Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin that results from overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. Get a mild burn, and you might be uncomfortable overnight, but the redness and stinging will dissipate pretty quickly. If you really fry yourself and end up with what’s called a second-degree burn, though, your skin will actually blister and ooze. For a second-degree roasting, see a physician, but for mild sunburn, you can do a number of things to help reduce your day-after discomfort.
When you’ve been out in the sun too long, the first thing you need is immediate relief from the burning. There are several effective topical treatments for sun exposure, beginning with the old folk remedy of taking an oatmeal bath, says Kathy Foulser, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the Ridgefield Center for Integrative Medicine in Connecticut. Simply pour about 1½ ounces of ground oatmeal, which is sold under brand names like Aveeno, into comfortably warm water and soak for 15 minutes.
Another home-style treatment for sunburn is aloe gel. If you have an aloe plant, break a leaf, squeeze out the gel, and gently rub it into the damaged skin. You can also purchase the gel at drugstores. "The gel is great for cooling and soothing the skin," says Dr. Foulser.
In a study at the University of Texas in Galveston, scientists found that aloe vera inhibited the formation of a substance known as TxA2. This substance is responsible for a lot of the skin damage that results from burns, electrical injuries, and frostbite. By inhibiting TxA2, aloe relieves pain and increases blood supply to the injured area, researchers report.
Oil Your Burn
Because sunburn essentially produces skin inflammation, it’s helpful to take herbs with strong anti-inflammatory properties, says Dr. Foulser.
She recommends evening primrose oil, which contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). The body transforms GLA into hormonelike compounds called prostaglandin, which have anti-inflammatory effects. When you put more GLA into your system, your body has increased power to reduce inflammation.
The essential fatty acids in this oil provide another benefit: They are good for overall skin health, says Dr. Foulser. She recommends taking six capsules daily of evening primrose oil for long-term use.
"If you want, you can take more, because this oil is quite safe," she adds. Be sure to check the labels of the supplement for information on recommended dosages.
Up Your Antioxidants
Whenever your skin burns, cells are damaged. This damage is caused by free radicals, which are free-roaming, unstable molecules that are seeking to stabilize themselves by stealing electrons from healthy cells. As a result of this cell damage, free radicals can cause premature wrinkling, and in the case of repeated sun exposure, even skin cancer. If you take antioxidants, substances that scavenge free radicals in the body, you can speed healing and prevent rapid cell damage.
At your drugstore or health food store, you will find plenty of antioxidant combination products on the shelf. Alternatively, you can choose to take separate supplements of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, all of which have strong antioxidant properties, says Dr. Foulser.
For a mild sunburn, take 50,000 international units (IU) of beta-carotene a day, Dr. Foulser advises. If your sunburn is more severe, you could take 100,000 IU of beta-carotene for a few days and then reduce it to 50,000 IU as the burn heals. Dr. Foulser also suggests taking 800 IU daily of vitamin E, which is known to aid in the repair of damaged skin.
"You should keep this up for about a couple of weeks, even after you think the burn has healed," she says. The exceptions are pregnant women and people with liver problems, who should never take high doses of beta-carotene, even for short periods. To be safe, consult a holistic physician before starting this program, Dr. Foulser suggests.
Vitamin E also can be used topically on sun-damaged skin along with other salves and skin conditioners, says Dr. Foulser.
Guarding against Sun Singe
Of course, we all know that a milligram of prevention is worth many pounds of cure when it comes to sunburn. The best way to prevent sunburn is to simply use common sense by avoiding excess exposure and using sunscreen. You can also help your skin by taking some supplements when you know you’re going to be exposed to the sun.
Vitamin C has qualities that can help protect skin from sunlight, and it’s also well-known for its antioxidant properties, says Leon Hecht, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the North Coast Family Health Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
For people who spend a lot of time in the sun, Dr. Hecht suggests up to 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C three or four times a day. "Vitamin C stimulates repair of sun-damaged skin," he says.
In a controlled study, 10 people took either 2,000 milligrams of vita min C with 1,000 IU of vitamin E a day or an inactive substance (placebo). The sunburn reaction after eight days of treatment revealed that the skin of people in the treatment group showed less damage than that of those in the placebo group.
Dr. Hecht also states that vitamins C and E used in topical sunscreens prove effective as well. "Early studies show that it is prudent to add vitamins C and E to your sunscreen to protect against ultraviolet phototoxic injury to your skin," he says. Sunscreens with these vitamins already added can be found in drugstores.
You can also prepare your skin to withstand the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays by taking a beta-carotene supplement, says Dr. Hecht. He recommends taking 100,000 IU of beta-carotene for a month or two before you plan to expose yourself to intense sunlight—before the first beach day, for instance, or before a midwinter skiing vacation. This preventive works particularly well for light-skinned people, says Dr. Hecht. You should talk to your doctor, though, before taking this amount.
"It pigments the skin a little bit and just gives you a kind of base. It’s no substitute for protecting yourself from the sun, but it does help prevent some burning," he says.
