Parents know to limit the amount of time children spend in the sun, and to cover them with protective lotion. That having been said, even the most careful parents can let their families get overexposed.
If sunburn does occur, the pain and inflammation can be relieved by any of the following formulations.
For large sunburned areas, an apple cider vinegar bath works wonders. Use a brand from the health food store that has been wood-aged, rather than one from the supermarket that may have been chemically-aged. Apple cider vinegar helps to balance the skin's pH factor, its acid/alkaline balance. As with all parts of the body, when there is chemical balance, healing is supported.
Though it may not have all of us living to 120 (remember those Russian peasant ads of several years back?), yogurt is a natural healer. It is the antidote for the burn of hot, spicy food in Indian cooking by re-establishing acid/alkaline balance and works the same way for sunburned skin. For sunburn, I use compresses of natural yogurt to help cool and hydrate the skin.
No apple cider vinegar or plain yogurt in the house? Then check the deepest recess of your refrigerator for that box of baking soda you stashed there eons ago (hopefully, not too many eons--to effectively deodorize your fridge, baking soda should be changed about every 3 months). Like apple cider vinegar and yogurt, baking soda helps to balance pH, the skin's acid/alkaline balance.
Aloe has the unique ability to help skin renew itself by stimulating cellular metabolism, thereby promoting oxygen exchange and increasing the absorption of nutrients. Aloe contains the anti-oxidant vitamins A and C; the minerals copper, selenium, and magnesium; and zinc, a powerful virus fighter. This method is best used for more localized sunburns.
The essential oil of lavender is one of the only essential oils that can safely be applied to the skin without diluting it in a carrier oil. Applying lavender oil will take the sting out of the burn, and heal it quickly. It's calming aromatherapy properties will help to ease the emotional upset of a painful burn.
In Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art (Crossing Press), herbalist Mindy Green combines the essential oil of lavender with aloe to create a soothing preparation for sunburn relief.
One more suggestion, feeding your children sweet potatoes will make them less likely to burn! A small sweet potato contains more than twice the daily need for beta carotene which helps to reduce the redness and inflammation of a sunburn. "Beta carotene accumulates in the skin, providing partial protection for 24 hours against sun damage", says University of Arizona's school of public health professor, Ronald Watson, PhD.
As safe as we try to make our homes for our children, they're loaded with danger. Household chemicals, cooking appliances, electrical equipment and outlets are part of their everyday environment. Sometimes little hands reach for pots, hot plates or wires even before we have a chance to warn them. Whatever the severity of the burn, immediate action must be taken.
Puncture a vitamin E capsule with a straight pin, and spread a thick layer of the oil on the burned skin. I always keep a bottle of Vitamin E oil in my kitchen.
This is one of the only essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin without dilution (see sunburns, above).
Apply undiluted to the burn.
This is one of Dr. John R. Christopher's most famous and well-used treatments for burns. The herbal ingredients are anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. They soothe tissue, and encourage growth of new skin. It can be used for severely reddened and blistered burns (if you feel comfortable handling them at home), or can be used a few days after medical treatment, with your doctor's approval.
Powdered comfrey root
Honey
Wheat germ oil
If you prefer, as a benefit of honey's preservative properties, a larger quantity of the herbal mixture can be prepared and stored for a few days at room temperature.
Uncooked, raw, natural honey (purchased in a health food store) is a sweet, sticky way to ease the pain of a mild burn. Its anti-microbial and hydrating properties work to keep the area free of infection and well-moisturized. Scientific study of honey indicates that its trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids help make it an effective treatment for burns, scrapes and minor sore throats.
While preparing dinner, I accidentally scalded myself with boiling water. Even after bathing the area in cold water for several minutes, the resulting burn proved to be too much for my old standby, Vitamin E. When the Vitamin E oil sizzled as it was applied to the burn, I knew a more powerful botanical therapy was required. My lovely aloe plant--something no household should be without--was standing ready to be pressed into service. Aloe can be used for a sunburn or any other burn. See directions above in section on sunburns.
When I used the aloe on my scalding burn, I made one mistake: I failed to bind the aloe securely. In the morning, the area covered by the gel alone was still hot, reddened, and blistered. The area covered by the gel and peel, however, was totally healed--not even a hint of redness remained! This taught me how important it is to cover a burn with both the gel and peel of the aloe plant.