Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn Relief – 8 DIY Face Mask Recipes

We all know how uncomfortable sunburns can be. They are painful, itchy, sore, and tender and don’t look nice. And it seems it can take ages for them to calm and heal. For people with the lower Fitzpatrick Skin type, there is an even higher risk of skin cancer from over sun exposure of UV radiation and severe sunburn. If you’ve stayed in the sun for a bit too long and now you’re dealing with itching, red and dry skin, don’t just wait for it to go away. There are plenty of all-natural home remedies for sunburn that can ease the discomfort and promote skin regeneration.

The following 8 DIY masks are some of the best at-home remedies you can try to relieve sunburn pain and treat your sunburn fast. After trying one of these recipes, it is very important to help soothe skin from peeling by regularly applying moisturizer. Use an oil moisturizer that is rich in skin-loving nutrients.

Related Article: Apple Cider Vinegar for Sunburn – 8 Face Mist & Mask Receipts

1. DIY Mask for Sunburns with Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is so good in treating mild to moderate sunburns, it is often referred to as the “burn plant”. Its gel has healing, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties, plus it is full of moisture that replenishes the sunburned skin.

You can use aloe vera on its own, or even better – mix it with some honey. Raw, organic honey is a natural antiseptic and it can help promote the regeneration process.

To make this mask, you will need:

• 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon honey

Steps:

1. Mix both the ingredients well together.
2. It would be best to refrigerate the mask before use.
3. When you are ready to use the mask, gently cleanse the skin, then apply a thick layer of the mask on the sunburn.
4. Leave it on for around 20 minutes, then rinse off well.

2. Natural Sunburn Treatment with Yogurt

You’ve probably already heard that yogurt is one of the best sunburn remedies. It contains lactic acid that can help promote skin cell turnover. Plus, yogurt is packed with probiotics that reinforce your skin’s natural protective barrier.

If you want to use yogurt to treat sunburns, it would be best to use Greek yogurt. For some added benefits, you can also add a teaspoon of aloe vera gel or honey to each tablespoon of Greek yogurt.

Steps:

1. You can simply spread a layer of chilled yogurt or mixture over your sunburns as a mask.
2. Leave it on for 20 – 30 minutes, but during that time, don’t let it dry completely.
3. As soon as it starts to dry, apply another layer over the first one.
4. You can repeat this several times during the day.

3. Soothing Sunburn Cool Baths with Apple Cider Vinegar and Oatmeal Powder

Apple cider vinegar has an acidic pH, which is why it is often used as a natural skin toner. It is high in pectin, which can soothe the skin, calm redness and irritation and even improve the skin barrier.

However, since it is quite acidic, applying pure apple cider vinegar to a sunburn is not a good idea. In fact, if not diluted properly, apple cider vinegar can even further irritate the skin and worsen the condition.

The best would be to use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar in a soothing bath, which is especially convenient if you need to treat a large area of your skin.

For this, you will need:

• 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup of finely ground oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal
• 1/2 cup of baking soda

All you have to do is dissolve all the ingredients in a tub full of lukewarm water. (When dealing with sunburn and sun poisoning, you shouldn’t be taking hot or very warm baths, since the warmth can slow down the recovery process.)

4. DIY Home Remedies for Sunburn with Black Tea

Black tea is another natural sunburn remedy that can bring relief quickly and easily. It is packed with antioxidants. Black tea contains tannins that give the tea its astringent properties and are said to be naturally anti-inflammatory.

Method 1:

1. You can simply use used black tea bags to soothe sunburns.
2. Make the tea as you normally would.
3. Strain the bags and leave them to completely cool down.
4. Then simply apply the tea bags to the sunburned skin.

Method 2:

1. You can also make a mask by opening one of the used, chilled bags and mixing the content with 1 – 2 teaspoons of yogurt.
2. Just be careful and apply the mask very gently to your skin.
3. Note: Any rubbing could lead to exfoliating the skin, which is great for skin health, but it is the last thing a sunburned skin needs.

5. Restoring Witch Hazel Treatment for Sunburns

Just like the black tea, witch hazel also contains tannins, which is why it is often used as a toner to treat minor cuts, wounds, acne and bruising. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties also make it perfect for relieving sunburns.

You can use witch hazel on its own, or you can mix it with turmeric, for some additional antiseptic and soothing properties. This mask is also great for acne breakouts:

• 2 tablespoons witch hazel
• turmeric powder – as needed

Steps:

• In a small bowl, put the witch hazel and add just enough turmeric powder to form a mask. The mixture should be smooth, but very thin and runny.
• Apply the mask to your sunburns.
• Leave it on for around 15 minutes, then thoroughly rinse it off with cold to lukewarm water.
• You can use this mask a few times a day until the redness and itchiness are reduced and the skin heals.

6. Refreshing Cucumber and Mint Mask

Cucumber is by far one of the most soothing and restoring natural products you can find. Its combination of moisture, vitamins, and antioxidants is perfect for calming sunburns. Mint leaves are cooling and refreshing, and enzymes in sour cream can help the skin to heal faster.

• 1 cucumber
• a small handful of fresh mint leaves
• 2 – 3 tablespoons sour cream

Steps:

1. For this mask, it would be best to process the cucumber and the mint leaves in a blender – the smoother the mask is, the better your skin can absorb and use it.
2. Once you get a smooth puree, transfer it to a bowl. Add the sour cream and mix well.
3. Keep the mask in the fridge in between uses. When you want to use it, just spread a thin layer onto the sunburns.
4. Leave it on for 15 – 20 minutes and during that time reapply as needed.
5. Rinse off well.

7. DIY Potato Mask Home Remedies for Sunburns

Not many people know that a humble potato is actually a great natural pain reliever. Raw potato contains starchy compounds that can draw out the heat from the skin and relieve the stinging sensation.

You can simply use finely grated potato or a piece of gauze soaked in fresh potato juice. But, for even better results, try adding some tea tree oil or lavender oil. Tea tree essential oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties and you can use it to relieve the pain and to prevent skin blistering and peeling.

To make this sunburn relief mask with potato and tea tree oil, you will need:

• 1 small potato
• 2 – 3 drops tea tree essential oil or lavender oil

Steps:

1. Peel the potato and process it in a blender until smooth.
2. Transfer the puree to a small bowl, add the tea tree oil, and mix well.
3. Apply the mask to the area you want to treat (the skin should be clean).
4. Leave it on for 10 – 15 minutes, or until it dries.
5. Then wash it off with cool water.
6. You can repeat this several times a day, and in the meantime, keep the mask in the refrigerator.

8. Replenishing Cool Banana Mask

Banana is more than just delicious, nutritious fruit. It also has many benefits when applied topically and can be used for treating many skin issues, including sunburns. It will rehydrate and restore the skin and soothe the irritations.

Matcha green tea powder has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, regenerating and rejuvenating properties. Milk is packed with moisture, fats, and proteins that can soothe the skin, plus it creates a protective film over the skin.

• 3 tablespoons banana puree
• 1 teaspoon matcha powder
• 1 tablespoon milk

Steps:

1. First, mash a piece of banana with the backside of a fork. Mash it well, try to get rid of as many lumps as you can.
2. When your mixture is smooth, add the other two ingredients and mix everything well together.
3. Refrigerate the mask well before using it on your sunburns – the cold will help as well to soothe the skin.
4. Apply the banana mask to clean skin and leave it on for around 20 minutes.
5. Rinse off thoroughly with cool water and dry face with a clean cloth.

More Tips and Remedies for Sunburn Treatment

• Drink a lot of water and stay hydrated.
• Take cool shows. When the skin is damp dry, apply moisturizer to help soothe and trap in the water. Sunburn may result in dry skin, so apply moisturizer frequently.
• Make sure to apply sun protection to avoid sunburn again next time when you go outside. You should always apply board spectrum sunscreen, stay under the shade to avoid direct sun exposure, and wear protective clothing.
• If the sunburn is not responding to the home remedies after a couple of days, it may indicate that a visit to the doctor’s office is needed.
• If you have any symptoms of severe sunburn, which could include blisters and peeling skin, fever, nausea, skin infection with signs of swelling and pain, etc., visit the doctor’s office for medical advice and treatments.

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References:
[1] How to treat sunburn, American Academy of Dermatology Association
[2] 30 Sunburn Natural and Home Remedies for Severe Sunburns, Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP, Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR. MedicineNet