Sunburn refers to the damage caused to the skin due to prolonged exposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. The main symptoms of this condition are pain, irritation and redness of the skin. The skin around the lips, mouth and eyes feels itchy and dry. The skin feels hot, tender and sore on being touched, and small pus-filled blisters may also appear on its surface. Once the blisters start drying out, the thin upper layer of the skin gradually peels off. It may take the skin a few weeks to heal completely. In acute cases of sunburn, the person may also suffer from intense headache, nausea and fever, in which case it is advisable to consult a doctor immediately. Regular exposure to direct sunlight may also lead to other serious complications like melanoma, premature wrinkles and even skin cancer.
There are a few simple measures that you should follow to avoid sunburns. Always carry an umbrella whenever you step out of doors at daytime. Also, make sure that you apply sunscreen lotion on your skin whenever you go out into the sun. Besides, there are a few home remedies that you may follow to treat sunburns naturally. One of the best ways of treating sunburns is to soak a wad of cotton wool in a solution of a little vinegar and ice-cold water and apply this gently on the affected portions of the skin. This soothes the inflamed skin and relieves the pain and burning sensation. You may also extract the juice of a couple of raw potatoes and apply them on the skin for quick relief. It also helps to slice a fresh cucumber thinly and place the slices on the skin to moisturize the skin and make it feel softer. Alternatively, you may also freeze some cucumber juice into small cubes and rub the skin around the blisters very gently with these. It is also useful to apply a mixture of two teaspoons of tomato juice and four tablespoons of buttermilk and wash it off with cold water after half an hour. Another popular remedy is to make a thin paste by adding two teaspoons of sandalwood powder with some chilled rose water, and apply it on the skin. When the blisters start healing and the skin peels off, you may apply the juice of fresh aloe vera leaves in order to reduce the skin irritation and prevent irregular skin pigmentation.