Whether you prefer spending time in the garden, at the beach, out on a boat, at the ballpark, or simply lounging in your backyard, sunny days are here for us to enjoy. As the sun shines down on us, we would like to remind you of our blog posts on safe sun exposure, better sunscreen choices, and nutritional support for sun care.
While there are numerous ways of prevention, there are times when we find ourselves over exposed, whether due to a lack of a plan or our plan somehow getting derailed. Therefore, we also want to provide some natural remedies for treating your skin post overexposure and potential sunburn.
Natural after sun care options:
Cool/tepid shower, avoid soap that can add chemical exposure or dryness to your skin while it’s fragile.
Natural unrefined oils nourish, moisturize and support repair. Examples are Coconut Oil, Jojoba, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter. The best choices are single ingredients, like ones found in your kitchen - yes, use your organic raw coconut oil! If choosing a product, opt for formulas without chemical additives; such as, Coconut After Sun Balm from Badger. Apply whatever you choose promptly after overexposure and reapply 2-3 times daily until resolved.
Vitamin C/antioxidant rich: Look for rosehip oil for vitamin C, Badger Balm Rose Antioxidant Face Oil, cream or body oil are good examples.
Aloe: look for ones that are organic and with the fewest/least toxic preservatives. 100% pure aloe vera just isn’t available, so we often skip it. If it’s your go to solution, EWG.org skin deep has a list of ones they rate well for low toxicity here. It includes Badger, the brand we often recommend. Use of aloe from your plant at home might be best but some aloe species aren’t safe to use and can be toxic, so you need to know your stuff!
What if it’s really uncomfortable and or blisters? Apply an ice pack over a clean cloth, not directly on the skin for up to 10 min as soon as you can. A thin layer of manuka honey can really do the trick. Apply gently to burned skin and leave open to the air; if you need to cover up, cover with a clean smooth towel dish towel or pillow case. When it’s time to remove the honey, saturate the towel with cool water, let it sit for bit or do this in the shower. After a minute or two, gently remove and continue to rinse the honey off. Don’t pull the cloth or rub the skin, let the cloth or honey come off as the honey dissolves. Pat dry, don’t rub. Apply natural oil as discussed above.
Nutritional Strategies: skip things that drive inflammation like alcohol, refined sugar, white flower and junk foods. Support your body’s healing by consuming whole food meals rich in healthy fats, fruits and veggies. Wild Caught fish, Grass fed butter, Raw Coconut Oil are excellent sources of healthy fats. Add in antioxidant rich fruits and veggies that are dark and colorful - think organic berries and leafy greens.
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