Sunburn, sun poisoning or Photo-dermatitis refers prolonged exposure to the harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun which has caused the skin to redden and begin peeling accompanied with a nasty itch and constant irritation. People with fair skin are usually more susceptible to sunburns than darker skinned people since they do not have as much protective skin pigment. For immediate relief from sunburn you should keep it run some cold water on the affected area or take a cool water bath. You can add a few drops of essential lavender or chamomile oil to your bath water to soothe the itching. It is important to keep the burnt skin cool by regularly applying a cold compress or icepack on the affected area. It is also important to keep your body hydrated by drinking the recommended amount of liquids in the form of water and fresh fruit juices.
Skimmed milk is useful in treating all kinds of burns and helps to soothe the itching. So you either wash the affected area with some cold skimmed milk or prepare a cold compress with 1 cup of skimmed milk and 4 cups of water which you can regularly apply to the affected area. A mixture of grated cucumber and skimmed milk applied to the affected areas can also provide instant relief from the itching and redness. Other remedies from the kitchen involve slices of cucumber or potato on the burnt skin. You can take a bruised onion or the juice of onion extract and apply it on the sunburn to heal the skin faster. You can also apply lettuce or cabbage leaves on the affected area to soothe the skin. A paste of cornstarch and water applied to the burnt skin helps to soothe the skin and treat the sunburn. Fresh yogurt can also be applied to the sunburn and washed off after 20 to 30 minutes using cool water. Aloe Vera gel or juice applied to the affected area helps to provide instant relief from the itching and cools the skin speeding the healing process. Apart from this you should avoid using soaps and other chemical products on the burnt skin and keep it dry and well moisturized using a lotion enriched with Vitamin E oil or Aloe Vera. Finally, remember to avoid exposure to the sun between 10 am and 3 pm when the sun is at its peak and cover your skin with a suntan lotion of a SPF factor of at least 30 before you step out, taking adequate care to cover your arms and legs with loose cotton clothing and shading your face with a wide-brimmed hat.
answered by G M