5 Ways to Heal Sunburns, Inside & Out

The summer sun is a welcomed visitor after gloomy winter days and a rainy spring but for many fair skinned beauties, a day at the beach can come with its own challenges. Protecting yourself from damage caused by UV rays, regardless of your skin tone, is a goal we all should be focused on this summer. If you’re planning on spending long periods of time lounging by the pool or sat by the beach, when on vacation, then you may want to consider things like the swimsuits that you wear and how effective they are at protecting you from the sun’s rays; check these options out from Hermoza – https://thehermoza.com/collections/protect. With the help of specific herbs and foods, this can be accomplished before and after UV damage has occurred, protecting your cells from the inside out! Incorporate these into your daily routine for an extra boost of protection this summer.

1. Green Tea- having a glass of cold iced green tea is a great way to cool down while helping to protect your skin, since studies show that the polyphenols in green tea help to suppress the carcinogenic activity of UV radiation exposure.
2. Witch Hazel- when sunburns occur, this herb is fantastic for decreasing the inflammation that comes along with them. Thayers Medicated Superhazel Pads are great to have on hand in case of a sunburn and include aloe for extra soothing power!
3. Essential Oils and CBD- mix a few drops of lavender and mint essential oils in a water bottle and mist on your sun burned skin- this helps to reduce redness, cool the skin, and speed up recovery. Similarly, whilst not an essential oil, CBD oil can help to numb pain and itchiness. There are some dispensaries that give birthday gifts when you buy CBD oil from them, so you can stock up if you ever need to use it again.
4. Antioxidants + Lycopene- eating a diet rich in antioxidants and lycopene will help to protect your skin cells from DNA damage by UV radiation. Eat plenty of organic berries, tomatoes, watermelon, and papaya every day to give your skin an extra layer of protection!
5. Apple Cider Vinegar- of course ACV can help sunburns, it seems to help everything else, doesn’t it? Fill a spray bottle with half ACV + half water and spritz over affected areas to help reduce the pain.

Make sure that you’re also lathering up with a non-toxic sunscreen at least 30 minutes before heading into the sunshine, especially at times when the UV index is at its highest, and reapply throughout the day (especially after being in the water!). Check the UV index in your area through the weather service (there’s an app for that!) or in a pinch use your shadow to gauge your UV exposure: if your shadow is taller than you, you’re getting less exposure, but if it’s shorter, you’re getting more and should take extra precautions to protect your skin.

Enjoy the sun this summer and be sure to treat those sunburns accordingly- or better yet, avoid them altogether!