Home Remedy Hacks for Sunburn Pain

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When sunburn happens, we can ease the pain and speed the healing with a simple home remedy.

As I write this, we’re sitting here in upstate New York waiting for another two feet of snow to dump on us. It feels a little weird to be writing about home remedy hacks for sunburn pain, but there are plenty of times in the winter when we’ve gone out ice fishing when the sun is shining and the sky is beautifully blue and come home with – you guessed it – sunburned cheeks, arms, and necks.

Despite our best precautions, sunburns happen. We spend lots of time outside in the summer months, and when you’re working with animals, sometimes it’s impossible to stay out of the sun for long periods of time. If you know you’re going to be outside for long stretches in the sun, take care to moisturize your skin well before heading out, and drink plenty of water. But when sunburns happen, we can ease the pain and speed the healing with simple home remedies. Here are six of my favorite home remedy hacks for relieving sunburn pain.

Aloe Vera Gel

For sunburn pain, there’s nothing better than fresh aloe vera gel right from the plant. For bad sunburn, you might need a larger plant, but the good news is that you can find large aloe vera leaves in most grocery stores these days. To use, just cut the tip of the leaf off with a pair of kitchen scissors and gently squeeze the gel right onto the burned skin.

Or you can use aloe vera gel to make this homemade sunburn lotion:
• 1 tablespoon witch hazel
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon fresh aloe vera gel
• 3 teaspoons cornstarch
• ½ cup crushed or minced fresh mint leaves

Mix together the witch hazel, water, and aloe vera gel in a nonreactive bowl, cover, and let rest for at least 2 hours. Mix in the cornstarch 1 teaspoon at a time, adjusting the amount of water or cornstarch to make a thick lotion. Stir in the fresh mint leaves last. Store in an amber jar, tightly sealed. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to one year, and keeping it cold in the fridge will help reduce skin temperature of sunburned skin.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Seriously, I’m starting to wonder if there’s anything apple cider vinegar can’t do! Apple cider vinegar has some mild antiseptic properties, and it can help lower skin temperature. Mix equal parts ACV and filtered water in a spray bottle and gently spray on the affected areas, or dab on with cotton balls. Cover with loose clothing and allow it to dry.

Honey

Beekeepers, rejoice! Honey can help relieve the pain and itch of sunburn, while preventing an infection. Just spread a very thin layer of fresh honey on your sunburn, and cover with a thin piece of gauze. Allow it to dry completely before very gently peeling off the gauze. Fresh local honey has mild antiseptic properties, and it can help prevent infection from sunburn.

Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal is a great way to keep your skin moisturized while your sunburn heals. Just remember to always use warm (not hot) water for your oatmeal baths. Hold off on adding any essential oils, too, because those super-concentrated plant oils can actually aggravate your already irritated skin. To make your own easy oatmeal bath for relieving sunburn pain, grind 2 cups of old-fashioned (not quick-cooking) oats into a fine powder and add to a warm bath. The oatmeal will help keep your skin moisturized and reduce peeling from sunburn.

Black Tea

If you’re traveling over the summer and don’t have anything else handy, black tea also makes a great sunburn pain hack. Boil 4 cups of water and remove from heat. Add six to eight of your favorite organic black tea bags (or any other black tea bags) and let it steep until the water cools to room temperature. Soak a very soft cloth or cotton balls in the black tea, and gently apply to the sunburned area. The black tea will reduce the temperature of your skin and help relieve the sting of a bad sunburn.

Raw Potato Slices

If I hadn’t tried this one for myself, I would have never believed it! We almost always have white potatoes in the cupboard, and they make a great off-the-cuff home remedy for sunburn pain. Slice up a raw potato into thin slices, and soak in very cold water for about five minutes. Gently apply the sunburn slices to the places where your skin is sunburned, and discard after use. The cold water helps reduce the temperature of the skin, and the starch in the raw potato helps promote healing and relieves the pain.

Please remember that if your sunburn is bad enough to cause blisters or open sores, or is accompanied by headache, dizziness, nausea and/or vomiting, please seek medical assistance promptly. Never apply any of these sunburn home remedies to open wounds from sunburns!