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Baking Soda for Sunburn

5 star (3)		75%
1 star (1)		25%

Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 08/26/2020:
5 out of 5 stars

Julie, baking soda might be too strong for a harsh burn but it DOES work, and fast - at least for me - for minor kitchen mishaps.

And yes, silver foil also works a treat.

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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.

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.

Beth (Middle Earth, New Zealand) on 11/08/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

My husband had severe sunburn around his neck (where the tshirt didnt cover). I made a thick wet paste of baking soda and water, applied it directly to the burn and left it there to dry. Immediately he had relief and the heat from the burn cooled down. When the paste dried, I reapplied more water to the dried baking soda and patting it all back until the pain was gone. I dont know the reason why baking soda works on burns but it does.

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