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What is sun tan, sunburn and sun poisoning? Medically speaking sunburn and sun poisoning is technically almost the same thing and are closely related. However when a person gets sun poisoning, then it is more severe than just sunburns and is accompanied with fever, headache, nausea and dizziness. The person may also get itchy and inflamed skin. Sun poisoning often happens because of continuous and too much exposure to the UV rays of the sun that are harmful to the body. Getting sunshine is important because of its Vitamin D goodness and health benefits, but too much of fiery sunshine can also have a detrimental effect.

If you've got sun poisoning it is important to remain hydrated and keep your skin moist, so that it does not peel. You can also try some of the suntan home remedies as also sun poisoning remedies. However, we suggest that you ask a doctor for medical treatment and also speak to them about which home remedies for sun poisoning are more effective than the others.

Hydration: One very important thing to remember for sun poisoning relief is that you have to remain hydrated. You may begin to become dehydrated very quickly and the best thing to do is drink enough water and drink a lot of fluids with electrolytes. Do not go out into the sun because this can make your skin become dry very easily.

Suntan and sunburn: Remember that you will begin to tan the moment you step out into the sun. Sunlight has ultra violet rays, which penetrate the skin tissues and can cause DNA damage. When this happens the body produces melanin, a brown colored pigment that is created by melanocytes. In some people, the production of melanin is very less when compared to others. The color of a person's skin is often determined by the amount of melanin one has and this also determines how fast a person can get sun tanned or sun burnt. For instance, people who are very fair, get sunburns very easily as compared to people with darker complexions.

Exposure to the sun: While we all enjoy the golden haze of the winter sun, all of us dread the fiery glare of the hot summer sun, especially during the afternoons. Too much of exposure to the sunlight can be harmful for you and if you stay out, basking in the sun for a long time, then sunburns would be inevitable. While we're not saying that you remain cooped up in your house all day, what we suggest is that with precautions you can enjoy the benefits of vitamin-D enriched sunlight without coming back with scathing burns.

You may want to apply a sun block with SPF to protect yourself from the UV rays. Do check the SPF content of the lotion and make sure that it is hypoallergenic so that you don't get any allergic reaction.

Remedies for Sunburn

Home remedies for sunburn and suntan treatment: If you have sun poisoning rash or sunburns, then we advise you to consult a doctor and ask them for medication. You may also pick and use any of the following sun poisoning rash remedies to cure the welts on your face and lips. Apart from treatments for sun poisoning rash, we've also mentioned home remedies for sunburn blisters, itch, redness and skin peeling on your face and other parts of the body. There are several home remedies for suntan removal as well as for treating sunburns, but here are a few we hope you'll find useful.

• Fresh juice or gel extracted from aloe vera is often used for treating sunburns and sun poisoning. Apply aloe vera juice or gel as it helps in soothing the skin. Apply the aloe vera extracts on the affected area often as you wish. You could also apply a cold compress that would help to treat the swelling.
• You may also find calamine lotion helpful, especially to reduce the itching.
• You can apply vinegar or apple cider vinegar on you skin which acts as a great remedy for sunburn. Cod liver oil is also supposed to have soothing properties.
  
• Keep wet towels around the affected area for 10-15 minutes several times a day to soothe the sunburn
• Wash the affected area with anti-bacterial soap to prevent any other kind of an infection
• A cool milk compress is one of the best remedies for sunburn. Dab your skin with cool whole milk for 20 minutes and the rinse it off with cool water.
• You can apply cod liver oil for sunburns
• Make a mixture of grated cucumber with milk and apply it on the sunburned skin
• Another interesting home remedy can be made with potatoes. Grate a potato and extract some fresh juice. Apply this to your sunburns for relief. Remove juice from grated potatoes to be applied on the sunburned skin.
• Make another home remedy with an egg white and a tea spoon of hazel and honey. Apply this on the affected area and then leave it on for a few minutes. After 5-10 minutes, wash it gently with lukewarm water.
• Including treatments for sunburns vinegar, milk, potato juice and cucumber juice can do wonders to remove your suntan.
• While taking a bath, add a few drops of chamomile and lavender oil and dip into the cool water. You can even mix 20 drops of calendula oil in four ounces of water for pain relief.
• In four ounces of water put 20 drops of calendula tincture which bids the pain goodbye.
• You can make a cool compress of baking soda, Epsom salt or witch hazel to provide relief to your burns.
• Rub bruised onions on sun burn to provide the ample relief
• Applying peppermint oil on the sunburned skin also helps in cooling the sunburn
• You can even pour some sugarless chilled mint tea on the sunburns - the tannins in the tea can alleviate the healing process. Cucumber slices can also be soothing.
• You can spread cucumber slices on the burn as it would provides you the needed relief
• You can soak yourself in oatmeal in tepid bath water for few minutes and then dry yourself
• To help the healing process apply the area with oil and cover it with ginger this would help in the much needed quick recovery
• A warm shower may sound weird but it sure works at this time as it increases the blood circulation
• You can bathe the sun burnt area with a mixture of twenty drops of urtica urens tincture and four ounces of water. This is supposed to soothe the skin and bring relief from the prickly sensation. Add 20 drops of urtica urens tincture in four ounces of water and bathe the bruised area. This would provide relief from the itchy and prickly skin sensation.
• Some believe that cool milk can be used for treating sunburns. You could use a compress dipped in cool milk or apply some directly to get relief. Peppermint oil is supposed to bring relief too.
• You can try different kinds of rinses and baths to recover from sun poisoning. For instance, take bath using oatmeal and dip into this water for about ten minutes and then pat yourself dry. You may also want to take shower with warm water to increase the blood circulation - though this might be slightly uncomfortable at first.
• You should keep your skin moist with wet towels. You may want to sprinkle some Epsom salts, witch hazel or baking soda on the wet towels.
• Do remember to bathe with a light anti-bacterial soap so that you can keep your skin infection-free.
• Beta carotene vitamin supplements are also recommended to decrease the inflammation.
• In order to stay away from any sort of infection you could also use a mild anti bacterial soap that will keep the infection from spreading. Vitamin supplements such as Beta carotene could also be used in order to reduce the inflammation caused.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.