Yes, we all know that lying out in the sun is just as bad for us as puffing cigarettes. That said, even the most sun-smart among us slip up every once in a while and come home from a day outside with red, inflamed skin. The unique pain of a sunburn leaves most of us willing to try just about anything to stop the hurt. All it takes is a walk down the drugstore aisle to see that people are willing to shell out some serious funds to soothe the burn. Even I, a pale-skinned SPF-85 wearer, keep a bottle of aloe on hand just in case—because dealing with that pain sans soothing treatment of any kind? No, thank you.
Lately, I’ve been trying to go more natural (and cheap) in many areas of my life, from skincare to housecleaning. Turns out, there’s an entire selection of time-tested, widely accepted au naturel actions we can take to treat sunburned skin—without looking beyond our own kitchen cupboards.
Baking Soda
This kitchen staple can provide quick burn relief and cooling. Try sprinkling a generous dose of soda into cool bathwater. Not feeling the tub? Make a paste by mixing some baking soda with water, then spread it directly on the burn and allow it to dry. As it does, keep patting water on it to keep the paste stuck there until the burn is sufficiently soothed.
Oatmeal
This is another technique that works well in the bath or applied directly. Sprinkle one cup of pulverized oatmeal into your bathwater and soak in it. Otherwise, create a compress by wrapping dry oatmeal in cheesecloth or gauze. Run cool water through it to moisten, then apply for ten to fifteen minutes every two to four hours.
Milk
Milk’s proteins also have soothing qualities when gently applied to a sunburn. Combine one cup of milk with four cups of water, with a few ice cubes thrown in. Soak a compress in it, and then apply the compress to the burn for fifteen to twenty minutes every few hours.
Witch Hazel
Moisten a cloth with witch hazel, and apply it often for temporary relief from pain and swelling. For smaller sunburned areas, dip cotton balls into the liquid and gently press them on the burn.
