From Mother Earth News, Jun/Jul 1994

Limiting your sun exposure is essential, particularly between the sizzling summer hours of 10 AM and 3 PM. The best prevention for your skin is also a wise protection: wear sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 ALL THE TIME.

Okay, you forgot. And not you're in pain. Well, you can try those old standbys, aloe and over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Even an extra moisturizer can help a lot. And there are other remedies.

Milk - "Just dip some gauze into milk and apply it to your sunburned skin," says dermatologist John F. Romano, MD. . . The milk should be about room temperature or slightly cooler but not refrigerator-cold. . . . Keep this milk compress on the burn for 20 minutes or so, and repeat every 2-4 hours. Rinse with cool water afterward.

Veggies - Boil some lettuce in water, then strain it and let the liquid cool for a few hours in the refrigerator before applying to the skin with cotton balls. . . . [Also] thinly-sliced pieces of raw cucumber, potato or apple can be placed on sunburned areas, such as the forearm. . . .

Double pain reliever - . . . take two times the recommended amount of ibuprofen or another pain reliever for the first two doses, then go to the regular amount. . . .

Vitamin E - A regular dose of Vitamin E ". . . decreases the inflammation you can get from sunburn." . . . [open] a vitamin E capsule and [rub] the liquid on your skin, but it's more effective to take it internally. . .

Diluted vinegar - "Pour one-half cup of white-cider kitchen vinegar into a tub of tepid water and soak yourself in it. . ." Another recipe from the kitchen. . . mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup cornstarch into a tub of tepid water and soak yourself.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 26, 1999

Answers

Hey...Ol' Git....the best thingie fer sun burn that this old lady has found is undiluted apple cider vinegar. Along with taking the pain away, it limits the amount of blisters and peeling. You might smell a little pickled fer awhile, but it works!

Got plenty of apples and some "mother"??

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), April 26, 1999.

Try using the lather from ivory soap. Not only will it take the pain out of the sun burn but you won't peal a day or two later.

-- thinkIcan (thinkIcan@make.it), April 27, 1999.

Lavender essential oil ... works wonders at healing any skin-oriented problems. Bet you could concoct your own enflurage (-1 sp) from the plant materials too.

(Don't leave home without it! Lavender is the swiss army knife of essential oils!)

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), April 27, 1999.

I'll add 2 more to the pot. My preference is lavender essential oil, as mentioned by Diane, but if you don't have any, the following are good bets as well:

1.Willard Water > http://www.dr-willardswater.com/

2.soy sauce

-- (orwelliator@biosys.net), April 27, 1999.

The best I found is plain water. Soak a cloth with cool water, place on area, and leave it for a couple of hours. After that pain is almost gone. That's what hospitals do for burn victims and let's face it, this is just like any other burn. Later put vitamin e on it to promote healing.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), April 27, 1999.