Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin resulting from too much ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It is the resulting condition after the outermost layer of the skin is damaged. On the surface level, this damage is usually seen as the reddening and inflammation of the skin. In extreme cases, sunburn can also cause blistering, peeling, discomfort, itching, dehydration, and even deadly skin cancer.
Sunburn develops when UV exposure overpowers the melanin in the skin. A mere eleven minutes of irradiation under the sun may cause significant changes in the epidermis and dermis. It then results in superficial and deep vascular and endothelial cell damage, dyskeratotic and vacuolated keratinocytes, degranulation, and disappearance of Langerhans cells.
While it’s always best to prevent sunburn, it can still happen even to the most careful people. When it does, there’s always the option to find the best home remedies for sunburn to reverse the damage and get relief, even when it doesn’t do much against the risk of skin cancer.
Here are some of the most popular home remedies for sunburn relief.
Cool Water
Dealing with sunburn should always start with cooling down the affected area to avoid worsening the condition. Dipping in and out of cool water, using an ice-cold compress, taking a tepid bath or shower, and leaving some cool water on the skin help cool down and soothe the affected skin area, constrict the blood vessels, and reduce swelling. Following the instinctive urge to cool down by placing cool, wet towels in the affected skin area and slowly consuming cool water also help dissipate the heat absorbed by the body and regulate the body temperature.
If cool water isn’t available, using a cold compress or even a wrapped bag of frozen vegetables helps. Just make sure you don’t scrub the skin, dip in chlorinated water, or use products that can irritate the skin further or cause dryness. Avoid icing the affected area directly as well, as it may cause more damage to the already extra-sensitive sunburned skin.
