Make Tipnut.com My Home Page
Email
Sunburn Relief Home Remedies – Over 50 Soothing Treatments
This is a large collection of home remedies and treatments I’ve compiled to help with sunburn relief, there are over 50 soothing treatments to review.
At the bottom of this post you’ll find some information about signs to watch for when determining if medical attention is needed as well as blister care and signs of infection.
Melanoma (skin cancer) has grown to be a serious concern in our time. It’s so important to protect our children (and ourselves) as much as we can from getting sunburned.
Please keep the kiddos lathered up in sunscreen, hats and sunglasses too (helps limit the chances of future cataracts). Each sunburn a child experiences can increase their chance of future problems.
Sunburn Relief Home Remedies
Vinegar: Can use white household vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- Spray vinegar all over burn or soak small towels in vinegar and apply to skin
- Bathe in a cool bath with 2 – 3 cups of vinegar
- Rose Petal Vinegar (skip the cloves in the recipe when using for sunburn care) – Spray on skin
- Lavender Vinegar – Spray on skin
Tea: The tannic acid from tea is soothing for sunburns
- Steep a large pot of very strong tea using 4 – 6 tea bags. Refrigerate the tea until it’s cold then soak small towels in the tea and apply to burn area. Can also spray the cold tea on burn. The tea could stain the towels, you may not want to use your best.
- Save used tea bags and apply to burn area (make sure to have bags at room temperature first).
- Bathe in a cool bath with several tea bags in the water.
Dairy:
- Soak small towels in milk and apply to burn area.
- Soak in a bath with cool water and a gallon of milk.
- Plain Yogurt – apply directly to burn area.
Aloe Vera:
- Aloe Vera Gel, either purchased or taken fresh from an aloe leaf.
- Lotions that include Aloe Vera.
Oatmeal:
- Fill a bath with cool water and add 2 cups oatmeal. Soak in bath for about 30 minutes.
- Mix oatmeal with raw egg whites and apply to sunburn.
Baking Soda:
- Fill bath with cool water and add 1 – 2 cups baking soda, dissolve. Soak in tub for 30 minutes.
- Fill a spray bottle with cool water and dissolve 1/4 cup baking soda. Spritz on burned skin.
Essential Oils: Caution when applying on children. Keep out of eyes and mouth.
- Fill a spray bottle with cool water and add a few drops of choice, or add 10 to 12 drops essential oils to a bath full of cool water and soak. Lavender Oil or Chamomile Oil.
Cornstarch:
- Make a paste of cornstarch and water, apply to skin and allow to dry.
- Fill a spray bottle with cool water and add some cornstarch, mix to dissolve. Spray on burn.
- Fill a bath with cool water and add 1 cup cornstarch, dissolve. Soak in tub for 30 minutes.
- Soak in tub or shower with cool water. Pat dry. Lightly dust burn area with cornstarch.
- 1/2 cup cornstarch + 1/2 cup baking soda added to bath of cool water, dissolve. Soak for 30 minutes.
Cucumbers:
- Slices added directly to burn or mash first then apply to burn.
- Grate cucumbers and mix with milk. Apply directly to sunburn.
Potatoes:
- Grate potatoes and apply directly to burn–include as much of the potato juice as possible.
Egg Whites:
- Apply raw egg whites to skin.
- Mix 2 egg whites, 1 TBS honey, 1 TBS witch hazel and apply to burn.
Witch Hazel:
- Spray directly on burn area.
Honey:
- Smooth honey over the burn or slather honey on a strip of gauze and apply to skin.
- Mix honey with lime or lemon juice (80/20) and apply to burn.
- Mix honey 50/50 with milk, stir well, then apply to skin.
Tomatoes:
- 1/4 cup tomato juice or tomato paste mixed with 1 1/2 cups buttermilk. Apply to burn area.
- Slice or mash tomatoes and apply to burn.
- Mash tomatoes and mix with an equal amount of buttermilk. Apply to burned skin.
- Add 2 cups tomato juice to bath of cool water, soak.
More Pantry Fixins:
- Smear mustard on burned skin.
- Soak cloth in pickle juice and apply to burned skin. Or spray pickle juice directly on burn.
- Puree strawberries and apply directly to skin.
Burned Skin Soothers
Water & Ice:
- Spritz chilled water on burn.
- Soak in a cool bath or take a cool shower.
- Wrap ice packs, ice cubes or bags of frozen vegetables in a towel and then apply to burn area to sooth.
- Drink lots of water to keep hydrated and help the healing process.
- Mix 1/4 cup lemon or lime juice in a spray bottle filled with cool water. Shake and spritz body as needed.
More Skin Soothers: Apply directly to sunburn
- Cocoa Butter
- Shaving Cream
- Vitamin E Cream or Oil (open capsules & apply oil)
- Diaper Rash Ointment
More Bath Soaks:
- 2 cups oatmeal, 2 cups milk, 1/4 cup honey
- Epsom salt bath
- 1 cup Epsom salts, 1 cup Baking soda
Cooling Spray Infusions
Lettuce: Quarter the head of lettuce and boil (moderate) in a pot of water for 10 minutes. Turn off heat, cover pot and allow to steep. Strain water and chill. Spray lettuce water directly on burn area. Can also chill cooked leaves and apply directly to burn area.
Cabbage: Same procedure as Lettuce.
Mint: Handful of fresh mint and proceed as above.
Plantain: Handful of fresh mint and proceed as above.
Strawberry Leaves: Save strawberry leaves and trimmings until you have a generous handful. Boil in 2 cups of water and proceed as above.
Commercial Products
*Apply directly to burn area
- Noxema
- Maalox (Milk of Magnesia)
- Gold Bond Medicated Lotion
- Lanacane Anti-Bacterial First Aid Spray Anesthetic
- Pepto-Bismol
- Preparation H
- Calamine Lotion
Sunburn Medical Issues
Sunburn Blisters: If blisters are present, don’t open or burst them. This will help avoid infection as well as speed the skin healing process, a blister is the body’s way of protecting and healing the damaged skin. Keep the blisters uncovered if possible.
The vinegar & honey remedies as well as antibacterial products are preferable when blisters are involved since they are antibacterial, helps prevent infection.
Some Signs of Infection: Swelling, painful, fever, swollen glands
For Pain Relief: Aspirin or ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed.
See A Doctor:
- Sunburn is severe
- Purple patches, discolored blotches, or a rash appears
- Eyelids are burned or sore eyes
- Nauseous or vomiting
- Fever
- Faint or dizzy
- Excessive pain
- Chills
- Large amount of blisters
- Headaches
- Swelling
These are simply suggestions and a collection of home remedies for sunburn pain relief and treatment–not professional medical advice. Please seek a doctor’s opinion when unsure or to confirm appropriate sunburn treatment.
Have I missed your favorite tried & true remedy? Feel free to add it below 
.
Don't Miss These Tips:
- Dry Elbow Home Remedies & Treatments
- 50 Wart Home Remedies & Treatments
- Wasp Stings: Treatments & Home Remedies
Join Over 33533 Tipnut Subscribers and receive your daily fix of creative tips & ideas...
- Discover What's Neat On The Net With Featured Projects & How To's
- Get Crafty With The Latest Free Patterns & Tutorials
- Receive Tips For Homemaking, Cooking, Baking Plus Recipes Too!
Your privacy is respected (see No-Spam Policy)
You can unsubscribe at any time
You can also subscribe to TipNut by 
RSS
Just an added note to the tea thing for sunburn. When I and my sisters were little many many years ago, we were all severely sunburned the community pool (before sun screen was invented). My dad used all of his white t-shirts and soaked them in ice tea and laid them on our little burnt backs and shoulders…how soothing that was!!!!
ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN!!! BUT IF I HAPPENS THAT YOU DO GET BURNT IMMEDIATLY APPLY ALOE VERA ON THE BURNS AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE USE COLD COMPRESSES AND COOL TEA BATHS!! IT WORKS FOR ME SO TRY IT AND LET ME KNOW!!!
My 16 yr old is very fair complected. Yet insists being tan is healthy. I explained to her that her skin is prone to burns. Yet, today she can’t get out of bed as a result of no sunblock worn at an amusement park in the hot sun of Kansas. I used the aloe, tea bags and it is helping. I wish the media would promote fair skin as beautiful, and not skin cancer! My sister worshipped the sun as a teen and as a adult. She is now 55 and looks like a prune. A pretty prune, but alas, still a prune.
All of the remedies work to an extent but I have worn sun block and reapplied hourly to be sure to not burn, yet i still do! I’ve been biopsies several times now for skin cancer! the itch that goes with the most recent sunburn is the killer for me! I have applied lotion and aloe and it’s not stopping the itch…..
I feel your pain on nothing helps. This is not the first time that I have gotten a severe sunburn. When I was younger, butter was the only thing that helped. Now with this one, nothing did. I tried: sunburn regenerating lotion (helped for 15 mins), then went to aloe vera, to smashed Cheerio’s in lukewarm bath (helped for 10 mins) to shaving cream, burn cream, instant spray on pain releif, cold milk on wash cloth, poison cream. Finally when my hubby was ready to take me to ER, at this point I had been shaking for 2 hours from pain, he poured warm water on my back to clean me up. Instant helper! I ended up taking a very warm shower & some benadryl. Now I am fine! (This was half hour ago) That sucked!
Tea bags work. As does the aleo and baking soda spray bottle. What a freat site with great money saving ideas. thanks
I went out to the lake this weekend, and with all my medication I take, the sun affects me just a little more then others. I put on sunscreen, but it must of wore off within the hours I was out there. Now, my back is covered in Blisters that are extreamly painful. I tried the aloe, and nothing seems to work, so I tried a few of the remeedys here, including the oatmeal bath, and the tea bag bath. It works great. I feel so much better.
This tip sound crazy, but it really works! I’m very fair, so if I burn, I hurt and then peel (but never tan). That is, until someone told me to do this…
Take a hot shower. Start with the water cool (if you can’t handle jumping straight into the hot water) and slowly bring the temperature up until it’s at least as hot as you would have it on unburnt skin.
It hurts like $%^& when you do it, but the burn heals fast, without peeling. Not only does this stop it hurting, but it makes the skin tan.
But the best treatment of course, is prevention…45+spf at all times.
My dad also told me about taking a hot shower and your right it does hurt but only once then no more pain and itching
I tried this……didn’t work for me…also tried the tea and also didnt make much difference.
My aunt told me about this trick and i tried it recently, but unfortunately didn’t work for me either. the sunburn still hurt after the shower and now i am going crazy with the itching.
I got a full body sunburn from being at the ocean all day. That night I went into a hot tub, and it hurt so bad! but once I was in and the jets were on, I was seriously pain free. I was able to sleep very well that night.
Thank you for posting the hot shower comment for sunburn, I thought I was the only one who did this. It isn’t very pleasant at first but it’s better than sunburn, and I get used to the heat and can turn the water up hotter than I normally use it when showering. Everybody thinks I’m crazy when I tell them to do this. What I think happens it the hot water forces some moisture into the affected skin by making the pores open. Cold water makes the pores close (goosebumps)also tightening the affected area. I think the secret is just getting moisture into the burned skin.
Is this supposed to help burns heal faster or is it to help prevent?
it helps take the sting out after you have already burned. may not help it heal faster, but makes it a bit more comfortable. for some people that is…
I do this every single time that I am stupid and don’t put enough sunscreen on. I seems to draw the heat to the surface of your skin and it relieves the pain. It always seems to help me out!
I used to be a tanning junkie, but never burnt. Well I just had a baby boy a month ago and thought it would be safe to start tanning a little; I was very wrong, I now know how painful a burn can be and was very lost on what to do to help the pain. I found your hot shower tip to be a god send!!! I can move with ease now thank you!!!!
in my experience, this has worked very well when i am only slightly burned. right now, i am suffering a pretty severe burn (no blisters but close). tortured myself through this, and well, it didn’t work. but as i said, when i am only slightly red, this works great. burns like fire but after that, the sting is gone and i am able to function normally.
is this supposed to be affective right away? cause my skin is way more tighter than before my hot shower and i am in much more pain than before
A doctor told me to use conditioner on sunburn….yes yes the same you use on your hair and believe it or not…it WORKS!!! It soothes the burn and you wont peel but tan – but remember the secret to staying young is sunscreen (some advice from my beautician)
How long do you leave it on before you wash it off?
I tried the conditioner and it does not work. It made my skin really tight and I could not even get comfortable in bed to sleep. It did not feel better. It made it worse!
MEDICALLY SPEAKING ASPIRIN IS SO HELPFUL AS IT REDUCES FEVER AND PAIN FROM A SUNBURN .. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU ALL .. ALSO TO YOUR BATH add one cup whole millk ..
so i was at the beach and applying spray sunscreen (that apparently wore off quickly) and we were there for about 3 hours. i re-applyed this about 2 more times. when i got home and took a shower i realized i was REALLY burnt!! so i would recomend using the old fashioned sunscreen!!
Thank you, went to six flags, kept putting this spray sunscreen with spf 30. I am burned really, really bad. You can smell the rubbing alcohol in it, that is surely what makes you burn. I know they are trying to make a spray but adding too much rubbing alcohol is worse than having no sunscreen at all. They need to pull that stuff from the shelf before someone trusts it too much the first time and gets seriously injured.
I have 3 fair children and have to agree, the spray sunscreen in junk. The oldfashion sunscreen is best. Also avoid direct sun during the burning hours,10a-2p. Of course you can burn at other times, but those are the worse.
peanut butter…
smooth it on to the worst areas.
It seems rather gross, but it works, for me atleast
Use Florida water. Dab on skin or for severe burns poor on area. You can buy Florida water at you pharmacy.
Use potatoes. Peel the Skin off then take peels of the inside and lay on the burn. Let it sit for 20 min. then peel off. put a cool towel on for 3 min. then add aloe. don’t use anything with Lidocane in it.
I’ve used tea before.. it really works. If you know your going to be out in the sun. take an asprin. It helps reduce how badly you will burn.
DR. PEPPER WORKS SOOOOOOO GOOD.
Mix 3 cups of Dr.Pepper with 1 cup of milk in a cool bath.
well im only 12 and i went to the lake with my friend this past weekend and got super sun burnt i have no clue how i got so burnt i mean we were there for 3 hours yea but i applied sun screen twice i dont know what to do to get rid of it asap i want to still be tan but get the lobster look gone the sad thing is i was the one in the group who got the least burnt my friends mom stared turning bright red as soon as we got home i didnt start showing until this morning i need help i think im going to try milk ive heard that works the best and alot of my friends use it so ill see if it works
I know you will think I’m crazy, but I got burnt really bad on my chest. It was soooo painful. We tried everything, and finally my Mom said hey there is Vagesil in my bag lets try it. It is supposed to stop itching and pain! Guess what it did!Try it!
stay out of the sun
i use the aloe and take luke-warm baths and sit in front of a fan. all i have worn is speghatti stap tshirts and tank tops b/c it’s only on my face and shoulders. i got burnt at the river on sunday then on tuesday i got burnt at the pool so i have 2 burns on top of each other.
i use the spray aloe and shake it up and spray it on my hand then rub it on my burn…don’t rub it in…let it sit there!
then on my face i use hte aloe plant. especially on my nose and forehead.
i blistered and then it peeled off now my skin is like scabing over and on my nose it is peeled and…..DONT PUT MAKE-UP ON…b/c you can see every crease and bump from the blisters….
but just keep aloe on it and take luke-warm baths and sit in front of a fan.
i also sleep with a fan in front of me and if i get cold i cover up all the way up until my burn and i try not to lay on my side and everything so do waht helps you….
-AMBK-
You should be really careful not to use products that will trap the heat in while the burn is still hot… Oils, in particular, and lotions aren’t going to help. Also, cooling aloe has alcohol in it which dries out the skin and will increase peeling. Believe me.
I wear sunblock daily but today I spent 6 hours at the pool and apparently my every day sunscreen isn’t waterproof. I look like a Maine lobster — cucumbers and tea baths, though, are amazing.
Actually Chris lotions will help alot because a large part of keeping the sting out of a sunburn is keeping the affected areas hydrated. A good way to do so is drink a lot of water(at least 4-8 litres a day) and use plenty of lotion that has moisturizing qualities… (baby lotion works well) Although i do not recommend going out in the sun with it on.
Oils will make it worse for the first week or so. Moisture is important though!! Cool compresses (tea, potatoes, cucumbers, old fashioned wet washcloths/cotton shirts) will cool the skin (important) and make you feel better. When you take them off, though, apply a good oil-free lotion to lock in the moisture. Just mixing a little glycerin (ask the pharmacy where they keep it–tiny brown bottle) and water to make your own will work just fine. To bathe, skip soaps, etc. Use a non-lathering cleanser like Cetaphil liquid or just use a tub full of cool water and baking soda and rub GENTLY! You will get clean enough. Then use the oil free lotion WITHOUT drying off with a towel. Just stand and drip dry while you apply the lotion.
I have been burned very bad once while snow boarding. I had blisters all over my face and it was very painful, i could hardly move my face! The only thing that healed me fast and soothed my skin at the same time was the juicy center of an aloe plant. The reason being is that they have many of the proteins and minerals that you lose when you burn. The plant helps regenerate your skin when damaged, even though it is not a pleasant scent it will get the job done! Also, hot or warm showers open pores in your skin to help release some of the heat. Have you ever felt hot skin when burt? You should most of the time. Taking a shower as hot as you can stand it helps prevent the next day pain. After the shower when your pores are still open cool air will get trapped in your pores. When all dried up and cooled down put a moisturizer on skin to start the healing process of the burn.
a word to those young people who think tan is good,,, my friend just had three suspect “moles” removed and two were pre-cancerous. burning is NOT cool,,,
stay protected and live longer,,
Aloe Feels Great On Burns But Its Cool Feeling Doesnt Last Very Long. I Keep My Aloe In The Fridge… It Makes It 54684 Times Better. Also Tea Feels Great Too. Get A Bowl Of Chilled Tea And Soak A Towel In It. Putting The Towel On The Burn Is Sooo Refreshing… Trust Me I Have Two Small Washcloths On My Shoulders As We Speak.
i’ve got two washcloths on my shoulders as we speak as well
I’ve tried the vinigar … doesn’t work any better than cool water. it feel great when wet, but after it dries there is no difference. also just a note for those who have recently moved to the south from the north – cut your normal time exposed in the sun in half and double the number of times you apply sunscreen or you may become a lobster like me.
You should also drink more water than usual to help replenish the water that was lost when you got burned. It will help speed up the healing process, especially if you have blisters. That is what my Dr. told me when I had upper 2nd degree burns a few years ago from being stupid. I didn’t cover my head so my balding spot got really badly burned. she prescribed silver sulfadiazine cream also. that worked wonders, but ruined a few shirts. that is only available by prescription.
IT HURTS!!! I applied sunscreen 3 times in 4 hours and I am burned so bad, the only thing that hurts is my shoulders!! Nothing is working
I know it hurts!! When nothing else worked, not even a trip to the emergency room, aloe vera, oatmeal, Tylenol, Motrin and Hydrocortison spray were no help for my 10 yr old son. I found Benadryl (Grape) and Desenex athlet’s foot powder. sprinkel the powder all over the area and within minutes it relieves the painful itch and liquid benodryl to clam the itch and relax, even sleep.
i hsve blisters all over my shoulders right now and im going down this list to see what makes it feel better. so far tea bags work somewhat. vinegar is okay. im going to take some advil and drink massive amounts of water in a minute and see if that helps. and that peanut butter idea is getting to me.
I’m very fair skinned with dark brown hair. I take antibiotics that make me super sensitive to the sun. I wear spf 55 and re-apply like crazy, and my parents insist on me staying out of the sun, but I’m 16 and its summer!
I tried the hot shower remedy and it worked really well! I’m also going to try putting milk on towels.
Also to Mary with the 16 year old,
I also thought being tan was beautiful but there are celebrities who have gorgeous fair skin. Like Nicole Kidman! Her skin is amazing! And it’s all because her mom made her wear sunscreen!
I am 39 and I still think a tan is gorgeous but a little goes a long way. I recently got a tanning bed and you know, 5 minutes is all it takes to get crispy. About 25 years ago my brother and I spent an “open to close” at a new water park and we both burned so bad we had blisters, well apparently 25 years ago, the home remedy for burns was bleach, I don’t think mom had any idea what she was doing, I have scars on the tops of my shoulders (not big ones but you can see them if you look) because of the burns and the rhome remedy that she had. Think twice about home remedies and call your doctor for advice and nothing works as well as NO SUN for burns … no sun equals no burns.
As for my tanning bed experience, I have slight pinkness and a bit of tinkle on my back from tanning, nothing major but it does say something – 5 minutes is too much!
Good Luck everyone
I had a garage sale yesterday and got the worst sunburn of my LIFE sitting outside. Ive tried soo much to get rid of the pain. I was digging through my cupboards and found some Bactine.
It hurt so much when I sprayed it on but within a couple minutes, I felt relief from my burn. I reapply every 30 minutes for continuous relief.
My mom says that when I was little my dad sat out all day on my grandma’s porch and got really burnt and that my aunt poured vinegar on the burn and that it hurt really bad. Maybe they don’t make vinegar as strong as they used to but I just put vinegar on my burn from being at the fair all day and once it dries it doesn’t feel any better than before. Tried the aloe vera lotion to, that didn’t really help either. Burn still hurts and it is still warm even though I’ve been out of the sun for about 8 hours.
I got sunburned Monday, Sept 1 while out fishing with my hubby. My chest, shoulders, arms and upper back got burned pretty good. By the time I got home and got in the house, I was already red. I did use sunscreen and applied it twice, using SPF 30, but being out on the water and having very fair skin, I should of applied it more often. Anyway, it is now 2 days later and I’m more than willing to try anything to help it. I’ve been using an aloe lotion that is 100% aloe. It hadn’t really been helping so I came looking for something else to try. Today I decided to try the cool Epson Salt bath which I guess was not a good idea as I noticed there were large chunks of skin floating in the water. It was just the thin top layer so it might not be too bad. I thought it was just one arm, but now that I’ve dried off and sit here and look closer, I see it’s everywhere. I know my skin wasn’t blistered before I got in, so I don’t know how I managed to do that.
A friend of mine had suggested trying a mixture of equal parts of Liquid Benadryl and Maalox. I haven’t tried it yet and am still a little hesitant to as I know that would be one sticky combination! Has anyone else heard about that one maybe?
use Potatoes thay work good
i decided to take the kids to the pool, they were swimming i was sitting in the sun with a friend with a singlet on i hadnt put sun block on now i am paying the price for that i am red as a lobster and have blisters all over my shoulders and arm can not find anything that will relive the pain and tips
PLEASE stay out of the sun! I am very fair skinned and would always blister and in 2003 had to have a spot removed from my left cheek bone. The report came back for more to be removed and had to go to a specialist that removed more that left a hole and I had to wait for report again. Then 6 days later had to have a plastic surgeon fix the side of my face. He had to cut from below my nose up and around my eye and down the side of face to the bottom of my ear. It was 40+ stitches and I will always be able to see the scar and know the pain. We live on the lake and I have to wear hats, sleeves, use sun screen, stay in shade, etc and no one can believe how WHITE I am living where we do LOL!
So PLEASE be very careful from someone that knows in Alabama.
Noxzema…A good friend told me about this a couple of years ago. Apply Noxzema liberally to the burned area. Let it dry, it should start to turn clear when it is dry, then wipe it off gently with a wet washcloth. It is so cool and soothing, it feels great. I normally follow that with some Eucerin lotion and some ibuprophen(i.e.advil) Hope this helps.
I would not use this remedy on burns with blisters present.
FYI ibprofin is motrin not advil
Check your facts before replying….Both are Ibuprofen
true. any anti-inflammatory will work wonders…and lots and lots and lots of water!
Previous posting should have read…***Wipe it off with a COLD wet washcloth.
I got my first sun burn while going to an airshow yesterday. The day was unexpected sunny and I did not reapply enough sunscreem. My nect, arm and feet are red and itchy (good thing I wear hat, my face is saved but still get a red nose), and sometimes it feel like burning; also got really bad headache this morning. I spray Evian on the area to cool it down today while searching for remedies, I will try the cool tea tonight.
IMMEDIATE RELIEF ONLY:
Vinegar, mustard, aloe.
LONGER RELIEF REMEDIES:
Oatmeal bath, tea bags.
I have tried a lot of stuff in the past two days.
Keeping clothes off and anything cool on the burn helps the most. Stay inside and keep the house cool. Stay by a fan or an air conditioner vent.
I just sprayed solarcaine on my neck and it worked pretty well except its not cold like everything else.
I got in our pool Sunday to help my pain from a back injury on Saturday. I seemed the pool water was helping. When I got out of the pool and showered, my upper back was a little tender. Now, two days later, my back, shoulders, neck, and chest have become increasingly painful and reddened. I haven’t slept well for 3 nights. I have been taking Motrin for the back pain anyway. I have literally slept with wet towels on my back. I have literally used 1/2 of a large bottle of aloe vera gel in 2 days. I found a burn spray in my first aid kit and have tried that too. Even spaghetti straps hurt and the pain seems to have intensified over the last two days. Now it even hurts to lift my arm a little or to even gently apply aloe to my neck and shoulders. My husband said it looks like I JUST got burned. It feels like I am continuing to burn from inside instead of healing. I had to go out yesterday and just the heat on top of my shirt made me feel like I was on fire. I need relief…and sleep. I can’t sleep in any position without pain. Please help…
Hey, I am the same way. I got sunburnt on Monday June, 22nd & it hurt so bad. i took a nice warm shower & it helped. I put aloe on it the next day & it felt amazing. Well than that hurt up until Saturday June, 27th & i slept amazing. Than the next day i went fishing with my neighbors & it started hurting again. I came home & my blisters popped & its been a day since that happened & its so painful. Nothing is helping me. So I just stay inside my cool place & drink LOTS of water & put aloe on it. It stings but as they say “the burns means its working”. It hurts to even lift my arms. So, does ANYONE know what to do with the pain?! i mean i cant even wash my hair :[ i hate it.
THIS MAY NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE BUT DONT HURT TO TRY……… I USE 1/2 WATER TO 1/2 VINAGER, YOU SOAK YOUR CLOTH FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN WRING IT OUT(NOT DRY, LEAVE SOME WETNESS TO THE CLOTH) AND APPLY THE CLOTH ON YOUR SUNBURN AND U WILL NEED TO REAPPLY A FEW MORE TIMES, IT TAKES THE HEAT OUT OF YOUR BODY.
Let me first start by saying, We just moved to Florida from the north… Sunscreen doesn’t work the same here as it does back home…
It is Mothers Day and I insisted that my four children accompany me to a local beach. (My kids hate the sun) My younger two children were soaked in sunscreen three times and still got a mild burn. The older two and I applied it only once in 3 hours, we are baked.
I found this site and we tried a few things.. The milk helped for about 10 minutes then began to burn more as it dried. Aloe did the same.. Creamy baby oil had my 16 yr old in tears after 5 minutes.
So far three things have helped a little more.. The cold tea spray is awesome for temporary relief and mustard (the odd choice) really took away most of the pain. For a short time. Also a neighbor told us to have the kids remove most clothing and drape a light weight bed sheet around them and have them sit around the house. (this really helped as well)
I guess the only true relief will come in 5 to 7 days when the worse part is over. Good Luck
Okay.. next day and most everything we have tried has failed..
So I stopped by our local store and grabbed a can of cheap shave cream.. Barbasol sells for bout a dollar..
OMG! Thank you for this tip.. IT REALLY WORKED!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! My 16 year old is pain free and amazed by this. Not only did it stop the burn for both of us… The redness has lightened dramatically. Awesome advice!
My ears are burned, so bad. I think I’ll try the cucumber one and strap slices on with a headband.
Any advice for preventing burning on the scalp? The part in my hair is so red and burning right now, but I don’t want to put sunscreen in my hair…
I got sunburnt yesterday and it was all fine until I took a nap. I woke up and my shoulders hurt…i woke up to realize i looked like a lobster. then i woke up this morning and started developing blisters. at about 7 i checked on them and they had trippled in size. so my friend vinegared me up, that drew out the heat a lot…then we put aloe on it…then i was reading these things on another website that suggested to use palmers stretch mark lotion and it works! it makes the itching go away and the pain is going away too….so is the red!
Sunday my friend and I were at the pool, two different pools actually, for about 7 hours. Didnt use sunsceen, I know, stupid. We stayed home from school today because it hurts and itches soo bad. I almost went insane today it hurt so bad. That cooling aloe stuff doesnt not work for me. Lotion does not work for me. Milk doesnt work for me either. All that really worked was a cool shower. I sat in the shower for about three hours just letting the cool water run over me. And I made it warmer every few minutes. I had soap with those exfoiliating beads in it, that helped. And I used my face cleanser on it. It also has those exfoliating beads in it. I wouldnt reccomend sitting in front of a fan. That made me hurt worse. When you get out the shower, (you dont have to be in as long as I was. I just chose to do that, and I fell asleep.), dont use a towel, just sit and air dry. And my sunburn is horrible. I look like a lobster. And I have purple squiglys all over my shoulders and chest. So does my friend. We thinks its sun poisining. And I have blisters. So if you’re going insane because of itchiness, do what I did.
I was working on a roof today and I am quite a vampire you could say, and needless to say I fried. I am in constant pain, aloe vera doesn’t relieve anything, and I don’t really know what to do. Anyone have any ideas or tips that may help? Thanks.
Ok, so I went to an air show today and forgot to get sunblock first. Needless to say after 4 hours of exposure to the sun, both me and my 3 old are cherry red. I don’t have the patience to try milk, tea, etc. That and she’s kinda crabby. Which is expected. But here’s what I did just try and so far it’s working…
I have a jar of Blue Star ointment. I got this a couple years ago for my daughter’s bad diaper rashes. I figured, what the heck, may as well try it. Well, I applied it to myself first. Didn’t want to hurt her with it. It’s been on for about 20 minutes now and in the small spots I’ve applied it, it’s working great! I can still feel a slight warmth coming from it, but I can now move my arms around without the pain.
Only bad thing is the smell reminds me of IcyHot. But it’s worth it when you’re badly burned. So if you have any of this stuff laying around (usually used for itch relief), I’d suggest giving it a try if nothing else works.
I am very fair skinned and have red hair. I tan very little even a farmers tan takes awhile. When i was younger, I burned 2 times very severely with large blisters on my back. My mother tried Aloe Vera-did not help, Tea-nothing, Milk-nothing, The only thing that REALLY DID HELP–CALAMINE LOTION. Slather it on thick and put a fan on it to dry, as soon as it is dry the pain will go away. The only bad thing is if you sweat or move too much it will crack the soothing crust and the pain will return. I am now a Paramedic and recommend it to all the parents I speak too, and only because I have used it and it really works.
** CALAMINE LOTION **
I have found that if you sunburn the very best thing is the Mary Kay after sun replenishing gel. I love this stuff! My sons and I are very fair and use sunscreen. The Mary Kay is also the best I’ve found, but if we forget or overexpose, the after sun gel takes the fire right out and we don’t burn and peel. I found a lady going to the Mary Kay website and putting in my zipcode and found somebody local!
the pepto bismol dont work hurts worse and hard to get off…
I got my second sunburn within 3 days yesterday, i also have a nasty heat rash, what works for me is keeping a damp towel on my back as much as possible. I take it off and let it dry, then when the heat of the burn begins again, I put it back on and let it absorb the heat, then let the damp towel cool off and put it on again. At night I keep it on as much as possible and have the fan on to keep it cool. Its so simple but it works great.
The other thing that worked for me is milk but only ORGANIC WHOLE MILK or organic buttermilk. I would not want to put regular milk on it as there are too many hormones and antibiotics in it. I wont drink regular milk (especially in the USA) either. If you can find organic, try it, its definitely worth the extra dollar or 2 two that it costs…just apply lightly with a facecloth, let it dry, wipe it off with a wet clean cloth and do it again later on as needed.
Today, my skin is still slightly itchy but no blisters and no redness just tanned. When it dries out i just put the wet towel on again for a bit. Works wonders!
I had 3rd degree burns from the sun. The emergency room at the hospital told me to use skim milk from the refrigerator. put a small amount in 2 bowls, use a pillow case or cotton dish towel . soak it in the milk them lay on skin. keep doing this until the milk gets warm, then use the cold milk in the other bowl and put the warm milk in refrigerator. I did this every 5 minutes to begin with and continued on though the night. switching the 2 bowls of milk. with in 12 hrs i was pain free, no scars from the 3 inch popped blisters and had a great tan. the emergency room told me use only skim milk as any other milk has fat in it and will burn the skin worse. they told me use no lotions as they have oil in them, and to stay out of the sun and to dress in light clothing light in color when i was able. it was an experience i will never forget……….my biggest blister was 6 inches…..alot of the blisters clustered together………people think if you use sun screen you will not tan, that is false, the sun screen keeps you from burning………..fact. I know it works, you stink like sour milk, but it so soothing to the skin you do not care. remember there is always the shower to get the sour milk off you, but for me the pain was so intent that i did not care if it stunk, i just wanted relief, and that gives relief. maybe you need to put milk on every 2 mintues, who cares, it worked for me. the proof of it being the right choice was that there was no scares from the 3rd degee burns. good luck to all who get a burn.
I took the kids to the pool got burned bad.I have dark skin but the first time out this year. I tried the milk bath, then vinger let it air dry. Then put Milk of magnesha. (Malox) take a cotton ball dab it all over let it dry. I am better the next day Whooooooo. Nasty but works
vicks vapor rub works awesome also. some old guy told me about it and it takes the pain away and actually makes it feel good
Unfortunately at the moment 12.45am, we don’t have any cider vinegar, oatmeal, aloe vera, whole milk and a few other remedies for sunburn mentioned here,(we have no 24hr shops locally) but we have seen numerous posts on a number of sites which mentioned applying Vicks Vapor Rub to the sunburned areas.
After checking the official site of Vicks with no mention of sunburn anywhere, but with directions for use on muscle and joint pain, we decided to apply some to a little area, after my 12 year old daughter felt some relief, we applied more to the affected areas, arms, neck back etc, and within seconds she has had enormous releif. We were scepticle at first, but since it’s now gone 1am and she has great releif, we really do reccomend it.
Thanks to whoever discovered this remedy
i am soooooooooooooooooooooooo sunburned and it hurts so bad nothing is working i have been reading the comments and i will try them thx
My sun was burned pretty bad, blisters on the shoulders and almost purple. We tried everything nothing worked. I remembered my grandmother, I took cucumbers and ran them throught the juicer, soaked hand towels in the juice and applied it to his skin. The pain stopped!! Then I filled a squirt bottle up and when the skin would squirt it on him every few hours. Hope this works as well for you as it has us.
I am very fair skinned. The cucumber stuff works great on me!!
I don’t know if this is available in the states or it’s just in Canada but I highly recomment Solarcaine First Aid Spray. For 4 hours I was using Banana Boat After Sun Aloe Spray and it did nothing. I was crying and shivering because I was so badly burnt. Nothing was working. Mom to the rescue…she brought me Solarcaine! Within half an hour I could put a blanket on and stop shivering. I felt 120x better. It’s not expensive, just give it a try! I know it’s not a home remedy but if nothing else is working it’s worth a shot. Goodluck and remember next time to put some sunscreen on! I know I will!
Try toothpaste for your sun burns. I burned my finger on the stove once as a child and my grandmother put toothpaste on it. It worked immediately!!
Gently apply a thick layer of the toothpaste (Crest or Colgate regular toothpaste is what I use) onto the burn and let it sit for 15 minutes. Wash off in a cool shower, and pat dry. Reapply as needed. Hope this helps some of you guys!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THESE TREATMENTS. I AM PLANNING ON KEEPING THEM ON FILE.
Our family has been using Listerine for years for sunburns. My mother insists that it must be the brown kind but I don’t think it makes a difference. We typically put it in a spray bottle & spray away. It instantly cools & numbs the sensitivity.
I also burned my hand on an iron when I was in high school & a school nurse told me to put triple antibiotic cream & A&D Ointment on the burn. She had been told to treat a boy with a burn on his foot from being struck by lightening that way. It seemed to help. I should have seen a doctor for the burn since it was at least a 2nd degree & quite large but I didn’t. I had a purple looking scar for years but it seemed to fade after about 5yr or so.
This past weekend I went to the shore with friends… when i got home I didn’t really notice how burnt i got till a few hrs after being home. I tried aloe and it did not work at all. Went to work the next day and from beiing on my feet all day they got swollen and became purple. A co-worker suggessted Solar caine. It comes in an aerosol can and worked!! I used the solar caine and then aloe vera gel on top and took 2 advil. Pain was gone, took a little but I can finally move around comfortably.
omg i got sunburned at my moms yesterday swimming and i didn’t get any relief from the aloe or the cold shower. I slept with the fan on and managed to get sleep. this morning it is still burning so i did like an above person said and took a really warm shower like the ones i would normally take and globbed on some oatmeal body wash and left it sit for a minute or two then i got out of the shower and put on “Gerbers grins and giggles milk and honey body lotion” it takes away the itching but still leaves you feeling hot.
I have found that when I am burnt, especially when lying awake at night, rubbing the burnt area gently helps. I just drag my fingertips along the burnt area very lightly and it helps sooth the burn. This is very nice because you can do it instantly when you begin to feel the pain. I usually cannot get to sleep unless I use this method.
Really good advice…I spent a month and a half avoiding the sun. Then, for some reason I decided to lay in a tanning bed for 15 minutes and then hang out in a pool for an afternoon. I am completely miserable. Did I mention, Im red head and very fair skinned. How bright am I! I am going to try some of the remedies I just read. Thanx…
I’m a 17 year old fair-skinned redhead and I know how frustrating it can be when at home remedies don’t work. I do recommend aloe of any sort. Cool washclothes will estract the heat from the burn and offer some relief. I have had major sunburns and ended up going to the doctor. I know it may be embarassing but in the end it is worth it. Trust me! My doctor perscribed my Silvadene, which is a cream that helps with pain, prevents infection (good for if you have a blistered sunburn) and speeds up the healing process. I do recommend it to anyone that is suffering with a severe sunburn.
i seem to have burnt quite badly at the beach the other day… though i was actually only out for 1/2 an hour. i have blisters, and the whole shizang… i tried showering and… it definately hurt. the itch is making it imposible to sleep… thats the annoying part, to me.
Thanks for all the great info. My bf and I both got sunburned in cancun. I have darker skin so not as bad but my bf is bright red. I’ve tried using the vinegar aloe and the tea on him. None have worked. For me the vinegar worked. My poor bf I still in pain.. Gonna try milk next. I wishi could switch places with him,poor guy.
I just woke up about 3 hrs ago and took we showers all of them different temps trying to control the itch. I was sun burned moderately over I’d say about 50% of my body chest, back and shoulder seem to weather the worst. the shower didn’t work! My mom a RN at Baptist Memorial at Memphis TN said to take Benadryl PO (capsules basically. They give it to patients who suffer from meds that make them itch and it works for me, also walking helps alot to while you wait for it to kick in because it keeps you busy and kinda. I hope this helps someone.
i had a sunburn on my nose today because i had too little sunscreen on it, but i read the cucumber soothing one and tried it, it works pretty well
Im a pretty white girl and the sun affects me pretty bad, yet i never learn. I dont think the suns going to afect me much because i live in canada,i kinda put a stereotype on myself. Anyway im really burnt right now and im waiting for my own remedy to work. What happend last time was i used that baby rash ointment (Zinc oxide) that you can find in any pharmacudical outlet. It works amazingly!!
I love how you skip the whole peeling step of a sunburn and your burn should be gone within days. Hope this helps!
P.S. taking a luke warm bath before during and after applying speeds up the process!
For sunburns, we have always used Listerine. An older lady told my mom to do it when we were younger. My mom swears it has to be the brown Listerine but the blue has worked fine with me, you just smell really minty. You can dab it on with a wash cloth or, better yet, put it in a small spray bottle & spray away the pain (just remember that bottle will always smell like Listerine from now on). We rarely burned until we got much older but now it is always brought along on vacations.
I badly burned my hand when I was in high school & a nurse told us to put triple anti-biotic cream & A&D ointment (diaper rash ointment) on it.
i was at the beach from 10am-2pm which apparently is the times which you get burnt more easily and 1 of my legs burnt and nothing else did! must of been thicker applied everywhere else anyways what i find helps healing and pain is to get a small bowl and fill half with cold water and half with full cream milk get some cotton buds and apply to the burn areas this will cool and the fats in the milk help replenish the skin this works best after a hot shower or a stint in the sauna after the pores have opened up also after applied the milk and water i usually sit under either the fan or air con and let the milk and water dry then apply moisturising cream apply the milk and water twice a day but only add the moisturising cream on the second application and you can have healed sunburn alot quicker! believe me the sun at the gold coast,QLD australia is painful humidity always + 80%
Well i am sitting here with ground oatmeal and whole milk that was mixed into a paste on my face, neck and arms… Well it is working a treat, my skin is not itching!