Everybody loves a good sun tan. But you know what its excess can do? Burn your skin!
Sunburn happens when too much UV light from the sun gets your immune system alert. In response, it increases blood flow to the surface and makes the cells inflamed RED.
If you got a severe burn, you might seek medical help. Otherwise, mild to moderate ones just need a little care and the essential oil magic.
Why Use Essential Oils for Sunburn?
We all know that nothing can beat nature’s therapy. Pure essential oils prove this statement by being one of the best sunburn relief agents.
You may value sunscreens and branded creams, but the real lush gems are essential oils. They are free from any harmful agents and provides your skin with all the benefits mother nature can offer. Also, their soothing ingredients bestow your skin with moisturizing benefits, antioxidant power, and improves overall clarity to a brighter, firmer look.
Now that you know using these natural oils is wise, let’s see what essential oil is good for sunburn.
Best Essential Oils for Sunburn
Lavender is popular as a relaxing ingredient. Using it on the skin can calm your red cells and relieve irritation. The fun part is that you can also inhale the lavender essential oil along with the application to manage stress from sunburn. Its antifungal and antibacterial properties repel infections, boosting healing.
Benefits for skin:
- Natural moisturizer
- Keeps pimples and acne away
- Promotes wound healing and regeneration
- Reduces inflammation and soothes skin
Peppermint oil contains a good amount of menthol. You might already know menthol is a super cooling agent and soothes your skin perfectly. Now, what will happen if you apply this oil to inflamed skin? Finish the puzzle yourself!
Benefits for skin:
- Soothes itching and irritation
- Anti-inflammatory properties relieve swelling and redness
- Controls oil production, excellent for acne-prone skin
- Has antibacterial properties and may prevent infections
The cool nature of eucalyptus is not hidden from anyone (it’s also a pretty cool product). Like lavender and peppermint, Eucalyptus essential oil can also cool down sun-heated skin. The soothing nature works amazingly to relieve irritated skin and provide it with the gentle care. Also, we can’t ignore its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that have the best interests of our skin.
Benefits for skin:
- It is full of antioxidants that reduce damage to your skin
- Its analgesic magic may relieve pain and ache
- An excellent moisturizing agent
- Keeps the skin hydrated and plump
Chamomile flower is another natural remedy for skin irritation and anxiety. Its Roman variety is specifically known to be the best for sunburn relief. Its antioxidant property keeps free radicals away, which are a primary factor for damaging your skin. Combining the antibacterial qualities, this essential oil fits the top spot in our sunburn relief treatment.
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Benefits for skin:
- Calms nerves and help you get a better sleep
- Antimicrobial properties repair damaged skin
- Anti-inflammatory elements for a healthy skin
- It may help an allergic or irritated skin
- Antioxidants reduce signs of aging and wrinkle
You may have heard the name tea tree essential oil in many anti-acne products. This is due to the antibacterial and antimicrobial effects of this essential oil. It keeps the bacteria at bay, and helps with inflamed skin cells. Talking about inflammation, this oil also has a significant role in controlling it. Make sure you use this oil after diluting; the pure form may cause blisters in sensitive people.
Benefits for skin:
- Relieves itching caused by inflammation
- A savior for people with oily skin
- It may alleviate redness and swelling as an anti-inflammatory agent
- Promotes wound healing and rejuvenates skin
Frankincense may not be popular, but this forgotten essential oil can also soothe your skin pretty much as fine as others. It comes with anti-inflammatory elements that calm the damaged cells and put irritated skin to rest.
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Benefits for skin:
- It improve the tone and elasticity of the skin
- Soothes acne and bumped areas
- It is an excellent moisturizer
- Restore skin hydration status
This plant-based essential oil comes from a place where people are tired of hot days. There, patchouli oil works as a friendly soother. They are lovely for skin that looks irritated and about to peel. You can mix it with carrier oil to make the best sunburn relief remedy.
Benefits for skin:
- Works wonders on a dry and irritated skin
- It may relieve both mental and physical stress
- Improves inflamed areas and blemishes
All thanks to the shrub Geranium - This essential oil is known to have more than 10 active ingredients with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. All these ingredients are not only ideal for sunburn but also release hundreds of skin benefits.
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Benefits for skin:
- Soothes irritated skin
- May promotes the regeneration of skin cells
- Antiseptic qualities help prevent infections
- Works as a natural exfoliant to remove dead skin cells
How to use essential oils for sunburn?
Essential oils are highly concentrated and may cause skin irritation. Therefore, you should always use them mixed with carrier oil. Some beneficial carrier oils are;
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Almond oil
- Jojoba oil
A similar technique works when you wish to relieve sunburn. Take a few drops of any essential oil and mix it in 4X quantity of coconut oil. Now, apply the mixture to your body. Be careful, do not scrub the skin, or it might end up getting more red.
Another way to use essential oils for sunburn is by pouring a few drops on a cold, damp cloth and gently pressing it on the affected area.
Here, you must ensure you use USDA organic essential oils. Any fragrant compound might contain chemicals that can harm the already burned skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any side effects of using essential oils on the skin?
Natural compounds are usually safe to use. In fact, they are the best alternative to any cream or synthetic lotion. It only cause irritation in people with a known allergy to oil. Plus, never use these oils without diluting them in carrier oil.
What essential oil is best for sunburn?
Though all the recommendations in this post works great for sunburn, the top ones are chamomile, peppermint, tea tree, and lavender oil. These come with proven soothing qualities and have anti-inflammatory effects.
Can I use coconut oil for sunburn?
Although coconut oil is excellent for moisturizing, it has heat-trapping properties. Your sunburned skin needs cooling, not heating. So, pure coconut oil is not a good idea. You can mix it with essential oils instead.
Do essential oils darken your skin?
No, essential oils are purely natural and have no such effect on your skin. In fact, most of these magical ingredients may improve your skin tone by reducing inflammation and free radicals.
Who should not use essential oils?
People with known allergies to any essential oil should avoid it. They should not even use it to improve sunburn. Also, children or individuals with sensitive skin should use any oil with caution. Always dilute essential oils and do a patch test before using them on the skin.