Relieve The Burn: Four Natural Sunburn Remedies

Even with the best of sun protection planning — sunscreen, big hats and protective clothing — sometimes too much fun in the summer sun can result in painful sunburns.  If you find yourself with a little more sun than you were going for, don’t fret. We’ve got the scoop on some soothing, sunburn remedies that you can find in your kitchen!

Celebrity aesthetician Scott-Vincent Borba shared his tips for cost-effective and fast-acting sunburn remedies that you can make at-home in minutes:

The Milky Way. Achieve instant, head-to-toe relief by simply taking a milk bath.  Milk contains essential fats that create a temporary barrier on the skin and soothe pain. Fill the tub with cool water and add one gallon of Milk (rich in Vitamin D) plus two Alka-Seltzer tablets.  The carbonation will immediately work to calm down any skin irritation. Slowly add in 12-24 ice cubes, allowing your body to acclimate to the cool temperature.

Feeling The Burn (in a bad way?) Chill out with a skin smoothie! Yogurt contains different types of fat that create a temporary protective barrier on the skin and soothe pain. Fill a large ziplock bag with yogurt and freeze it for at least thirty minutes. Remove the bag from the freezer and puncture the front and back with a fork.  Then, wrap a towel around the bag and set it on the sunburned area.

One cool dip. Sour cream contains fatty ingredients that work to alleviate the pain and redness that comes with sunburn. The cooling sensation from the cream can last longer than aloe vera.  Slather a dollop of sour cream on the burnt skin and cover with an ice cold wash cloth. Repeat until any stinging or burning sensations dissipate.

Feeling fried? Starch found in potatoes can offer an immediate relief from overly sun-kissed skin. Take two large potatoes, chop them and toss them into a blender. Add a tablespoon of honey to give the mixture adhesive qualities. Puree the ingredients and place them on sensitive areas of skin, you should feel instant relief. You can also use green granny apples instead of potatoes, this popular fruit contains high anti-inflammatory agents that work to reduce the redness in sun burned skin.