12 Home Remedies For Sun Poisoning For Quick Relief

May 31, 2019

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Imagine coming home from a fun-filled day at the beach with plenty of sun exposure, feeling more than a little sunburned. In addition to being red, you may have blisters, swollen skin, headaches, chills, and nausea. This isn’t your typical sunburn – you may have sun poisoning.

Sun poisoning is a severe reaction to excessive UV exposure and is frequently confused with a serious sunburn. Sun poisoning can create flu-like symptoms, dehydration, and inflammation, making recovery more difficult than sunburn, which affects the skin’s surface.

The good news? Medication isn’t always necessary to reduce pain and hasten healing. Natural remedies are available to ease pain and improve recovery. In this article, we’ll look at natural solutions that provide prompt and efficient relief to repair your skin’s health and prevent further damage.

What is Sun Poisoning?

Don’t get deterred because sun poisoning doesn’t technically mean that you have been poisoned.

Sun poisoning isn’t a recognized medical phrase, but when people use it, it typically refers to a severe sunburn that resembles an allergic reaction. This burn causes you to feel ill and extremely uncomfortable and makes your skin redder or darker. In some situations, “sun poisoning” may describe more uncommon genuine allergic reactions to sunshine.

Causes of Sun Poisoning

Excessive sun exposure that results in severe burns is known as sun poisoning.

The many forms of UV light found in the sun’s beams can all harm the skin and result in burns. However, as the body responds to the burn, an extensive sunburn may result in sun poisoning.

Overexposure to the sun can result from spending too much time in the sun or not employing sun protection techniques, such as applying sunscreen or sun lotion.

Additional UV radiation sources, like tanning beds, can also cause severe burns.

Signs And Symptoms Of Sun Poisoning

Apart from the visible signs and symptoms of sun poisoning, there are some additional signs that not many people pay close attention to.

Some of the common signs and symptoms associated with sun poisoning include:

Skin that is peeling or blistering
Extreme rash
Excruciating pain
Swelling
Gritty, painful eyes
Blisters on the lips
A headache
Chills and fever

How To Diagnose Sun Poisoning

When it comes to the diagnosis of sun poisoning, the possibilities are extensive.

Given the fact that the symptoms of this condition are so evident on the exterior, it is a no-brainer that the people who are suffering from this condition won’t need a lot to get diagnosed with sun poisoning.

Extreme signs of sunburnt skin and accessory symptoms of the condition solidify the claims associated with the condition.

If you seek medical help, they will diagnose the probability of this condition by looking at the skin condition.

Home Remedies To Treat Sun Poisoning

Home remedies work wonders for treating sun poisoning. If you have been exposed to the sun for an extended period and have blisters and rashes on the skin, chances are that you are already suffering from the extreme condition of sunburn.

The best way to overcome it is to opt for effective home remedies for sun poisoning, which can also help with the pain and irritation that comes with it.

Let us take a look at some of the potent remedies:

1. Aloe Vera

People have long used aloe vera gel to treat sunburn because its anti-inflammatory qualities help cool and calm burned, irritated skin.

You can purchase aloe vera gel or harvest fresh aloe vera and scrape gel from the center of a cut leaf. Use this gel on the affected areas to relieve sun poisoning burns, hives, and rash.

Additionally, aloe has been demonstrated to aid in wound healing, which may help repair burns or blisters caused by sun poisoning.

2. Oatmeal Baths

Research suggests that oatmeal may heal sun-damaged skin because of its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and skin-repairing qualities. Additionally, it works well as a bath addition for eczema or atopic dermatitis.

You can make your oatmeal bath at home using powdered oats and water or purchase commercial products.

3. Cold Compress

A cold compress is another effective way to treat sun poisoning.

Given that blisters, rashes, and irritable redness are often the primary signs of the condition, the best way to tame them is with cold compresses.

Get the gel cold compress available in pharmacies. They are easy to use and quite accessible.

4. Vitamins

Your body may recover from sun poisoning with the aid of specific vitamins.

Your skin will mend if you consume foods high in vitamin E or take a supplement. Try eating more vegetables, avocado, almonds, and seeds to boost your vitamin E consumption. Vitamin E topicals can also be used directly on severe sunburns to aid healing.

Vitamin C’s antioxidant qualities can help heal skin damage from oxidation and UV rays. Consider taking a multivitamin or eating more citrus.

5. Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom salts’ potent anti-inflammatory and detoxifying qualities help heal burns, minimize swelling, and ease sun poisoning-related hives. Epsom salt’s magnesium helps soothe inflamed skin and promotes quicker healing.

To feel less pain, dissolve one cup of Epsom salts in warm bathwater and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

6. Cornstarch or Baking Soda

Cornstarch or baking soda can help relieve sun poisoning by lowering itching and inflammation. To obtain relief, add a few tablespoons of either component to a cool bath and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Alternatively, make a thick paste by combining cornstarch or baking soda with water.

Apply it to tanned skin, let it remain for ten minutes or more, and then rinse with cool water. This technique draws out heat and eases discomfort, which helps soothe irritation and encourage healing.

7. Drinking Plenty of Water

Among the more severe signs of sun poisoning are electrolyte loss and dehydration. Headaches, exhaustion, nausea, and lightheadedness may also result.

Drinking water to replace any lost fluids can lessen these symptoms. You can also consume sports drinks enhanced with electrolytes to rapidly alleviate sun poisoning symptoms.

8. Cool Showers or Baths

Regular short showers and baths and towel compresses (hydrotherapy) throughout the day will help your sun-poisoned skin stay hydrated and cool. Avoid soaps and hot water, which can irritate the skin and remove its natural oils.

After a bath or shower, gently massage your skin with a soft towel, careful not to pat it dry. Use a moisturizer to retain the remaining water to prevent your skin from drying out further.

9. Coconut Oil

Studies have demonstrated that coconut oil has several positive effects on your skin, such as hydrating, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and skin-protective qualities. Although researchers haven’t studied it for sun poisoning, experts commonly recommend it as a remedy. However, some dermatologists caution that, like butter, coconut oil can aggravate sun poisoning or trap heat, making it worse.

It might be better to wait until most of your sunburn has healed before applying coconut oil to aid skin healing.

10. The Sleep Environment

Compared to most conventional beds, an air mattress absorbs less heat and may be less harmful to the skin after sun poisoning. To prevent your discomfort from worsening overnight, use bedding composed of breathable, light, and soft materials, like cotton.

If you don’t have an air mattress, try keeping your bedroom cool by placing more layers between you and the mattress.

11. Loose Apparel

Wear loose clothing because tight clothing will worsen your sun poisoning pain. For a few days, avoid scratchy materials and elastic bands.

Cotton and other natural textiles are excellent options. When you’re outside, ensure the fabric is tightly woven to shield your skin from UV rays. Holding it up to the light should prevent you from seeing through it.

12. Yogurt

Yogurt, like milk, has soothing properties. The lactic acid in yogurt has proven beneficial in treating sun poisoning and its symptoms.

It also has amazing benefits in moisturizing the area and relieving the pain and irritation accompanying sunburn.

When to Seek Professional Help

When symptoms are severe or persist for an extended length of time, it’s essential to see a doctor. This can indicate a more serious ailment that requires specific treatments or care.

A medical practitioner can accurately assess the severity of the ailment and suggest possible treatment courses. In addition to prescribing medication, they could recommend light therapy or these at-home remedies.

How To Prevent Sun Poisoning?

There are similar methods for preventing sunburn and sun poisoning:

Minimize Exposure: Avoid extended exposure to strong sunlight. It can entail wearing a hat, covering exposed skin with clothing, or, if feasible, remaining in the shade.

Use Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen to exposed skin. A higher-factor (50+) sunscreen provides more protection for the skin and a lower chance of sun poisoning.

Watch Out for Drug Side Effects: Certain medications can make you more sensitive to sunlight. Knowing whether a drug raises the risk of sun poisoning is crucial.

Conclusion

Aloe vera, Epsom salt baths, and cold compresses are natural treatments that can quickly relieve the pain and discomfort associated with sun poisoning. Cooling products and adequate hydration can help reduce inflammation and hasten healing.

Although these treatments aid in healing, preventing sun poisoning in the first place is crucial. To shield your skin from too much UV exposure, always use sunscreen with an SPF of 50+, wear protective apparel, and drink enough water. Limiting sun exposure during peak hours is another way to lower the risk of severe burns.

Being proactive and utilizing these professional-recommended treatments may speed up your recovery and avoid more sun damage. Make caring for your skin a top priority, and be sure to be ready and sun-safe the next time you go out!

May 2019

Written by Somapika D
March 2025

Edited by Ankita

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