Aloe Vera–Sunburns
What Is Sunburn?Sunburn is caused by exposure to ultraviolet light, most commonly from the sun but you can also get sunburnt from lying in a tanning bed. Mild sunburn can occur after only a few minutes in direct sunlight, although it can take several hours of exposure to the sun for many people to experience sunburn. Unfortunately, you don’t usually realize that you have sunburn until a few hours after exposure. Only then does the skin becomes red, slightly swollen and is usually accompanied by pain, eventually the skin will peel off and new skin will form.
Because of sunburn’s delayed effects, severe sunburns are not uncommon and can result in extreme pain, swelling, and even blisters may appear several days after extreme exposure. Severe sunburns can also be accompanied by fever and fatigue. The blisters are considered second-degree burns and may become infected if not attended to properly.
Not only are sunburns painful, the damage they inflict on your skin lasts for days and can actually be dangerous if blisters appear. The redness of sunburns is caused when the capillaries that supply the blood to the skin become clogged and swollen. Severe sunburns damage these blood vessels and destroy the elastic fibers in the skin. This causes sagging and wrinkling. Excessive sun exposure can also lead to skin cancer, the most common type of cancer.
With all this talk about sunburns, you could be forgiven for thinking that the sun is bad for your skin. But actually, sunlight is mandatory for good skin health and your wellbeing in general. It is very important to understand though that sunlight must be taken in moderate, regular doses. The sun is not harmful to your skin but sunburn is.
Our bodies need sunlight for several reasons. But the main reason is that the sun helps our skin produce vitamin D, which is essential to our bodies. Our bodies benefit from this and daily walk outside is actually a recommended treatment for some skin conditions like acne and psoriasis. Just be sure to avoid the most intense times of the day.
How to Treat Sunburn with Aloe Vera
Prevention is always best. So, don’t perform outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The ultraviolet rays are at there most intense around noon. You should also remember to wear a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15, preferably higher. They really do work.
In the event you get sunburnt, Aloe Vera offers probably the best relief from the symptoms and promotes much faster healing. Aloe Vera is often referred to as "the burn plant" and works wonders on all types of burns, especially sunburns. Aloe Vera contains lignins. Lignins are a chemical compound that is an integral part of the skin’s cell walls. Lignins help the skin to heal much faster.
Aloe Vera also works as an effective pain reliever. It acts a cooling agent on the surface and it also contains salicylic acid. The same pain killing agent found in aspirin. Aloe Vera contains two anti-inflammatory agents, gibberellins and glycans. These are very effective at decreasing inflammation, which in turn promotes healing. Aloe Vera really shows it healing powers when it comes to severe burns because it has the ability to prevent blistering and scarring.
Aloe Vera plants can be grown at home in your window sill but it’s often more convenient to purchase a tube of 100% Aloe Vera gel. If you are using an Aloe Vera plant, take as many leaves as necessary and refrigerate them. This will add an extra cooling effect when applied to the affected area. Then simply split the leaves and open them up to expose the gel inside. Cleanse affected area and apply liberally as needed until condition has been corrected.
If you use an Aloe Plant or 100% Aloe Vera gel, you can apply Aloe Vera as often as you like. For severe burns, a small Aloe Vera plant may not be enough.