FIGHTING SUNBURN THE NATURAL WAY

Around this time of the year, it is nearly impossible to just stay in the shade and avoid the beautiful Vancouver sunshine. But after a long period of unprotected outdoor fun, your skin can turn red and you may start to feel the pain. A few days layers after layers or crisp skin may start to peel off. Sunburn is what is happening.

Although sunscreen can help, but as you know there are other natural remedies that work the same way as well. Wonder now what we can do boost our ability to handle the sun? Check out the list below and let us know how it goes.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain high amounts of lycopene (especially when cooked). A study using tomato paste found that those who consumed tomato paste on a day-to-day basis had more protection against acute sunburn and potentially longer-term effects of photo damage.

Not everyone does well with the nightshade family (which tomatoes are a part of), however there are other fruits that have high amounts of lycopene in it. One of which is watermelon! The red color that we see means that it has high amount of lycopene and this surely is a natural dietary sunscreen.

Potatoes

Overindulging in potatoes may be a no-no if you’re trying to lose weight, but keep a few on hand in case a sunburn strikes. The potato’s starchy compounds will help take the sting out of sunburn. You can cut a raw potato into slices and rub a piece on your most painful sunburned spots. For a more intensive treatment, grate a cold raw potato and apply it as a poultice.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers offer sunburn relief on par with store-bought sunburn-relief products, without added with chemical preservatives and harmful fragrances. If you’re already burned, mash a cucumber and apply it to your skin. Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D., author of The Complete Herbal Guide to Natural Health and Beauty, suggests cucumber can provide sun protection in a pinch, too. Grab an organic cucumber from the garden or farmers’ market, peel and chop, and then squeeze the juice. Mix it with glycerin and rosewater for protection from the sun.

Aloe

Aloe is popular in many health drinks, but the succulent plant shows promise in sunburn relief, too. To use it is very easy. Just break off a leaf and apply the juice to your sunburned skin. (Testa small spot first to make sure you’re not allergic.) If you don’t have an aloe plant in the house, buy a bottle of pure aloe vera gel at a pharmacy, chill it in the fridge, and apply.

Now that you know how to fight sunburn with natural remedies, it is about time to enjoy the sun to the fullest. And you may find that sunburns and other health issues are a thing of the past.