Easy Tips for Sunburn Relief

We've all been there... either forgetting to use sunblock all together or missing a spot. Sunburn is one of the summer's most dreaded side affects.

I spent some time at Island Beach State Park this weekend. It was a beautiful, breezy day and I must not have reapplied sunblock soon enough.

So I like most of us, scrambled to the internet to find a way to cool my burning skin and find some relief. Here's a list of the best suggestions I could find!

• Drink lots of water and take ibuprofen as soon as you realize you have a sunburn to reduce the pain and swelling. Your body loses a lot of water when your skin is sunburned, so drink up and take a recommended dose of ibuprofen for the first 48 hours to reduce swelling and redness.
• Fill a spray bottle with an even mixture of apple cider vinegar and water to instantly relieve the pain. Vinegar has antiseptic properties that kill germs, calm inflammation, and alleviate painful, itchy skin.
• Apply cold yogurt on your burn for 10 minutes.  Plain yogurt, which contains a lot of probiotics that will help restore your skin's natural barrier.
• Take an oatmeal bath. Grind a cup of old-fashioned oatmeal in the blender or food processor and pour the oatmeal grinds in a bath full of warm water. Oatmeal helps calm inflammation and soothes itchy skin.
• Spread a thin layer of Raw Honey on the affected area to help reduce infection.  Honey is a a natural antiseptic, can help heal damaged skin. Spread on area and cover with gauze.
• Moisturize your skin with a milk based lotion. Moisturizing is very important as healing begins to help prevent further irritation and peeling.  Remember to drink a lot of water too. Staying hydrated from the inside out! 
• Chill your aloe vera gel in the refrigerator before applying it to bring down your skin's temperature and help prevent your skin from peeling. One of the most common remedies is aloe vera gel but can be extra soothing if its cold when applied.