Sunburn.
Ugh.
We’ve all been there and we all know how much it stinks.
I want to preface this all by saying, if you’re going to be out in the sun, you should definitely be using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50
. Sunscreen should be applied liberally and reapplied throughout the day; otherwise, you’re opening yourself up to the pain of sunburn along with the possibility of developing blisters or sun poisoning. Sunscreen should be applied even on days where it’s cloudy and overcast because even though we may not be able to see the sun, the rays are still coming through the clouds and can still cause sunburn.
Sun poisoning is the term used for a severe case of sunburn. Symptoms generally present as a normal sunburn at first, with redness and pain of the skin, but then can further develop into blistering, skin cracking, dehydration, fever, and a rash. Confusion, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, and fainting can also occur with sun poisoning. It’s important that you seek medical care if you develop sun poisoning to help keep any potential complications to a minimum.
While we usually think of sunburn as an annoyance or an inconvenience that will go away before long, it’s important to keep in mind that there can be long-term consequences of repeatedly getting burned. Some of these include an increased risk of developing skin cancer (including melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer) and leaves our skin prone to premature wrinkles, aging, and developing brown spots. Sunburn can cause changes to our DNA, and once this damage is done, it’s impossible to reverse.
All of this being said, I realize that we’re all human and there are going to be times where we either forget to put our sunscreen on, don’t apply it often enough, or maybe get caught out when we don’t realize we’re even going to be exposed to UV rays. For those times, I have a simple DIY After Sun Skin Soothing Spray recipe for you today that is made with aloe (soothes burn), vegetable oil (keeps the skin hydrated), and essential oils (also helps soothe the burn and helps to keep skin healthy). Keep reading below for the recipe.
DIY After Sun Skin Soothing Spray
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Jojoba oil
or vegetable oil of choice
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
(you can also use aloe vera juice here if you would like)
1 tsp Vitamin E Oil
15 drops Lavender Essential Oil
15 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
(if this is going to be used on kids, please replace the peppermint with spearmint or corn mint)
4-ounce glass or stainless steel spray bottle
Directions:
Add all ingredients to the spray bottle and shake well to combine. Shake well before each use and avoid spraying near the eyes or on clothing. This spray can be used several times throughout the day to promote healing of the skin and soothe the burn. Don’t use this spray on broken skin.
Happy Crafting!
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