# Home sunburn remedies **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973 "2003-04-21T04:14:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IGJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/igjoe/32/5420_2.png) [@IGJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IGJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/1 "2003-04-21T04:14:23Z")
This weekend, I went skiing with my Dad, brother, and some friends. We had a great time, and the weather at Lake Louise was great! Sunny, and close to 15 C at the base. After a full day of whipping down the slopes, though, I realized something I had forgotten before: snow is a _great_ reflector! Right now, my whole face is bright red, except for the areas covered by my touqe and sunglasses. Which brings me to my question: What do Dopers normally do for a sunburn? I have a friend who insists that the best way to treat it is to take a HOT shower as soon as possible after exposure, followed by a gentle application of aloe vera gel. Now, the gel I can certainly agree with, but I highly doubt the hot shower part. The theory here is that the hot water will open up your pores and “allow the heat to escape.” Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me, but she swears by it. So what say you, fellow Dopers? Has anyone heard of this before? Anyone have any other home remedies for sunburns? ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/2 "2003-04-21T04:21:47Z")
Try and get a hold of some lanolin , usually it will be sold with an aloe vera gel. I went to accupulco and got my skin fused basically ,and rubbing that stuff on , took all the pain and got me back on the party track inside of three minutes. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/3 "2003-04-21T04:51:56Z")
I second the nomination for aloe vera. It’s incredibly soothing. I’ve heard that Vaseline will do in a pinch. (Isn’t that what they use on burn victims?) I strongly recommend you buy an aloe plant. I keep one around the house for those Just in Case moments, of which I have many. Slice open a leaf, and instant relief! The hot shower sounds like bunk to me as well, much along the lines of medieval medicine and the “humors” which needed to escape. Your skin does not need any more trauma right now. Take a cool shower. It’s much more soothing. I wouldn’t recommend a loofa, or any scratchy washcloths, either. (Ouch!) ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/4 "2003-04-21T05:05:33Z")
My grandmother (who was a nurse) had a home remedy that worked well, even on the really bad sunburns I got as a kid. She soaked sheets (or towels) in steeped (cooled) tea and then wrapped the burned area with them. The relief is almost immediate. I seem to remember that it is the tannic acid in the tea that helped the burn to heal. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/5 "2003-04-21T10:38:44Z")
I remember reading somewhere that you’re supposed to take some ibuprofen ASAP when you get a sunburn. Something to do with thinning the blood and reducing the amount of X that causes a sunburn to become red and painful. (Isn’t that a nice scientific answer? Sorry! I just remember reading it somewhere, and it couldn’t hurt to try.) ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/6 "2003-04-21T10:40:15Z")
Oh, and I’ve also heard milk is very soothing on burned skin. But it has to be whole milk; it’s the milk fat that soothes. And I wish I could say I have a personal remedy to share but I seldom see the sun, and haven’t in years, so I haven’t had a chance to try out any of these remedies yet. _knock on wood_ ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/7 "2003-04-21T11:38:22Z")
Yak butter is the most popular remedy in Tibet if you’re looking for a fun fact. Following Audrey’s post, yak milk is very high in fat content. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/8 "2003-04-21T12:06:09Z")
Hospitals (burn centers) use vanilla on burns to help the skin heal and prevent permanent visible damage. Mildy soothing, but a good thing to know about skin care and burns. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/9 "2003-04-21T12:33:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*I second the nomination for aloe vera. It’s incredibly soothing. I’ve heard that Vaseline will do in a pinch. (Isn’t that what they use on burn victims?) > \*\* That doesn’t sound right. That would be like putting butter on a burn (a no-no). Vaseline would seal in the heat like a thin barrier wouldn’t it? I thought you’re never supposed to put greasy stuff on any kind of burn. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/10 "2003-04-21T12:52:27Z")
As a child, my mother used Noxema on our sunburns - it seemed to pull the heat out, and by the next morning we would be much better. I used it on the one bad sunburn I’ve had as an adult (yes, I know better, I just forgot the sunscreen), and it did help. Not scientific at all, but that’s my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/11 "2003-04-21T13:23:49Z")
Be sure and get some aloe skin cream as well-so your skin doesn’t dry out. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/12 "2003-04-21T13:24:52Z")
aloe is great and aspirin or ibuprofin - any anti-inflamatory pain killer. cool compresses will ease the pain. ---
**Author:** ![LanceUSMC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/0ea827/32.png) [@LanceUSMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LanceUSMC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/13 "2003-04-21T13:31:34Z")
HOT WATER? I couldn’t imagine that. I spent two years in Hawaii and we had people get burnt all of the time. I have heard of a cool bath, which feels good once the pain of the water is gone. The best thing is Ibuprofen or Tylenol, both of which thin the blood as previously mentioned by a couple people. Aloe is the best possible thing to feel good and cure the burns. We actually grow aloe here in a little pot. It is very cheap and works for many other things also. HOT WATER? Ha. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/14 "2003-04-21T13:31:59Z")
Tip a couple of packets of bicarbonate of soda into a tepid bath, and have a long soak. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/15 "2003-04-21T20:05:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\*That doesn’t sound right. That would be like putting butter on a burn (a no-no). Vaseline would seal in the heat like a thin barrier wouldn’t it? I thought you’re never supposed to put greasy stuff on any kind of burn. \*\* I did a quick search, and Vaseline is apparently used for a lot of burn victims to keep the skin moist. [Yale Medicine](http://info.med.yale.edu/external/pubs/ym_sp00/capsule.html) was the first link I clicked on. It says: > [@](#): > > They had received the following treatment: morphine, tetanus shots, vaseline gauze with plaster casts (for pressure), plasma and, later, sulfa-diazine.” A site for [skateboarding injuries](http://web.skatefaq.com:81/skate.2.6.html) recommends it for road rash, saying: > [@](#): > > The underground remedy (for small spots) is to use “Bag Balm”, a vetrinary product for soothing cows udders, found at your local farm supply outlet. It provides a waterproof covering for the wound, which apparently prevents the formation of a thick, inflexible scab. Actually Vaseline does pretty much the same thing, with people asking you what breed of cows you prefer. [The University of North Carolina Burn Unit](http://viper.med.unc.edu/surgery/burncent/#) has instructions for applying and changing Vaseline dressings on burn wounds. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/16 "2003-04-21T20:38:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*I did a quick search, and Vaseline is apparently used for a lot of burn victims to keep the skin moist. \*\* Yeah, but that’s _burn_ burns. Like nasty thermal burns. Sunburns are “first degree burns” that only affect the outer layer of skin. Do a search on “sunburn” and Vaseline and you’ll get the same info that is found at the [U.S. National Library of Medicine](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003227.htm) **“avoid the use of Vaseline”**. (the same is said at general health websites like Yahoo! Health, [Healthcentral.com](http://Healthcentral.com), [mcare.org](http://mcare.org), etc.). It’s important for mild burns (that don’t blister) especially at the start to allow heat to escape – Vaseline, butter and similarly greasy ointments seal in the heat. Example from [rxinsider.com](http://rxinsider.com) > [@](#): > > **Ointments, Vaseline® and butter should not be applied to sunburns.\_ These products are painful to remove and prevent heat from escaping the burned area.** ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/17 "2003-04-21T20:42:56Z")
Note: Re-reading my post I see I wrote: “you’re not supposed to put greasy stuff on any kind of burn.” My bad. I should have been clear and said any “first degree burn” (such as sunburn, a hot iron, or touching a way-too-hot-ow-ow-ow frying pan.) Apologies for the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/18 "2003-04-21T20:51:19Z")
Sorry that I misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/19 "2003-04-21T21:08:01Z")
I take the aloe approach one step further by making “aloe cubes” in the freezer. Just buy a bottle of your favorite aloe gel and squeeze it into an icecube tray. The cold contrast can be a bit of a shock to the system, and may briefly cause uncomfortable goose-bumps on the sore skin, but once you get passed that, it feels **so** good. If your afflicted skin isn’t within easy reach, wrap the aloe cubes in a paper-towel and hand them out to anyone within arm’s reach, be sure to use liberal amounts of puppy-dog eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973/20 "2003-04-21T21:14:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*Sorry that I misunderstood. \*\* Why, we’re so civil it’s disgusting! I should go start a Pit Thread to prove I can be bitchy! 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-sunburn-remedies/169973.md?page=2)