A day at the beach is fun, until you get home and feel the painful sting of a sunburn. For all-natural relief, head to the pantry for an all-time favorite breakfast food -- oatmeal. Oats are high in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes them perfect for soothing irritated, itchy sunburned skin. When you can’t stand the sting for a moment longer, break out the oats and whip up a simple paste to banish the burn.
Put ½ cup uncooked oats into a blender or food processor. Grind up the oats until they’re a fine powder.
Pour the powder into a bowl. Add ¼ cup of milk and a few tablespoons of honey. Stir well with a spoon until all of the ingredients are combined.
Spread the oatmeal paste onto your sunburned skin. Leave it on for at least 20 minutes, or until the sting of the sunburn goes away.
Wipe the paste gently from your skin with a soft cloth and cool water.
- Sprinkle ground-up oats into your bath water and soak for 30 minutes for another way to relieve sunburn. Or fill an old sock with oats, tie the end and swish the sock in tepid bath water as the tub fills up. Squeeze the sock periodically while you soak to release the oatmeal liquid into the water.
- Discontinue treatment and consult your physician if you develop a severe reaction to sunburn with symptoms including fever, chills, nausea or a rash.
- John Wiley/Demand Media