Browse Sections

• Food and drink
• Personal finance
• Health and beauty 
  • Health and beauty features
  • Style
  • Street style
  • Columnists
• Dating
• Holidays
• Hotels

Natural burn chillers

1/ 7/2008

Q Do you have any suggestions for natural ways to treat sunburn? I do my best to stay out of the sun but occasionally I do get a bit burnt.

A Sunburn responds well to the same treatment as burns, so it's useful to think of this ailment in that way.

Exposure to direct sunlight should however be avoided and precautions such as covering the skin with light clothing and wearing protective sun screen is advisable.

Too much exposure to sunlight can have a damaging effect on skin cells reducing elasticity of the skin, leading to premature ageing and an increased risk of developing skin cancers.

If you have fair skin or red hair, you are likely to have less melanin, a pigment which protects from burning (but does not stop all the other damaging effects that comed with too much sun!) so you are more likely to burn quickly.

If you do burn this summer there are many natural treatments to help.

It's important to cool and re-hydrate your skin.

Bathing in a herbal infusion of chamomile or dabbing lavender essential oil onto the area will be off help.

The aloe vera plant has amazing properties to soothe burnt skin so try applying an aloe vera gel or lotion.

The homeopathic remedy Belladonna 30c will help if skin is flushed and dry and you have a throbbing headache.

Nat Mur 6x can also be taken to encourage body fluids to return to normal.

If the burning is severe you must seek medical attention.

To make an appointment with Zoe call 0161 835 1713.