Pain Points: Sunburn Remedies
This article discusses ways to deal with the pain of sunburns, as well as a brief glimpse at how they were dealt with a century ago.
Summer is a time we typically spend a lot of time outside, enjoying the sunshine. There are pool parties and barbecues, and lots of outside chores like mowing. Unfortunately, it is also a time when many of us get sunburned.
Sunburns are more than a minor inconvenience and temporary pain. In the short run, a really bad burn can be life threatening, particularly if it is accompanied by a reaction to heat. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are dangerous problems. In the long run, sunburns cause skin damage that can lead to skin cancer.
Most of us know about sun block, and many try to use it, but sunburns can still result if it is not reapplied on a frequent basis. When the burn happens, it is a good idea to know how to deal with it.
The most important thing to do is determine the severity. A deep red color, any blistering or any symptom of other heat related problems should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. However, lesser burns can be treated at home.
Like any other burn, cooling is necessary. It is not advisable to put most lotions on a sunburn until the skin has cooled, as it may seal the heat in and make it worse. This is also true of butter. Never put butter on a burn, especially if it hasn’t been cooled. Instead, the best way to cool a sunburn is to use a cloth dipped into lukewarm (not cold) water and lay it over the burned area. If the burn area is particularly large, a tepid bath or shower may be more practical.
Once the burn is cooled, there are herbs that may help ease the pain. While many over the counter sunburn products can’t be used frequently, most herbal preparations can. The first is, of course, aloe. The soothing gel is good for most types of burns. If you buy a commercial aloe product, check to see if it is just aloe or if it has other pain reducing ingredients. If it does, you must follow package instructions. Some pain reducers cannot be used frequently. Bear in mind that it smells pretty bad, however. It puts me in the mind of a skunk.
Most soothing herbs have a place in dealing with minor sunburn pain, as well. Oats, chamomile, mullein, and wild strawberry can be used either in a wash or in a bath. For a wash, steep the plants and then dip a cloth in and lay it over the burned once it’s cooled area. For a bath, place the herbs in some cheesecloth, tie it closed and put it in the tub as the water is drawn.
Someone asked how people took care of burns last century. Besides aloe, burns (including sunburn) might be coated with scrapings of a raw potato. They also would boil chestnut leaves until a gooey substance was left, and would put that (after it had cooled) on the burn.
Some of the cures proposed could cause more problems than they solve. As mentioned above, butter on a burn is a bad idea, because it seals the heat in. Lard and petroleum jelly will do the same, as would linseed oil. Axle grease would not only seal the burn in, but it might cause problems because it may be contaminated with other things.
If you have any underlying medical conditions or are on medications, it is best to consult your doctor about taking care of sunburn, particularly if it is over a large area. Some medications may make you photosensitive (allergic to sunlight).
Sunburns are more than a minor inconvenience and temporary pain. In the short run, a really bad burn can be life threatening, particularly if it is accompanied by a reaction to heat. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are dangerous problems. In the long run, sunburns cause skin damage that can lead to skin cancer.
Most of us know about sun block, and many try to use it, but sunburns can still result if it is not reapplied on a frequent basis. When the burn happens, it is a good idea to know how to deal with it.
The most important thing to do is determine the severity. A deep red color, any blistering or any symptom of other heat related problems should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. However, lesser burns can be treated at home.
Like any other burn, cooling is necessary. It is not advisable to put most lotions on a sunburn until the skin has cooled, as it may seal the heat in and make it worse. This is also true of butter. Never put butter on a burn, especially if it hasn’t been cooled. Instead, the best way to cool a sunburn is to use a cloth dipped into lukewarm (not cold) water and lay it over the burned area. If the burn area is particularly large, a tepid bath or shower may be more practical.
Once the burn is cooled, there are herbs that may help ease the pain. While many over the counter sunburn products can’t be used frequently, most herbal preparations can. The first is, of course, aloe. The soothing gel is good for most types of burns. If you buy a commercial aloe product, check to see if it is just aloe or if it has other pain reducing ingredients. If it does, you must follow package instructions. Some pain reducers cannot be used frequently. Bear in mind that it smells pretty bad, however. It puts me in the mind of a skunk.
Most soothing herbs have a place in dealing with minor sunburn pain, as well. Oats, chamomile, mullein, and wild strawberry can be used either in a wash or in a bath. For a wash, steep the plants and then dip a cloth in and lay it over the burned once it’s cooled area. For a bath, place the herbs in some cheesecloth, tie it closed and put it in the tub as the water is drawn.
Someone asked how people took care of burns last century. Besides aloe, burns (including sunburn) might be coated with scrapings of a raw potato. They also would boil chestnut leaves until a gooey substance was left, and would put that (after it had cooled) on the burn.
Some of the cures proposed could cause more problems than they solve. As mentioned above, butter on a burn is a bad idea, because it seals the heat in. Lard and petroleum jelly will do the same, as would linseed oil. Axle grease would not only seal the burn in, but it might cause problems because it may be contaminated with other things.
If you have any underlying medical conditions or are on medications, it is best to consult your doctor about taking care of sunburn, particularly if it is over a large area. Some medications may make you photosensitive (allergic to sunlight).
More tips about herbs
This site offers more information about herbs, what they can do and precautions needed.
This site offers more information about herbs, what they can do and precautions needed.
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