Saturday, June 6, 2009

Burn, Baby, Burn

We all love the hot weather. Many of us wait all winter for the spring to come and go, then head for the sun. Yes, we know about the SPF, and we know we shouldn't stay out there too long, but very often we're getting burned without even being aware of it.

The discomfort of sunburn varies from person to person, and obviously if things are real bad a trip to the doctor's is reccomended. For most of us though, we try to get through those first couple of days with our own remedies. Maybe some over the counter bottle or jar. From my own childhood, calamine lotion was always the order of the day, and still is in many households.

There are ways we can help ease the discomfort of having spent too long in the sun in a natural way, and one of the easiest is to take a cool bath. Please make sure it's cool and not cold. A cold bath is not good for you as it may cause the body to go into shock. Adding a few drops of essential oil of lavender or chamomile is helpful, and oatmeal or baking soda can also be a relief to the sunburn sting.

Soak in your bath for about 15 minutes, and try to make sure that all the affected areas are covered by the water. The cool of your water will help to draw the heat away from the surface of the skin, and the sunburned face can be helped by gently patting with a cool wet facecloth, or by splashing with cool water. Use a nice soft towel to dry off, but pat yourself dry, rather than rub.

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