How to Get Rid of Sunburn and Sunburn Blisters: Top Home Remedies

Sunburns happen when overexposure to the sun’s UV radiation damages the skin. There are many home remedies for treating a sunburn and you can use them to soothe your stinging skin, reduce inflammation and help with the healing process. Some of these remedies can also help with the treatment of sunburn blisters. Let’s have a look at natural treatments to get rid of sunburn and sunburn blisters.

What is a Sunburn?

Sunburn is just like any type of burn and it happens when overexposure to the sun’s UV radiation damages the skin (and I’ve already shared with you this video that reveals what the sun really does to your skin).  Some of the possible symptoms of sunburn include: red, tender skin that is warm to the touch and in more serious cases you can develop sunburn blisters.

Related: Should You Pop a Burn Blister?

The Mayo Clinic says that melanin (the dark pigment that gives the skin its color and tan) is the body’s way of protecting itself from further damage. However, too much UV light causes the skin to burn, which causes sunburn redness and swelling.¹

The best way to avoid sunburn is to prevent it in the first place. There are some suggestions at the end of the article on how to prevent sunburn. However, if you suffer from sunburn, here are some of the best home remedies to get rid of sunburn redness and sunburn blisters.

Home Remedies for Sunburn and Sunburn Blisters

If your skin had been badly damaged by the sun, you may find that blisters appear. How should you treat sunburn blisters naturally?

First of all, Dr. Jennifer Robinson on WebMD says that you should never burst a blister unless it is painful, large, or could become further irritated. The fluid in the blister actually keeps the new skin under the blister clean.²

If you suffer from sunburn blisters, you can try some home remedies to help them heal quicker. Many of the natural treatments mentioned below can help to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by sunburn, but you can also use them for treating sunburn blisters.

Any effective remedy for sunburn should help you to reduce sunburn redness, soothe the sunburnt skin, reduce itchiness and pain, and keep the skin hydrated. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies to do this.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is one of the best natural ingredients that you can use to soothe sunburnt skin and to treat sunburn blisters. Aloe vera contains many compounds which make it an excellent moisturizer with wound healing effects. Aloe vera also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help decrease inflammation caused by sunburn.³

For example, in one study aloe vera gel showed that it helped to stop damage to skin that had suffered first and second-degree burns. It also reduced skin inflammation.⁴

Another study showed that aloe vera gel significantly reduced UV-inflammation and was better than 1% hydrocortisone in a gel.⁵ Hydrocortisone is often recommended for burns but can cause some side effects.

How to use

If you have aloe vera plant at home, you can open the leaf, scoop out the gel and apply it directly to the sunburn to soothe and moisturize your skin. Most people, though, buy pure organic aloe vera gel, which is just as effective. This will help you to get rid of the itchiness, reduce inflammation and soothe sunburn pain.

To find out more ways to use aloe vera for healthy skin, please read my article about the amazing benefits and uses of aloe vera for skin.

Honey

Honey is one of nature’s purest ingredients and it does wonders for your skin. Honey helps to keep healthy skin looking good and it can be used for treating irritated and sunburned skin.

The journal Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters reported that when honey is applied to burns and wounds, it directly reduces inflammation and has an antibacterial effect on damaged skin. It also helps wounds to heal quicker.⁶ Another study showed that honey heals wounds quicker than silver sulfadiazine. Silver sulfadiazine creams are also usually recommended to help burns to heal.⁷

Although all raw honey is beneficial for soothing sunburn pain and for speeding up the healing process, one of the best types of honey for wound healing is Manuka honey. If you would like to find out more about Manuka honey, then you can read my article about the 10 most amazing Manuka honey health benefits.

How to use

You can apply honey directly to the sunburn to ease irritation, reduce redness and speed the healing process.

You can also combine honey with aloe vera to make a very effective natural treatment to get rid of sunburn redness. You should do the following:

• Mix together 1 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. aloe vera gel, and 1 tbsp. plain yogurt.
• Apply to the affected areas and leave for at least 20 minutes before washing off with cool water.

Always remember to use raw honey or Manuka honey.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has many uses, and one of them is to soothe your itchy sunburned skin and to reduce inflammation.

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer which helps sunburned skin regain its elasticity and it may also help with the healing of sunburn blisters. Coconut oil also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds which are excellent for relieving sunburn and sunburn blisters.

A study into the burn wound healing properties of coconut oil found that it is an effective burn wound healing agent in itself. It also made wound healing creams, like silver sulfadiazine more effective.⁸

How to use

Coconut oil can be applied directly to sunburned skin. You can also use coconut oil together with aloe vera to soothe and moisturize sunburned skin. I have a recipe that you can use for treating burns and you can find it in my article on healing coconut oil and aloe vera gel lotion.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel has many benefits for the skin, and is used in many cosmetic applications for its astringent properties and its ability to reduce inflammation. It can also stop skin infections from developing and spreading.

Research into the effects of witch hazel has shown that after sun treatments which contain witch hazel were more effective than lotions without witch hazel.⁹

How to use

To use witch hazel for sunburn relief, you can apply some to the affected area by dipping a cotton ball in witch hazel and gently dabbing on the sunburn or sunburn blisters. Alternatively, you can moisten a cloth with witch hazel and cover the sunburned skin.

To read more about witch hazel and how to choose the right witch hazel product please read my article about the 10 genius uses of witch hazel for a great health.

Potatoes

Many people may be surprised to find out that potatoes are great for soothing sunburned skin. Potatoes contain many vitamins, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids which can heal damaged skin. In fact, potatoes have many healing properties for your whole body. You can read about those in my article on how to use a potato to heal your entire body.

The Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies reported that sliced, unpeeled raw potato placed directly on burned skin can help to draw out the heat and remove the pain from the skin.¹⁰

How to use

To use raw potato to relieve sunburn or sunburn blisters, you can slice up some raw, unpeeled potatoes and place on the affected area (remember to thoroughly wash the potatoes).

Alternatively, you can make a potato paste. This is what you should do:

• Grate a small amount of potato and mix with raw honey to form a paste.
• Gently apply to the affected area and fix in place with a bandage or gauze.
• Leave for 2 hours to soothe sunburn pain and to speed up the healing process.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal can provide you with a healthy breakfast and it’s also a cost effective way to heal sunburn. Actually, oatmeal has been used for hundreds of years to soothe itchy skin and reduce inflammation.

Scientific studies have shown that oatmeal does indeed have properties which are beneficial for wound healing. The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology reported that properties of oatmeal help to soothe and protect inflamed skin.¹¹

How to use

If a large area of your body is sunburned or covered with sunburn blisters, you can get immediate relief by having an oatmeal bath. For this, you will need 2 cups of ground oats and an old pair of pantyhose or a long tube sock. Here is how to make your oatmeal bath for sunburns:

• Pour the oatmeal into the pantyhose, tie loosely and set under the faucet.
• Draw a bath with tepid water and let the oats soak in the water. Occasionally squeeze them to let more of the oat liquid out.
• Soak in the tub and dab or rub the oat bag over the irritated and sunburned skin.
• After your soak, pat yourself dry.

Remember, that the bathtub can become slippery because of the oat mixture, so be careful when getting out of the bath.

You can also make an oatmeal paste to help soothe sunburn pain. This is what you need to do:

• Grind 1/2 cup of plain oats
• In a bowl, mix the ground oats with a few tablespoons of raw honey and enough milk to make a fine paste.
• Gently spread the mixture onto the affected areas and leave for 20 minutes.
• Rinse off with cool water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

You can dilute organic, unfiltered, unpasteurized, and unprocessed apple cider vinegar (ACV) with the same amount of water and then dab this on the sunburn blisters. If you have sensitive skin, you can further dilute the ACV. Alternatively, you can put the liquid in a spray bottle and then spray directly on the sunburnt skin. This will help prevent infection and can also help relieve sunburn pain and inflammation.

Another method is to add 2 cups of ACV to warm or tepid bath water. Soak in this bath for at least 30 minutes.

Turmeric Paste

Curcumin (the main compound in turmeric) is an effective ingredient to treat burns and relieve the pain of sunburn. Curcumin can also help with the healing process of sunburn blisters.

Many studies have shown that curcumin can help to speed up wound healing and relieve pain. For example, a study published in the Journal of Molecular Histology said that a topical application of curcumin has beneficial effects and accelerates wound healing that has been caused by burns.¹²

How to use

You can make a paste with turmeric and aloe vera or honey to help treat sunburn and sunburn blisters. Mix equal amounts of turmeric powder and aloe vera gel or honey and apply gently to the sunburn. Leave for 30 minutes then wash off with cool water. This can help you to get rid of sunburn redness quicker.

Cucumbers

You can also use cucumbers to treat sunburn and sunburn blisters. Cucumbers will not only cool your sunburnt skin but they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which make them a great home remedy for sunburn and sunburn blisters.

How to use

Chill some cucumbers then thinly slice them and apply to the sunburn, or mash them in a blender or food processor to create a paste. Apply the cucumber paste to the affected area to cool your sunburned skin and to soothe the pain.

How to Prevent Sunburn

Of course, it is always best to prevent sunburn, especially because UV sun damage can be dangerous. Extreme sunburn can cause fever, chills, and nausea. Also, the American Cancer Society says that most skin cancer is linked to exposure to UV rays in sunlight.¹³

To prevent sunburn, the Mayo Clinic recommends the following:¹⁴

• Avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you have to be outside during those times, try to be in the shade.
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. Apply every 2 hours.
• Cover exposed areas and wear a hat
• Don’t rely on your tan to provide you with adequate sun protection

Read my other related articles:
1. Shocking Video Reveals What The Sun Really Does To Your Skin
2. Warning Signs of Melanoma, The Most Deadly Form Of Skin Cancer
3. DIY Aloe Vera & Coconut Oil Mixture

Resources:

1. Causes.
2. Understanding blisters – treatment.
3. Aloe vera gel research review.
4. The efficacy of aloe vera cream in the treatment of first, second and third degree burns.
5. The anti-inflammatory potential of aloe vera gel.
6. Up-to-date use of honey for burns treatment.
7. Topical application of honey in treatment of burns.
8. Burn wound healing property of cocos nucifera.
9. Anti-inflammatory effect of hamamelis lotion in a UVB erythema test.
10. Health benefits and cons of solanum tubersoum.
11. Colloidal oatmeal: history, chemistry and clinical properties.
12. The effects of topical treatment with curcumin on burn wound healing.
13. Does UV radiation cause cancer?
14. Sunburn prevention.