What are some home remedies for sunburn?

Recent analyses show that sunburn can be a serious health risk and is associated with a higher likelihood of developing skin cancer. Strategies for preventing and alleviating the effects of sunburn are attracting increasing interest and primarily involve compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce skin damage caused by UV radiation and at the same time support skin regeneration.

sunburn - skin burns

Benefits of sunbathing
Risks associated with sunburn
The effectiveness of home remedies for burns
Nutritional remedies for burns

Benefits of sunbathing

Sunbathing may have certain health benefits, primarily related to the synthesis of vitamin D, which plays an important role in the proper functioning of the skeletal, immune and nervous systems and may influence mood regulation. It can influence the regulation of the circadian cycle of neurotransmitter secretion and reduce the risk of certain depressive disorders resulting from seasonal affective disorder, associated with darkness in the winter months.

Moderate doses of solar radiation can also improve the appearance of the skin, reducing the visibility of certain acne lesions or eczema, as well as thanks to the antibacterial effect of UV rays.

Risks associated with sunburn

In the case of melanoma, it has been shown that numerous sunburns experienced throughout life can contribute to the development of this disease, regardless of whether they occurred in childhood or adulthood. Similar risks may apply to more common cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which may also be associated with recurrent sunburn. Particularly worrying, therefore, are single but very intense burns, which can cause serious damage to skin structures and, in the long term, contribute to the development of cancerous changes.

"Excessive sun exposure is extremely harmful to the skin – it causes melanoma, one of the most dangerous types of skin cancer. It is most common among young women, and the risk of developing it correlates with the use of solariums." Maciej Sulikowski SFD expert

The effectiveness of home remedies for burns

woman - sunbathing

Aloe

The most thoroughly researched home remedy for burns is aloe, which has not been proven effective in clinical trials as a burn prevention agent, but analysis results suggest a significant reduction in the healing time of second-degree burns, by 4–8 days compared to the control group or standard therapies.

Honey

The same is true for honey, which has antibacterial and wound-healing properties, but there is no evidence from human studies in the context of sunburn specifically.

Yoghurt and kefir

Other home remedies, such as yoghurt or kefir, contain substances that can provide temporary relief and also have a cooling effect when applied straight from the refrigerator, but there are no direct clinical studies confirming their effectiveness in treating burns.

Nutrients in the treatment of burns

Ingredient	Recommended daily allowance (RDA) or guideline doses
Vitamin C	75 mg per day for women, 90 mg per day for men
Vitamin E	15 mg of α-tocopherol per day
Vitamin D	600–800 IU per day for adults
Beta-carotene	No RDA, typically 3–6 mg per day as a source of vitamin A
Astaxanthin	No RDA, typically 4–6 mg per day
Catechins	No RDA, typically 300–800 mg of green tea extract

Nutritional remedies for burns

carrots - beta-carotene

One of the most thoroughly researched ingredients in terms of skin health is beta-carotene, whose protective effects have been confirmed in several studies. Their results suggest that regular intake of this substance may reduce the skin's sensitivity to UV radiation and increase the threshold for erythema, although at least ten weeks of regular use are needed to see clear effects.

Vitamin C may work similarly with vitamin E, as evidenced by studies showing an increase in the erythema threshold and a reduction in blood flow in the skin after UV exposure, which may indicate less inflammation.

"Astaxanthin has gained a reputation among those who desire flawless skin. Studies have shown that taking and applying astaxanthin topically can help maintain a radiant complexion – participants observed improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, as well as a reduction in wrinkles and age spots." Agata Bugorska – Personal trainer, IFAA trainer

Astaxanthin, a pigment and antioxidant derived from algae, may also be valuable, as studies have linked its use to increased skin resistance to radiation and improved hydration and skin quality.

It is also worth mentioning green tea catechins, which in studies helped the skin to better tolerate UV radiation, reduced inflammatory reactions and strengthened the structure of the epidermis. Vitamin D may also have a certain protective effect, as high doses administered after sunburn reduced the level of inflammatory substances in the skin and supported its regeneration.

Sources:

Köpcke, W., & Krutmann, J. (2008). Protection from sunburn with beta-Carotene--a meta-analysis. Photochemistry and photobiology, 84(2), 284–288. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00253.x
Eberlein-König, B., Placzek, M., & Przybilla, B. (1998). Protective effect against sunburn of combined systemic ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and d-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 38(1), 45–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0190-9622(98)70537-7
Ito, N., Seki, S., & Ueda, F. (2018). The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-Induced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 10(7), 817. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10070817
Kapoor, M. P., Sugita, M., Fukuzawa, Y., Timm, D., Ozeki, M., & Okubo, T. (2021). Green Tea Catechin Association with Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Erythema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(12), 3702. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26123702
Scott, J. F., Das, L. M., Ahsanuddin, S., Qiu, Y., Binko, A. M., Traylor, Z. P., Debanne, S. M., Cooper, K. D., Boxer, R., & Lu, K. Q. (2017). Oral Vitamin D Rapidly Attenuates Inflammation from Sunburn: An Interventional Study. The Journal of investigative dermatology, 137(10), 2078–2086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2017.04.040