Surviving a Sunburn

Summer is almost here, long days when the sun doesn’t set until late in the evening. A great time to be outdoors; enjoying nature, an outdoor concert, or just having dinner alfresco. We’ll offer tips and information about staying safe during the hazy, lazy summer days. *
The topic this time around is the SUN! (Don’t you just love goofy wordplay 😉 )

More time in the sun means more sun exposure…so what is your relationship with the sun?

Do you love the sun, but it doesn’t love you back?
Are you now miserable with a sunburn?
If so, you’re lucky because we have the info you need to enjoy the summer sun safely.

It may seem obvious but wearing sunscreen is the first line of defense against sunburns…besides staying indoors, of course. Also, remember to cover your head and wear sunglasses. The sun is at its strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. Also, cloudy mornings/days do not offer any protection from sunburns. If you’re perspiring, swimming, or out for an extended period, reapply your sunscreen.

You may want to try the following products:

Badger Balm sunscreen is all-natural, organic, and not tested on animals. You can find their products online at Amazon, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh or their website www.badgerbalm.com.

Juice Beauty is all-natural, organic, and not tested on animals. Juice Beauty products can be found at Ulta, Whole Foods, Amazon, or at their website juicebeauty.com.

Babo Botanicals is all-natural, organic, and not tested on animals. You can find their products online or at Ulta, Target, Whole Foods, Amazon, Sprouts or their website babobotanicals.com.

Remember to read the ingredients to ensure the product does not contain anything YOU may be allergic to.

Please note that some medications will increase your photosensitivity (med-speak for making it easier to sunburn).

Here are a few common ones:
Antibiotics – (Tetracyclines, Quinolones, and Sulfa Drugs)
Diuretics – like the blood pressure medication, Lasix
Glyburide, a medicine for diabetes and Amiodarone, for treating heart conditions
Skincare products like alpha hydroxy acid and Retin-A
Some NSAID pain killers like Advil, Aleve, Motrin, ibuprofen, and Celebrex prescription drug.

You can check with either your healthcare provider or pharmacist to find out about your medications. You can also find out if any of your medications increase the likelihood of sunburn HERE.

If you take supplements and/or herbs, you can check at rxlist.com by clicking HERE to determine if any of your supplements/herbs cause photosensitivity.

Here are a few common ones:
St. John’s Wort
Yohimbe
Gingko Biloba

If you happen to get sunburn, a few home remedies are listed below.

Note: If you have blistering of the skin or a rash after sun exposure; these may be signs of a SEVERE sunburn; seek medical attention!

First, soothe a mild sunburn with a cool bath or shower; remember not to rub your skin when drying. Afterward, you can apply any of the following:

Aloe Vera gel (make sure it does not contain alcohol or dye). Look for one that is 98% to 100% pure.

• Lilly of the Desert can be found at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe, and Amazon.
• Seven Minerals can be found on their website and Amazon.

Keep your gel in the fridge; it will be incredibly soothing when applied to sunburns, scrapes, or burns.

Cucumber slices are not only for your eyes or to make a cold glass of water tasty.  Cucumber helps cool the skin.  Slice the cucumber lengthwise and lay the strips on the sunburned areas.

Baking soda paste. You’ll need a bowl for mixing, a tall glass of cool, not cold water, and baking soda. Pour the cool water into the bowl and add the baking soda as you stir it into the water; keep adding the baking soda until it has the consistency of a very runny pancake batter.  You can then apply it gently to the burned areas. To remove, take a cool to lukewarm bath or shower. 

You can also use an oatmeal bath along with the previous remedies. Oatmeal baths are not only great for sunburns, but they also work well for eczema, poison ivy/oak exposure, diaper/heat rash, and any mild skin irritation:

You’ll need the following:

• Clean gym socks or clean pantyhose leg or a small cotton bag.
• Two cups of uncooked oats (you can use either quick cook or rolled oats).
• A tub to comfortably soak in.

1. Take the sock, leg, or bag and fill it with 2 cups of oats. Tie it tightly; you don’t want the oats getting out. (For clarity’s sake, I will use the term sock for the rest of the instructions.)
2. Now start to fill your tub with lukewarm water; the water should feel slightly warm, not at all hot, and not too cold either.
3. Put the sock in the water and wait at least 5 minutes before entering the tub.
4. Get in the tub; most of you should be covered when immersed.
5. Once in the tub, squeeze the sock to get all the burn-relieving properties of the oats into the water. You can press the sock over your skin every few minutes.

The oats will make the water cloudy, and your skin may feel a little slippery. That means the oats are coating your skin, adding moisture back, and calming the burn. Don’t stay in too long; about 15-20 minutes should do it. If your fingers and toes get wrinkly, you’ve been in too long. Be careful getting out of the tub; it may be slippery. Let yourself air dry, or pat dry gently with a clean, soft towel when you’re finished. You can untie the sock and toss the oats; you can use the sock again the next time you need to soothe your skin.

Finally, HYDRATE! Yep, that’s right, drink more water! You are burned over a large area, and your body needs ample internal moisture to help repair the burn. So, drink up, increase your water intake by about 50%, and reduce your caffeine intake, as it will dehydrate you. Also, if you got sunburn while participating in any activity that caused increased perspiration, drink some coconut water to replace your lost electrolytes. We hope you found this information helpful, and please share it with anyone who might benefit from this post. Until next time, check our Facebook page or Instagram for more summer fun and safety information.

*Please note that the information contained in this post is not intended to take the place of medical advice or treatment. If you are experiencing a severe health emergency, please seek immediate professional medical attention. If you decide to implement any of the suggestions in this post, you do so freely. We do not explicitly endorse any products mentioned in this post, nor do we receive any financial compensation from the manufacturer.