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Foods that Help Heal Sunburns: Find a Natural Remedy in Your Kitchen

By Amy Brantley, published Jun 02, 2008
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Sunburns are never fun. Unfortunately, they are something many of us deal with every summer. Because I have such fair skin, I usually try to avoid being out in the sun for too long. Sometimes this is easier said than done. A little over a week ago, I received a horrible sunburn. I burned my face, ears, neck, arms, and even the top of my head where my hair parts. I was in complete misery. Being the foodie that I am though, I went online to see what types of food could be used to help heal sunburns. I was amazed by the numbers of choices available. If you have a bad sunburn, don't rush to the store for a remedy, just turn to your kitchen.

The first group of foods that help heal sunburns are condiments. Surprisingly enough, there are several that help heal sunburns. If you want to prevent blistering and peeling of the skin, apply apple cider vinegar. The apple cider vinegar keeps the skin moist and cool. Lemon juice can even be added to water to create a liquid that will help heal your sunburn, not to mention keep the area clean. Other condiments that help heal sunburns include honey and olive oil.

The second group of foods that help heal sunburns are dairy products. Dairy products are full of fat, which helps heal sunburns. One of the most popular remedies is milk. You can soak a cloth in milk and place it on your skin for 20 minutes at a time. Another popular food to use to help heal sunburns is yogurt. You must choose a yogurt that has live cultures (check the package). Think of it as if you're applying lotion to your skin. Allow the yogurt to sit and then wash it off thoroughly. When using these foods as remedies, you do not want to choose fat-free versions. The fat is essential for these applications.

The last group is a mixture of miscellaneous foods. Vegetables such as grated potato and sliced cucumber can be applied to the skin. Both of these foods help heal sunburns by simply soothing the skin. Other popular foods include tea, oatmeal, and baking soda.

Takeaways
  • Apple cider vinegar can help prevent blistering and peeling.
  • The fat in dairy products can help sooth a sunburn.
Comments
Comments 1 - 13 of 13
 
 
Great tips! Another thing to consider is preventing sunburns, from the inside out, so to speak. Taking a Vitamin B supplement containing PABA helps your body process the UV rays and prevents sunburns. This is from a fair-skinned girl who hasn't had a sunburn for a few years now. :)

Posted on 09/09/2008 at 10:09:14 AM

 
Need this for my daughter...lol. Had the vinegar one when I was growing up! Thx :)

Posted on 06/14/2008 at 7:06:58 PM

 
Interesting - I wish I had read this when I got a super bad sunburn on Memorial Day, lol. Good to know for the future though.:-)

Posted on 06/08/2008 at 10:06:42 AM

 
I've never heard of soaking in milk or using yogurt. This is great to know since I live in Florida and we have many out-of-town guests who always end up with a sunburn. Thanks for sharing!

Posted on 06/08/2008 at 8:06:57 AM

 
Very informative! I have heard of using apple cider vinegar before, but none of the others!

Posted on 06/04/2008 at 8:06:33 PM

 
Good info. I keep a bottle of aloe in the fridge.

Posted on 06/04/2008 at 6:06:33 AM

 
I know how bad a sunburn can feel. These are actually old remedies, but it's good that you wrote about them. With the population increasing exponentially, it is not so easy to get every bit of information in the world quick enough to every individual.

Posted on 06/03/2008 at 7:06:02 PM

 
Interesting!

Posted on 06/03/2008 at 5:06:36 AM

 
Excellent tips Amy, I have them bookmarked. Wish my mother had known about the remedies for sunburn when I was a kid. Thank you for sharing. I to am fair skinned. Hugs Mary

Posted on 06/03/2008 at 12:06:03 AM

 
Very useful at this time of year :)

Posted on 06/02/2008 at 11:06:53 PM

 
Great information!

Posted on 06/02/2008 at 9:06:54 PM

 
I'm sorry to hear that you suffered from sunburn recently, Amy. That must have been painful. I didn't know that foods that many of us already have on hand could provide so much relief. This is an excellent resource for people who need help with sunburns. Sophie

Posted on 06/02/2008 at 7:06:33 PM

 
Cool!

Posted on 06/02/2008 at 7:06:47 PM

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