A sunburn is inevitable for anyone who regularly is exposed to the sun or goes on a summer vacation. But what is a sunburn? “Sunburn is an acute inflammatory skin reaction occurring due to extended exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or artificial sources such as tanning beds. The intensity and duration of UV exposure, along with factors such as medication usage, time of day, ozone depletion, high altitude, clear skies, and skin phototype, primarily influence the risk of sunburn.”(1)
Avoiding the sun is a way to prevent sunburn but not the most practical or healthy way. The human body, from the eyes to emotional/hormonal health to skin health is designed to be exposed to the sun. “During the sunrise and sunset, damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays are also blocked since they have higher frequencies, similar to blue light. (One study discovered that when your shadow is taller than you while you stand, then you are getting the optimal exposure to red and infrared light while being protected from UV radiation.)” (2) This makes dawn and dusk the ideal time to get sun exposure and especially beneficial due to the red light exposure. Some of the benefits of red light exposure are: improve hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia, reduce myopia progression, reduce psoriasis lesions and burn scars, reduce neuropathic pain, improve neural function, improve cognition and memory for people with Alzheimer’s disease, improve skin complexion and build collagen, and diminish wrinkles, relieve pain and inflammation. (3)
For many, only getting sun exposure during dawn or dusk is not feasible. Wearing long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat that is UVA and UVB-blocking is an effective way to avoid sunburn when the sun is the highest and most damaging. UV radiation is what causes sunburn. One way to decide how much sun protection will be needed to prevent sunburn on any given day or in any location is to Google the location’s UV index for that day. The UV index is a scale rating the intensity of UV exposure.
“UV Index (UVI)
0 to 2 Low
3 to 5 Moderate
6 to 7 High
8 to 10 Very high
11 Extremely high
The higher the UV Index, the more protection you will need. UV radiation is particularly high in mountainous regions, at the equator and in regions where the ozone layer is thin, such as in Australia. In most places, UVB radiation is at its strongest between 11am and 3pm because the sun is high in the sky then. UVB exposure is also more of a problem in the summer than in the winter. Thick clouds can reduce UV radiation, but thin clouds don’t provide much protection.” (4)
Another way to protect your body from sunburn is to use shade and sunscreen. Look for a sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater that blocks UVA and UVB rays. The most non-toxic sunscreen is mineral-based sunscreen that uses non-nano zinc oxide. To prevent a sunburn follow the directions on the bottle. “Sunscreens come labeled with a sun protection factor (SPF), such as 15, 30, or 50. A sunscreen labeled SPF 15 means it will take you 15 times as long to get a sunburn as it would if you had no sunscreen on. A sunscreen labeled SPF 30 means it would take you 30 times as long to burn.” (5) Don’t neglect the most commonly forgotten areas when applying sunscreen: your ears and neck, the tip of your nose, and the tops of your hands and feet.
In the wellness space, you may find an argument saying that skin cancer has increased since the introduction of sunscreen. Though this may seem like a valid argument there is a flaw in the logic due to a lack of consideration of the type of sunscreen that is used and the increasing amount of data about skin cancer and awareness of skin cancer that was not available or recorded when comparing the amount now vs 30 years ago. Consider, is a burn beneficial to the skin? Preventing sunburn is a good way to care for the body. Some demographics and skin colors will need to be more aware to prevent sunburn. Those with low levels of melanin also known as fair skin have more sun-sensitive skin than those with high levels of melanin.
I got a sunburn now what?
Sometimes a sunburn happens unexpectedly on a cloudy day or time just flew by on vacation etc. There are ways to support a sunburn and recover well. Sunburns can range from mild to severe. Severe sunburns may need medical intervention. For mild sunburns, some of the ways to support the skin’s healing are to:
Stay hydrated:
Hydration is more than drinking water. Why? Because there are many nutrients and minerals that the body requires to absorb and use to truly be hydrated by fluids. These cofactors for true hydration start with minerals. Without minerals and electrolytes being consumed in adequate amounts then the fluids being consumed have the possibility of flushing out the electrolytes a body currently contains. An easy trick to staying hydrated is to drink spring water which naturally contains minerals in the most natural and balanced way. Also drinking herbal tea with ginger and nettle tea would be very beneficial. Nettle contains many hydrating nutrients and ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory.
Cool the skin down:
Take a cool shower and use one of our gentle soaps. Dandelion Naturals soap naturally contains glycerin which is a natural hydrator. A bar soap I would recommend is:
Dandelion Naturals Tallow Bar Soap, you can find this at: https://dandelionnaturals.com/product/tallow-bar-soap/
Also, our Pure Olive Bar Soap is another ideal soap for rinsing a sunburn. You can find it at: https://dandelionnaturals.com/product/pure-olive-bar-soap/
After rinsing off with cool water, pat dry, do not thoroughly dry.
Apply a nourishing balm
To prevent moisture loss apply a nourishing balm such as Dandelion Naturals Tallow Balm which naturally contains vitamin E; it is a very supportive ingredient for combatting sun damage. You can find this balm at: https://dandelionnaturals.com/product/tallow-balm/
Dandelion Naturals All Purpose Salve is also a great option. It contains many nourishing herbs that would support this tender skin and its need for recovery. You can find this salve at: https://dandelionnaturals.com/product/all-purpose-salve/
For convenient, on-the-go sunburn support check out our Honey Lip Balm. It contains honey which is a natural skin hydrator and tallow which is a natural skin moisturizer. You can find our honey lip balm at: https://dandelionnaturals.com/product/lip-balm/
We hope that you will enjoy the sun responsibly but if you do get sunburned don’t forget these tips to support your skin’s healing, naturally.
Disclaimer: Regulations set forth by the FDA prohibit bath and body companies from making health-related claims about beauty products. I am not a medical or healthcare professional and do not claim that using my products may positively affect pre-existing physical and/or mental health conditions. The information in my listings pertains to the properties of specific ingredients used in my products. Please consult a medical professional for treatment of serious skin conditions. As always, I recommend speaking with your health care provider before using any skin care product while pregnant or nursing.
Resources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30521258/ (1)
https://lifespa.com/ayurvedic-lifestyle/circadian-rhythm/red-light-therapy/ (2)
https://www.healthline.com/health/red-light-therapy#benefits (3)
