Cornstarch Compress
As with baking soda, making a paste out of cornstarch can calm red skin. Add enough water to the cornstarch to create a paste, then apply it directly to the burn.
Aloe Leaves
Yep, you can use the actual leaves from aloe plants to soothe burns, just as you would aloe gel from the drugstore (another reason to add a little flora to your indoor environment). Simply break open one of the leaves to expose the white aloe within, and rub the gel on the inflamed area.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular kitchen remedies for burns. Although it can leave sunburn victims smelling a bit like pickles, soaking some up with a sponge or cotton balls and dabbing it over a burn will help reduce inflammation.
Coconut Oil
This great baking ingredient is also useful for soothing sunburns. Rubbing coconut oil on a burn (after cleaning it gently) will soothe it by relieving itchiness and pain—and make it smell good. In addition, the oil will moisturize your skin the same way lotion does.
Egg Whites
Not just for protein-infused breakfasts, egg whites can soothe burns, too. After cracking a few whites into a bowl, rub them over the burn with a sponge or cotton balls. Yep, it’ll feel sort of disgusting, but it will ease the pain and heat.
Potato
An old-fashioned remedy for cooling down feverish foreheads, potatoes can also alleviate burns. Slice one thinly, then place the slices over the sunburn for instant relief.
Black Tea
To squelch a sunburn, turn your bathtub into a giant cup of tea: Keep the water lukewarm (too hot will be painful) and soak five to eight teabags in it. After they steep for a few minutes, remove them and soak in the tub to remove the sting. Another option is to steep a single bag in half a cup of water and apply the liquid directly to the burn with a sponge or cotton ball. Some people recommend opening the bags up after steeping and rubbing the tea leaves over the burn, wrapping it with gauze to hold the leaves in place.
Of course, prevention is the best way to avoid burns and their ugly aftereffects. Treatment or no treatment, our skin doesn’t forget burns—they leave scars like wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer. Applying sunscreen, wearing UV-protective sunglasses, and keeping out of the sun’s glare during peak hours are absolute musts. And for those times when we do slip up? No need for an emergency trip to the drugstore—all we need to chase the pain away can likely be found right in our own homes.
