15 Best Natural Sunburn Remedies to Help Skin Heal

Last Updated on August 15, 2024

Looking for a home remedy for sunburn? These 9 natural sunburn remedies may help your skin heal.

Even if you’re careful about putting on sunscreen, sometimes you get a sunburn that needs a little TLC. Here’s what to know about treating sunburn with some natural home remedies you can find in your kitchen or garden.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET A SUNBURN

Sunburn happens when the sun’s UV rays sun damage your skin cells. When your body senses damage to cells, it sends blood to repair the damage, which is why your skin turns red. 

As damaged cells die, new skin cells take their place, and your skin starts to peel. It’s important to understand that sunburn isn’t just uncomfortable and unattractive. When your skin burns, the DNA of your skin cells may get damaged, which increases your risk of skin cancer.

Watch out for serious burns and sun poisoning: While some sunburns will heal on their own in a few days, more serious sunburns may warrant a trip to the doctor. If you also have nausea, headache, chills, dizziness, or a rash, seek medical attention immediately, as you may have sun poisoning, which is more common in people with fair skin. 

Note that certain kinds of drugs, (such as antibiotics, hormonal birth control, and diabetes medications) can increase risk of sun poisoning.

If you use essential oils, avoid citrus oils (e.g., bergamot, grapefruit, lime) before going out in the sun. These and a few other oils (like St. John’s wort) can cause a phototoxic reaction if you put them on and then expose the area to sun. Learn more about essential oils phototoxicity from Herbal Academy. 

PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE

Of course, preventing sunburn from happening in the first place is the best strategy.

Whenever possible, look for shade and cover up your skin. Sunscreen is a must (be eco-savvy about sun protection and choose a non-toxic sunscreen) when you know you’ll be in the sun for extended periods. UV radiation is highest in the middle of the day. And be aware that clouds don’t filter out all the harmful UV rays.

Did you know what you eat can affect how your skin responds to sun? Anti-inflammatory foods, especially produce high in beta carotene as well as vitamins C and E may help protect against sun damage. Omega 3 fatty acids (such as those found in fish oil) can also help to protect skin from sunburn. 

To recap: Protect your skin from too much sun by seeking out shade, covering up, and wearing sunscreen. But when your best efforts fail and you get a bit sunburned, some of the natural remedies below may help your skin heal.

NATURAL SUNBURN REMEDIES TO TRY

Remember, if you have a more serious burn, don’t rely on home remedies — seek medical attention. If your burn is minor, below are some natural remedies for sunburn to try.

First things first, if you notice your skin starting to burn, get out of the sun as quickly as possible. Cover up and seek shade if you can’t go inside.

Make sure to drink plenty of water! Fluids from your body will be drawn to the site of the burn, so you should drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated. Water-rich foods like cucumber and watermelon also contain polyphenols that may support skin healing.

COOL BATH OR SHOWER

Cooling your skin down can help reduce inflammation, so a soak in a cool tub or standing under a cool shower can help relieve discomfort. Experts suggest keeping your bath or shower short to avoid drying out skin.

ALOE

Soothing aloe vera is a quick and easy remedy for sunburn to keep on hand. Aloe vera plants are super-easy to grow and require very little care.

Just cut a leaf from your plant and scrape out the gel (a spoon works well). You can apply the gel directly to the burn, or you can run it through the blender to create a smoother gel.

You can also use a bottled gel if you prefer. Look for one without added chemicals.

CUCUMBERS

Cooling cucumbers contain compounds that can help calm inflammation and soothe skin. Slice refrigerated cucumbers and place on a burn, or puree cucumbers to make a paste you can apply to sunburn.

If you’ve got loads of cukes from the garden, check out these ways to use extra cucumbers!

TEA COMPRESS

If you have green or black tea in your pantry, you have a useful sunburn remedy. Both kinds of tea contain anti-inflammatory compounds that can help soothe sunburns.

To make a natural sunburn remedy with tea: Brew tea with half as much water as you normally would. Allow tea to cool and soak a clean washcloth in the liquid. Putting the washcloth (and the tea) in the refrigerator can make it extra soothing. Apply to sunburnt skin for 15 minutes.

BAKING SODA

Baking soda dissolved in water can help soothe sunburn as well. For smaller areas, dissolve a few tablespoons in a cup of cold water and soak a cloth in it to make a compress. For larger areas, add one cup of baking soda to a cool bath.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Though it may sound counterintuitive, many people claim that diluted apple cider vinegar may help a sunburn heal. The medical community isn’t on board with this remedy, and cautions that the acidity may be harmful to sunburned skin.

If you want to try it anyway, add a small amount to a cool bath, or dilute a tablespoon in a cup of water. You can use a washcloth to make a compress or spray it directly on the burn. But with so many other great natural sunburn remedies, it might not be worth trying.

Apple cider vinegar can also be infused with soothing herbs like plantain and kept in the refrigerator for soothing insect bites and other irritations.

YOGURT OR MILK

Whole milk is another option from the kitchen for making a soothing compress. Whole milk yogurt applied to skin for 15 minutes is another possibility. The cold and fats soothe burned skin, while protein and antioxidants may promote healing.

OATMEAL

Oatmeal, on its own or combined with herbs like yarrow, calendula, or chamomile, can make a soothing addition to a sunburn-relieving bath. Fill a muslin back or stocking with ground oatmeal and herbs and run your bath water through it.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR SUNBURN

Many readily-available herbs can help sunburn, including many common wild plants. Knowing these wild remedies is especially helpful if you’re out camping and need something to help burns heal.

PLANTAIN

If you’re going to learn one wild plant for herbal first-aid, plantain would be it. This common ‘weed’ can be found in most gardens, parks, and wild areas, especially on compacted soils where little else will grow.

To make a sunburn remedy from plantain, gather fresh leaves and steep in boiling water. Allow it to cool, and apply as a compress or spray on sunburned skin.

Plantain is also one of many effective mosquito bite remedies worth knowing.

As mentioned above, you can also infuse apple cider vinegar with plantain and keep it in the refrigerator for the summer season. You get the benefits of both ACV and plantain and have it at the ready even if you don’t have access to plantain leaves.

Other common wild plants to know that can help a sunburn include yarrow, wild violets, and chickweed. Like plantain, you can brew a strong tea and use it for a compress or spray, add it to tepid bath water, or infuse vinegar to use in compresses, sprays, or bathwater.

You can also infuse these valuable herbs in oil to make a soothing salve to keep on hand whenever you need it. Here’s more about plantain and how to make plantain salve from Herbal Academy.

You can also find ready-made salves containing one or several of these healing herbs on Etsy.

Jan Berry, aka the Nerdy Farm Wife, also uses rose petals as a sunburn soother combined with aloe in a beautiful herbal aloe gel. You could use the same method to make herb-infused aloe gels with other soothing herbs like plantain, violets, or yarrow.

Want to learn more about using wild plants for first aid and promoting health? I highly recommend the books Wild Remedies and The Backyard Herbal Apothecary among the many wonderful herbalism books to consider adding to your home library.

CALENDULA

Calendula flowers are easy to grow and are a top plant for a medicinal herb garden. Among the plants most turned to for soothing skin woes, calendula is a great choice for sunburn as well.

To use calendula, you can brew a strong tea and apply as a compress. Calendula-infused oil is prized for nourishing and healing damaged skin and is often included in healing salves.

Here’s a tutorial on making a calendula salve from the Herbal Academy.

CHAMOMILE

Calming chamomile tea isn’t just a great herb for sleep, it’s also excellent for soothing skin. As with the herbs mentioned above, you can make a strong tea and use it in a compress or spray.

You can add 8-10 drops of chamomile essential oil to your bath or a single drop to aloe you’re applying. Never apply essential oils directly on skin.

LAVENDER

Soothing lavender may help calm inflammation when infused in apple cider vinegar and added to bath water. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bath.

Another option is to make an herbal bath tea bag by placing fresh or dried herbs in a old stocking or muslin bag and letting the bath water run through it. You can use lavender leaves as well as blossoms.

PEPPERMINT

Cooling peppermint brings relief to scorched skin. You can brew peppermint tea with tea bags or fresh plants from the garden to make a soothing compress.

Peppermint essential oil may be too strong for sunburned skin, and dermatologists recommend avoiding it.

Taking Care of Healing Skin

It’s important to treat skin that’s been burned with extra TLC. Some dos and don’ts:

DO Stay out of the sun as much as possible. Cover up and wear sunscreen on any exposed skin.

Moisturize healing skin with a gentle moisturizer.

DON’T pick at blisters or peeling skin or put fragranced lotions on your burn. Don’t try to cover the burn with makeup

What are your favorite remedies for sunburn?

Save these natural sunburn remedies for later!