Is there something that you can drink that's good for sunburns?

Question

I got sunburnt but mostly around the eyes, and they are kinda swollen but mostly red, I was wondering does anyone know any sort of thing I can drink or eat to help it? I've been using aloe vera but they're still red.

Answer 1

First, you should not use aloe vera too close to your eyes. If the burn hurts, take some orange pekoe or black pekoe tea bags, get them wet in cold water, and 'pat your skin' around your eyes with that ... you can do this as often as you want/ need to, and it will take the 'burn' out of the sunburn.
Second, drink LOTS OF COOL WATER ... at least 64 ounces every day (even without a sunburn) and up to 128 ounces of water per day when you have the 'burn' ... the water will 'detoxify' your system and it also 'plumps' your skin, and part of the 'pain' of a sunburn is from 'dehydration' of your skin, so water will help you to 'feel normal' again.
Third ... use a good SUNSCREEN ... and use it EVERY TIME you go outside. Use AT LEAST SPF50 around your eyes (on your whole face) plus wear sunglasses AND a hat with a 'wide brim' to keep the direct sunlight off your face. The sun used to be bad, but with all of the pollution we have now, it's DEADLY if you get burned ... so don't get sunburnt any more. You'll look younger and feel younger, and you shouldn't get CANCER from sunburns, either.

Answer 2

2 or 3 asprin and a very cold compress over the area should also help. Sun burns will continue to burn for quite some time unless you stop the burning with something cold the same way that a steak will continue to cook for about 15 minutes after you take it off of the grill. If the burn is severe then you may need an ointment like silvadene. Otherwise like everyone has said aloe vera topically. Drinking aloe vera will help an ulser or certain digestive dissorders but wont do much for a sun burn.

Answer 3

Don't drink it. Put it on the skin. But I believe it is primarily used for poison ivy and such, so you may not want to use it for a sunburn. You could make a mixture of water and a little vinegar in a spray bottle - it helps with cooling / soothing bad sunburns. But don't drink that either.

Answer 4

cold water is the best first aid when you burn yourself - 20 minutes under the tap is ideal. NEVER ice or vinegar or milk or butter or mustard or toothpaste or sunscreen or semen or vaseline or tomatoes or vanilla extract or yogurt or sour cream or egg white or lavender oil or cocoa butter or salt or tea - not until the skin is fully healed! ignore anyone who advises any of these!

i would advise that you cover the burnt area with sterile paraffin wax or aqueous cream bp. (check the links below and see if you can find a local equivalent)

cover the burnt area in paraffin wax after cleaning and removing any burst blisters - these are just sites of infection and will take longer to heal. wash and reapply every 4-6 hours - cover with cling wrap if you wish to cover with clothes - this will stop your clothes getting covered with paraffin and maintains the burn.

cling wrap alone is ok if you can't get hold of any paraffin. it also acts as a protective artificial skin - helping retain moisture and protect from further damage and pain. cling wrap is cheap and clean off the roll. in Australia ambulances often use this when someone has been burnt. - please note that cling wrap isn't always practical, like on your face.

paraffin creates a seal stopping water leaving the body and reduces pain as it protects sensitised nerves. the paraffin imitates the natural oils secreted by the skin. skin cells are better able to multiply and regenerate with this treatment. pain is also helped. make sure you buy plenty of this paraffin - as the burn heals switch to aqueous cream bp.(aqueous cream has a bunch of paraffin in it plus some moisturisers - look out for stuff that also contains sorbolene or glycerine as these help also). following this regime definitely will help your sunburn heal faster and peel less. aloe is good coz it remoisturises but that moisture can be quickly lost as the skin can't contain fluids- this is a function of healthy skin.

so put aloe on, and then the paraffin on over the top as long as there is no broken skin this works great. if there is broken skin leave out the aloe - just paraffin.

long term treatment to prevent scarring or loss of function due to contractures(as skin heals it can tighten reducing how much you can move - a skin graft is necessary to repair this). daily moisturiser, daily stretches - talk to a physio, pressure bandages like tubigrip, massaging the scar. this all reduce/flatten the scar and minimise the need for further treatment/surgery.

http://www.doorone.com.au/xGS-Aqueous_Cream~NS-1~linkin_id-8009837

http://www.pharmacyonline.com.au/david-craig-paraffin-400g-p-1831.html

hope this helps - let me know how you go and what similar brands/alternatives are available in your area

email if you still have questions - send photos [e-mail]

finally if you are really worried go to a hospital that has a burns unit or plastic surgeons.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is there something that you can drink that's good for sunburns?
I got sunburnt but mostly around the eyes, and they are kinda swollen but mostly red, I was wondering does anyone know any sort of thing I can drink or eat to help it? I've been using aloe vera but they're still red.

Answer 6

Papaya, mashed, might help. I used it once for a serious sunburn, and it was soothing.

Aloe may not be effective if it's not directly taken from a fresh aloe plant. You can buy them in most plant stores and many supermarkets in the U.S.

Lying down with two wet tea bags, soaked in warm water and wrung out, will help with the swelling.

You might try bathing in and wiping around your eyes with olive oil. This is a very ancient beauty treatment.

Olive oil, topically and taken internally, as a food, may be helpful in the prevention of skin cancer.

From now on, Blondie, get out of the sun. It's dangerous.

Answer 7

Benadryl will help with the swelling. I don't think there is anything you can take by mouth or drink but these are some home remedies to check out:

Sunburn Home remedies and cure aim to cool down the affected area, giving relief and prevent peeling of the skin.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Apply cold water pads on the burn. Cold compresses dipped in a solution of some vinegar, ice and water is very beneficial to take the heat out and to cure sunburns.
Apply some mashed tomato mixed with crushed ice on the affected area to get instant relief.
Apply a mixture of 2 teaspoon tomato juice and 4 tablespoon buttermilk. Leave for 1/2 an hour and then wash off.
A thin paste of sandalwood applied to the sunburn area is beneficial.
Apply a mixture of 2 teaspoon olive oil and 2 teaspoon vinegar. Leave for 1/2 an hour and then wash off.
Take vitamin E supplements to reduce itching and speeding up healing of sunburns.
Put preparation H (available from pharmacies) very lightly on the sunburned skin. It will prevent the skin from peeling, and reduce burning and swelling.
Slowly rub slices of fresh cold cucumber over the burns.
Apply the pulp of a stalk of live Aloe Vera over the sunburned area. You can also use the Aloe Vera gel. Note that aloe vera alone will not prevent peeling.
Add some baking soda to cold water and apply. It reduces the burning effect immediately.
Apply a paste of barley, turmeric and yogurt in equal proportions for the treatment of sunburn.
Soak some tea bags in hot water. Take out the bags, let them cool. When they are still warm, place them over the affected area for 1 hour. This is good for for the treatment of pain.
Apply a paste of yogurt with barley and turmeric to affected areas for the treatment of sunburn.
Apply some drops of lavender essential oil on the burned area and then spread it with a piece of tissue to cure sunburns.
Put some vinegar on a cotton ball and rub lightly on the burned area.

Answer 8

I don't think there is anything specific that you can drink but I always like to drink lots of water to get become hydrated because when you sweat, you skin pours will open up and that will help the sunburns. But If you go to the pharmacy, there is "after-sunburn lotions" that really helps.

Hope this works for you!

Answer 9

Ouch! I don't know of anything you can drink except benadryl for the swelling but you can also prepare a cup of green tea let it cool down then take a clean towel and soak it in the tea and place it over your eyes for about 7 minutes. Green tea has ingredients that protect the skin against U.V. rays and reduce inflammation.

Answer 10

Would you believe that a wash cloth soaked in milk will actually relieve the red and relieve the swelling. Someone told me this last summer and I thought that it was a joke. I tried it because I was in so much pain and it worked!