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The following steps have
been recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin
Cancer Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer
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Minimize your
exposure to the sun at midday and between the hours of 10:00 am
and 3:00 PM
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Apply sunscreen
with at least a SPF-15 or higher, to all areas of the body which
are exposed to the sun |
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Reapply sunscreen
every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or
perspiring |
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Wear clothing that
covers your body and shades your face |
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Protect your
children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is
strongest (10:00AM and 3:00PM), and apply sunscreen liberally
and frequently to children 6 months of age and older
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Do not use
sunscreen on children under 6 months of age. Parents with
children under 6 months of age should severely limit their
children's sun exposure |
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Avoid exposure to
UV radiation from sunlamps or tanning parlors
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Always consult a
physician with your questions concerning the health effects of
UV exposure |
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Prevention |
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Prevention
is the best remedy here, if you can. Long-term results from
excessive exposure to the sun, such as skin cancer and wrinkled
skin, can be avoided with proper precautions. One of the best
preventatives is to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 that
offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays. You can get as
much sun sightseeing as baking at the beach, so use
sunscreen whenever you are outdoors |
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To speed healing take the following supplements for a few days
after getting burned: 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 400 I.U. of vitamin
E, 15 mg of beta carotene, and 1-2 tablespoons (or about 3
capsules per teaspoon) of flaxseed oil, an essential fatty
acid
Caution: don't ever cover a sunburn that is blistered
or open with an ointment, oil, salve or butter, for it will
make the area susceptible to infection |
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Use an aloe vera lotion containing a sunblock. This will cut out
90% of the burning rays and allow 75% of the tanning rays to
reach the skin |
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Remember - If you turn bright red, get blisters, have fever,
chills and nausea -
CONSULT A DOCTOR
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Remedies
If you should
get sunburned, here are some old wives tales or folk
remedies to use |
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Aloe
- Take as many
leaves as necessary
from an aloe plant;
refrigerate; peel
off top layer of
leaves; apply the
side of the leaf
with flesh exposed
directly to the
sunburn. Other
remedies use aloe
vera juice: for mild
to medium sunburn,
keep the affected
area moist with aloe
vera juice. Repeat
frequently. This
will reduce the pain
and the amount of
peeling. Aloe vera
ointment works well,
too, as it contains
oil and will not
evaporate. For a
severe sunburn, keep
the area moist at
all times with aloe
vera juice. Since
aloe vera is an
astringent, you may
want to use aloe
vera ointment or
some sort of oil,
such as olive or
baby |
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Aloe Juice
- Combine the aloe
juice with ½ the
amount of vitamin E.
Dab on the sunburn.
Vitamin E is a good
moisturizer
Apple cider
vinegar
- Apply apple cider
vinegar to the burn
with a cottonball to
relieve the pain.
Keep the skin
moistened. This
remedy will prevent
blistering and
peeling
Aspirin
- Aspirin kills the
pain and reduces
inflammation and
redness of a
sunburn. It
short-circuits the
whole sunburn
process. It must be
taken within 24
hours of getting
sunburned
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Baking soda
- Dissolve some
baking soda in water
and make a compress
using a clean cloth.
Another remedy is to
add 1/2 cup of
baking soda to a
tepid bath and soak.
Instead of drying
the affected area
with a towel, let it
air dry. Baking soda
is cooling and will
help the skin retain
moisture |
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Baths
- Add 20 drops of
each of lavender and
chamomile essential
oils to a tubful of
cool water and soak
for 10 minutes
Bergamot
- Add bergamot oil
to cool bathwater
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Calendula
- Put 20 drops of
calendula tincture
in four ounces of
water and bathe the
skin until the pain
goes away |
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Cucumber
- Rub sunburned area
with fresh cucumber
slices |
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Epsom Salts
- Dissolve epsom
salts in water and
make a compress
using a clean cloth |
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Ice
- Apply ice or cold
water to the burned
area. This will stop
the burning process
and cool the skin |
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Lavender
- Mix 20-25 drops of
lavender oil in one
cup of water and
bathe the sunburned
area |
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Lemon Water
- Mix the juice of
three lemons into
two cups of cold
water and sponge on
the sunburn. The
lemon will cool the
burn, act as a
disinfectant, and
will promote healing
of the skin |
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Milk
- Make a compress of
whole milk (or
buttermilk) and
apply to the burned
area for 20 minutes;
repeat every two to
four hours. Wash the
milk off so you
won't smell sour!
The fat content of
the milk is soothing
for burns
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Oil
- Cover the area
with cooking oil and
sprinkle powdered
ginger on the oil.
This will promote
healing
Onion
- Bruise an onion
and rub on the burn
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Peppermint
- Apply peppermint
oil to the sunburned
skin. You can also
make a mild
peppermint infusion
and use it as a wash
to cool the sunburn |
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Potato
- Grate a potato and
apply it to the
burned area. The
starch will cool and
soothe the burn |
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St. Johns Wart
- Make an ointment
or salve with the
essential oil of St.
Johns wort for burns
that have not broken
the skin. It is
antiviral,
anti-inflammatory
and antibacterial |
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Tea
- Make some tea,
cool, and apply to
the burn. While any
tea may be
beneficial, mint
tea, such as
peppermint or
spearmint are
especially good. The
teas have tannins
that help the
healing process |
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Urtica Urens
- Put 20 drops of
urtica urens
tincture in four
ounces of water and
bathe the skin. This
remedy is good for
itchy, prickly skin |
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Witch Hazel
- Make a decoction
of witch hazel and
apply with a
compress |
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Yarrow
- Native Americans
used an infusion of
ground yarrow as a
wash
Yogurt
- Apply plain yogurt
with live cultures
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Yogurt and
Strawberries
- mix equal parts of
yogurt and mashed
strawberries and
apply to the
sunburned area for
15 minutes. Rinse
with cool water |
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Source:
Health 911 -
Mother Nature's
Pharmacy |
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Ocean and Beach Safety Tips
- Safety tips from the American Red Cross
Jelly Fish and Other Beach Hazards |
