Weird and Little-Known Ways to Treat a Sunburn
By Kristen Dold
You got toasted last weekend. You screwed up, you exposed yourself, and now you’re a lobstrosity and have vowed to never drink go out in the sun again. Luckily, heavy-duty moisturizer and aloe vera aren’t your only friends in offsetting the wrath of solar radiation. Take note, son.
1. Shaving Cream:
The menthol in most beard busters takes the sting out of the burn and cools skin on contact. (Skip heavy soaps and anti-aging moisturizers in your grooming regimen for the next couple of days—they can both dry out skin and irritate it even more.)
2. Ibuprofen:
Pop Advil or Motrin within the first 24 hours to bring down inflammation and minimize pain.
3. Cornstarch:
If you’ve been scorched so bad you can’t sleep at night, sprinkle a little cornstarch on your sheets to minimize chafing. (It helps to put some powder on your body before getting dressed, too.)
4. Milk:
Soak a washcloth in cold cow’s milk and hold it over hot spots for five minutes. The protein in milk creates a film on skin that reduces discomfort. (This is a good time to chug water, too, since you want to keep the body hydrated and cool.)
5. Tea Bags
Soak two black tea bags in water and place them over eyelids that feel like they’re on fire. The tannins in tea will take the edge off.
6. Oatmeal
When the dreaded sunburn itch arrives, take an oatmeal bath. (You can grind up regular oats in a food processor or pick up Aveeno’s Soothing Bath Treatment at the drugstore.) The antioxidants will calm down agitated skin.
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