Sunburn Remedies?

[hydster]

Baking soda paste really helped my boys when they came home last weekend with a nasty burn after being on the lake in a boat with my inlaws all day. Just mix it with some cool water and put it on the burn. Let it sit for 10-15 min and then get into a bath of cool water with more soda in it.

Another thing I was told when I got a nasty burn is to buy an aloe PLANT and not the gel. It works faster and they are really easy to care for. You can just put it in your kitchen window and just cut it when needed. Open it up, scoop out the gel and put it on the burn! It will work better and faster than the gel stuff you can buy at the store and you'll always have it around. It regenerates itself once cut.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

A couple of years ago we were in Florida and my youngest son got a bad sunburn. I had Solarcaine with us which didn't help him. I went to CVS and bought an aloe vera gel--didn't help. I also bought something called burn relief which actually made the pain worse.

In total desperation, I dug into our toiletries case and found an old tube of Balmex back from when my kids were babies. It worked like a charm--took the pain away instantly and he slept through the night with no pain. The active ingredient is zinc oxide so I'd think that any ointment you can find with zinc oxide will do the trick for you.

Hope you feel better soon.

I had wondered if Balmex would work. Our son gets no relief from so many of the other remedies, but I haven't tried that one. Just putting the aloe on him this week has helped some, but the itching is getting to him something awful. And he's so NOISY when he's miserable. (That'll teach him to put the sunscreen when I tell him to).
And, remember some people are allergic to Lidocaine. That's one thing we can't use in our family.
Kim

 

[eclectics]

A little witch hazel mixed with strong tea water helps. Followed by aloe (preferably from the plant). Noxema feels good but you will peel.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Thanks, everyone. I am still itchy but not as bad. Now is there anything I can do to minimize the peeling that is inevitable???

 

[YourMajesty]

Benadryl will help the itch. It's in tylenol pm so I would take those at night (pain and itch). I also like the aloe gel or the real stuff if you have any.

 

[Towncrier]

I don't know if there is anything that can be done to prevent the peeling. Sorry.

But it does remind me of a funny (at least to me) story. Many years ago, we had neighbors who had the cutest little boy named Michael. He was a bundle of energy and very talkative. On one occasion, his dad got a particularly nasty sunburn and, when it started to peel, Michael pointed at the flakes, scrunched up his face, and said "Ewwww, gubbers". From that day forward, we have always referred to the aftermath of sunburn as gubbers.

 

[Talking Hands]

1. vinegar. an entire bottle in your bathwater.
2. tea bags in the bath water or brew very strong tea and pour it into the tub and soak
3. Noxema
4. Aloe vera

I burn anytime I go out unless I use a strong sunscreen.