only had a limited supply of first aid items. She ended up getting a bad sunburn that included blisters. She had aloe and was using that and asked what else she could do. (I love that, though she was remote, we could still text! ) I knew what she had with her as she had asked for a list of first aid items to take with her...I knew she had nettle. And nettle leaf has been amazing for allergic reactions. I gave it to my son when he burned his hands by cutting up too many jalapenos without gloves. Maybe it would help with sunburn; it is a reaction, though not an allergic one? She tried it and it worked! It helped the pain. When the pain began to return, she re-dosed with nettle. She would take 4 capsules at a time.

Nettle is something that I rarely leave home without.

~Mama to Many~

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Vinegar Cure for Sunburn

Chris (Florida) on 04/23/2022
5 out of 5 stars

I fell asleep in the sun to wake up hours later with a horrible sunburn on my face. It was so swollen and dark red that I was really worried. I called in sick for the following day. Same day I visited a friend who told me about the white vinegar cure. While watching TV I kept on laying a washcloth doused in WV on my face. Oh it felt just wonderful! Cool and calming. I did that for probably a couple of hours. When the cloth was getting warm I would dip it again. Next morning when I woke up the burn was not only gone but the skin had paled to where it looked like I never even was in the sun for long. Amazing!
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Astaxanthin and the Sun

Uncertain (LA) on 03/19/2022
5 out of 5 stars

Has anyone used Astaxanthin as sun protection? Supposedly it is effective against ultraviolet rays.
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Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Oil for Sunburn

Cheri (Wellington, Florida) on 07/06/2021
5 out of 5 stars

Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Oil for Sunburn

I was hesitant to try this because the thought of any type of vinegar on my lobster red knees was excruciating. But I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep that night if I didn't do something (Aloe Vera gel had done nothing thus far), so I put my faith in these positive reviews and tried it. I placed ACV drenched paper towels on the affected areas. Ooooh, did it send a zinger up my spine when I placed those wet towels on my scorched sunburned skin. But it didn't last long. I let them soak for 30 minutes (totally painless after the first few seconds), then rubbed coconut oil in.

I could feel the difference immediately. I didn't wake up once from the discomfort that night. I would say it took the pain from an 8/10 down to a 3/10. I didn't even apply it the following day because I'm lazy, and because the pain is now very tolerable. It seems like ACV is the answer for every ailment on this site. I have tried it for a bunch of issues and it hasn't worked for me personally. But this time, man, did it deliver. Thank you Earth Clinic! Once again, you spared me a great deal of unnecessary suffering!

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CBD and Fresh Aloe Phenomenal at Treating 2nd Degree Sunburns

Angela (NYC/NJ) on 06/26/2021
5 out of 5 stars

I would like to share a miracle remedy for really bad sunburn that I treated my husband and daughter with- the results surpassed my “already high”expectations!

My daughter and husband both had 2nd degree sunburns yesterday and were in horrible pain. My daughter-15--fainted from the pain of trying to walk. Behind her knees was where she was burnt the worst. I was able to treat them from serious pain to pain free within 20 minutes using chilled Aloe Vera jelly (fresh from my home plant) and 1000mg CBD oil with .03%thc. Which I purchased from Dr Sebi's website. I trust the brand completely. The sunburn sting never returned after the first treatment. Here's what I did:

1. Tested an area with a drop of Cbd oil to make sure no reaction.
2. Applied the Cbd oil directly onto the burn, massaging into the skin as carefully as possible.
3. Waited 5 minutes and then did the same with the jelly from the chilled aloe leaves.
4. Kept them hydrated!
5. Gave 0.5ml of the Cbd orally - mixed in a Gatorade. (It tastes gross in plain water) and actually- this was the first step I took, not last!

Within just a few minutes after Cbd application the heat coming off the skin of the burned areas dramatically cooled down. The stinging disappeared and my daughter'sF shaking stopped. The aloe cooled her whole body, as it usually does, giving great relief. She was able to walk back to her bed with my assistance immediately. She felt complete relief and fell right asleep. The whole process was 20 minutes.

Neither my husband nor my daughter experienced the burn or sting again. My daughter's pain behind the knees came back 8 hours after the treatment (when she woke up)so I treated her the same way and she was relieved once again.

Truly a miracle combination

Please note- I read online not to mix the Cbd oil into the aloe jelly. Apply them separately and a few minutes apart.
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Caution! Baking Soda Paste for Sunburn

Julie (Tn) on 08/24/2020
1 out of 5 stars

I tried the baking soda paste remedy for a bad sunburn on my legs after reading about it here on Earthclinic (from which I've gotten much great information over the years). It backfired, badly. Not only did it NOT remove the heat/inflammation; it made it worse. It stung when applying it, and after I gently washed it off (wincing the whole time), my legs were even redder and felt like they were on fire.

And this morning, I see little pinprick abrasion-like areas of blood where the baking soda irritated the skin so badly. I don't doubt others who say it worked for them; but I can't imagine how.

It's like rubbing salt into a wound (which makes sense considering the sodium level of baking soda). I feel constrained to warn readers against this protocol. If you must try it, proceed with extreme caution. If it stings, don't wait the recommended 15-20 minutes to see if it gets better. Wash it off immediately.

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Rubbing Alcohol for Sunburn

Noel (Perth) on 12/27/2016
5 out of 5 stars

I've read hundreds of different cures here for all different types of ailments but never posted. However I feel compelled to share this with everyone. For some unlucky people, sunburn means more than just red and a bit of pain, google 'hell's itch' and you will begin to understand the torture that some people, like me on the weekend, go through. The pain and itch is indescribable, and so deep that no amount of aloe, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil peppermint oil, showers or any of the standard natural remedies can fix.

After hours of indescribable torture and trying many other natural remedies including those listed above, I managed to find on one site where someone mentioned rubbing alcohol works, and believe me it does, I was hesitant at first thinking it would burn and sting, but in fact has the opposite effect and cools and calms the skin. Being rubbing alcohol I wouldn't generally advise as a natural cure but if you ever are unfortunate to get the dreaded hell's itch then you will be thanking me greatly, because it is pure torture like nothing else. Just try a small bit on an area first to ensure you have no adverse reaction. In Australia I used one called Isocol which is rubbing alcohol and water.

Good Luck.

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Yogurt and Sour Lactic Fermented Foods for Sunburn

Zark (Emerald City, The Land Of Oz) on 05/17/2016
5 out of 5 stars

Sunburn: Sour lactic fermented foods work nice and fast to reduce redness and swelling. Lactic ferments include: Yoghurt, Kombucha, Sauerkraut. Apply directly to sunburn.

I was in quite a bit of pain from sunburn and a lady near to me said she used to get sunburnt all the time when working in the construction industry (one of the most male dominated professions I imagine..). She said their remedy of choice was Greek Yoghurt. She was quite specific in that it should be real Greek Yoghurt and none of that sweet junk if you want this to work. She said it works straight away. I reckon it should be sour so as to maximise lactic acid, so the older batches are presumed to work better.

Working on the principal that it was lactic acid, I applied kombucha to the sunburn, using tissue paper to dab it on (as I didn't have yoghurt in the house). Success! I took photos and could see a reduction in redness within 10 minutes. It is really quite noticeable. The swelling has greatly improved too.

I suggest that sauerkraut juice would also be a nice and easy one to try.

(PS: The she also recommended aspirin for reducing swelling. But I really wanted to focus on cultured foods as that is more in keeping with the spirit of this website.)


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Baking Soda Paste Helps Sunburn

Nadezhda (Charleston, Sc) on 07/11/2015
5 out of 5 stars

It's the best thing I have tried that actually works. I came to this website and tried this baking soda method of getting rid of sunburn. And I should say it worked out perfectly... You mix baking soda with a little bit of water, until it gets smooth. Then you put it with a cotton ball or your clean finger on the area where it's burned. Wait until it gets dried and then with a wet wash cloth pat it off. And just feel great!!! It doesn't take the color off, but it definitely takes the heat and pain off.
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Tea Bag Treatment for Sunburns

Simone (British Columbia) on 06/12/2015
5 out of 5 stars

Hi since summer is coming I thought some people might like this. It came from my daughter's Bubba. Many years ago I was burnt so bad that even a sheet on my skin was painful. She told me to brew some tea bags and let them steep. I used regular black/orange pekoe. When the tea is luke warm (too cold will make you tense up), have someone lightly squeeze the bag and dab all over. The moisture and tannins in the tea help keep the skin from drying out. The best part was there was no bad peeling and it turned into a tan faster.

Drink extra water to help keep your skin hydrated. You may want to do it a few times over a day or two. I have passed this on to others over the years with great results. Of course prevention is the best remedy.

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Aloe Vera Juice for Sunburn

Kimberly (Fl, Usa) on 06/09/2015
5 out of 5 stars

I recently got sunburned (my bad for not using sunscreen) I didn't think I was outside long enough. Well I tried every suggestion on the website - but the most I got was 5 minutes temporary relief. I even bought aloe vera sunburn gel. But when my spouse read about the gel there was not that much aloe vera in it. We had 99.9% Aloe Vera juice in the refrigerator. It was quite a shock going on (was cold being in the refrigerator) but this helped me more than anything. It also took a lot of the redness away. I used it several times through out the day. Hope this suggestion helps someone else if they happen to get sunburned.
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Apple Cider Vinegar for Sunburn Relief

Jill (Chicago) on 07/07/2014
1 out of 5 stars

I got a sunburn over the weekend. I always break out when I'm in the sun but it was only about a half hour so I didn't think it would affect me like that. A day later it started itching like crazy. I tried ACV, plain white vinegar, and aloe. None of them helped at all. I had to break down and buy some hydrocortisone. I've been slathering it on. Maybe the natural products I tried aren't meant to treat an allergic reaction to the sun.
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Re: Sun Queen's Recipe for Sunburn

Sun Queen (Colorado, US) on 06/23/2014
5 out of 5 stars

Colorado sun can be brutal and burn skin in no time flat. I recently got a severe burn and I made my own "lotion" that worked like a miracle. First, I have to note that I tried an experiment: applying pure bergamot oil to my left leg immediately after coming in out of the sun and then to my right leg about 4 hours later. My left leg never burned, peeled, or hurt, but rather turned brown and skin stayed healthy. My right leg was still red, peeling, and tender after a week. I used the below lotion on both legs every night before bed and every morning after a shower, which kept my left leg healthy and helped my right leg heal.

Sunburn Relief: (All organic, pure ingredients) 1/2 cup Coconut Oil, 1/4 cup Castor oil, 1/4 cup Pure Aloe Vera liquid (not the gel or with any additives), 1/4 cup ACV, 2 Tbsl vitamin E oil, Then 3-20 drops of the following: Bergamot oil, Tea Tree oil, Neem oil, Tamanu oil, Rose oil, Almond oil, Grapeseed oil, Rose Hip Seed oil, Jojoba oil, Rosemary oil, I don't add the ACV if the skin is broken (cracked or peeling) because it stings too much. If your skin is badly burned, be sure to cool it off with ACV or earl gray tea (bergamot) cold compresses before applying the oils, because oil can sometimes magnify the heat.

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