Why aloe vera for sunburn

You can also purchase lotions that contain aloe vera. Skotnicki also warned that commercially available lotions can often contain various chemicals and fragrances that might further agitate sunburned skin, so make sure to check for these before purchasing.

Then, just remove a little lotion from the bottle, and apply to the sunburnt skin for calming results. Giuseppe Aragona MD, general practitioner and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor recommended initially applying aloe vera for sunburn once every couple of hours.

Once your sunburn starts to feel better, you can apply it a couple of times a day. He also insisted that you use the aloe as soon as you are out of the sun, even if you do not feel burning yet. It should be used after being in the sun, not as a sunscreen. Guanche recommended one that contains additive benefits, such as moisturizing components that may help to accelerate the healing of the burn.

So it seems pretty evident that aloe vera is a great natural alternative to traditional after-sun treatments, but there can be some side effects involved. Fortunately Dr. Guanche insisted that allergic reactions to aloe are rare, so it seems like aloe vera is something most of us can safely use to treat sunburn. As well as using aloe for sunburn, this magical plant has many other health benefits. From reducing waste to recycling and upcycling, our e-book shows simple ways to make choices you can feel good about.

Your email address will not be published. We take your words seriously. Thank you! Many of us have been left lobster-red and squealing in pain from a sunburn after forgetting to reapply sunscreen often or not using enough to protect our delicate skin. We often turn to aloe vera for instant relief. Sharp Rees-Stealy dermatologist Dr.

Tsai adds. Moisturizing the skin overall can help with healing. If using aloe vera gel, avoid those with alcohol, which can dry out tender skin. Tsai suggests that if you have a severe sunburn , applying a cold, damp towel to the skin will help relieve the heat.

Ibuprofen can help relieve some of the inflammation and discomfort from the sunburn. Topical prescription anti-inflammatory creams can also help recover from the sunburn faster.

A study also showed that high-dose vitamin D can reduce inflammation for a sunburn as well. If you have systemic symptoms — meaning you feel sick overall dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, fever — then you should see a doctor because these can be signs of a severe sunburn, which is commonly referred to as sun poisoning. Take our Sharp Health News quiz and evaluate your options.

You might also like:. The benefits of weight loss before joint replacement surgery Weight loss prior to joint replacement surgery can seem overwhelming but may be necessary. Choose the doctor who's right for you. People have used the clear gel from its leaves for thousands of years to treat minor skin conditions, like burns, rashes, and psoriasis.

Today, people still use the gel from plants, as well as creams and lotions that contain aloe for relief. Research backs up aloe's soothing properties, too. Using aloe vera gel can help heal your sunburn and reduce pain and redness. Here's how. Sunburn — or the more severe sun poisoning — is not pleasant.

In the short term, you wind up with tight, red, painful skin. Long-term it can increase your risk of skin cancer and premature aging. But aloe vera can help you find relief, at the very least. Aloe vera works in a number of ways to treat sunburn:. Cut open the plant leaves and squeeze out the clear gel inside," says Marie Hayag , MD, a dermatologist at 5th Avenue Aesthetics. However, you can certainly use a lotion or moisturizer containing aloe instead. If you can find a product with percent aloe, choose that one, says Hayag.

Also, make sure the product is fragrance-free as added fragrances can irritate sunburned skin.