Sunburn Treatment: 5 Natural Reliefs for Treating Burned Skin

After an amazing time at the beach, you go home to find out that, no matter how much sunscreen you have applied on your skin, your skin still got burned.

With the growing concern regarding skin cancer, brought about by intense UV rays and changes in the ozone layer, a simple sunburn ca be quite deadly.

Prescription medicines may work but sometimes, applying home remedies is the best way to go. Here is a list of the top 5 natural reliefs that can treat burned skin.

Apply compress.

As burned skin is usually inflamed, Prevention Magazine recommends applying compress dipped in either of the following to help achieve sunburn relief:

- Cold Water - Iced water should be applied several times a day for around 10 to 15 minutes to cool off the skin.
- Aluminum acetate - An easily available variant like Domeboro's mixed with water can prevent the skin's   dryness and itchiness.
- Witch hazel  - When applied as gently as possible, this natural astringent that can provide a long-lasting anti-inflammatory relief.

Put baking soda in your bath water.

The How Stuff Works site states that adding a few tablespoons of baking soda to a cold bath water can be a very refreshing and soothing relief. However, make sure you soak for about 15 to 20 minutes only, to avoid drying out the burned skin. Oatmeal is also said to produce the same effects as baking soda.

Avoid using soap.

Not only will soap make the sunburn worse, it can actually dry and irritate your skin!

Carl Korn, MD, tells Prevention Magazine that it's better to use white or apple cider vinegar as it will act like a mild astringent while soothing away the pain.

Put on some aloe vera.

How Stuff Works also recommends the use the thick, gel-like juice of the aloe vera and apply it five to six time a day. Besides soothing the pain, aloe vera can make the blood vessel constrict, taking away the redness of the skin as well.

Hydrate as often as you can.

Getting a sunburn means having dehydrated skin. Make sure to drink lots of water and liquids to help your body replenish the water it has lost. This can also help heal your skin faster.

Of course, MedicineNet relays that prevention is better than cure, so before you hit the beach, make sure to moisturize. Use sunscreen with SPF 50 and avoid swimming when the sun is high, especially during noon.