Sunburns on the face: how to relieve them?


Ouch ouch ouch… a sunburn on the face, it is not aesthetic but it is also very painful. How to relieve it and especially avoid it? We take stock.

Not everyone is equal in the face of the sun’s rays. People who have fair skin and freckles tend to blush faster than others. Those with darker skin are naturally less susceptible to sunburn. This does not mean, however, that they are protected against its effects. Unsightly, especially when visible on the face, they also pose a health risk. How to avoid sunburn and relieve it? Sylvie Hampikian, expert in pharmaco-toxicology and author of the book “Create your organic cosmetics” published by Terre Vivante, gives us advice and shares natural remedies.

How to avoid sunburn?

Exposure to the sun without protection is dangerous for health. Damage can be immediate or long term. Sunburns and burns are never trivial. They participate in the premature aging of the skin and increase the risk of melanoma. However, it is possible to fully enjoy the benefits of the sun on the skin and morale by respecting certain rules.

  • Apply sunscreen. Remember to cover the face well with a product suited to your skin tone. Women with fair skin, naturally fair hair, and those with freckles should prioritize SPF50 ratings. In any case, always start by protecting yourself with the highest index when the first rays of sun appear. Remember to put the cream on sensitive areas like the nose, forehead, neck, back of the neck and shoulders.
  • Limit your sun exposure, especially when you are still. “Avoid staying more than ten minutes a day under the sun in a static position and without protection (reading, sunbathing …)“, considers Sylvie Hampikian.
  • Wear a cap or visor.
  • Consider putting on sunglasses to protect your eyes.
  • Avoid exposing yourself between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun is at its zenith.
  • You can also prepare your skin with beta-carotene-based food supplements, vegetable pigment precursor of vitamin A. A way to activate and prolong the tan. Indeed, beta-carotene has the power to activate melanin synthesis and protect skin cells against the harmful effects of the sun. Be careful, however, to adhere to the correct dosage. It is also possible to prepare your skin with an oily carrot macerate. “It not only looks good“, believes Sylvie Hampikian “but also provides beta-carotene to the skin“. However, some precautions must be taken.”It is advisable to apply it in the evening, replacing the night cream and to stop applying it a few days before exposure to the sun.“Says the specialist. This product is, in fact, photosensitizing and may worsen the reaction to the sun.

To read also on aufeminin :
How to avoid sunburn?
After-sun beauty: body and hair care to repair

Our product selection:

Avène sunscreen

High sun protection spray SPF30 without white effect. This product is suitable for the body and the face. Available here.

Cattier organic sunscreen

This SPF50 protection spray is suitable for both the body and the face. Available here.

La Roche-Posay Moisturizing Sun Milk

This SPF50 + index sun lotion is specially formulated for dry and sensitive skin. The tube of this sunscreen is eco responsible. Available here.

Organic self-tanning vegetarian capsule from Biosens

These capsules prepare the skin for the sun. They contain vitamin C and carotenoids. Available here.

Vitalflan solar René Furterer

These solar capsulars are a source of beta-carotene of natural origin. Available here.

Ladrôme organic carrot maceration oil

This oily macerate prepares the skin for the sun. Available here.

What remedies to relieve sunburn on the face?

  • Put cool water on your face in case of overheating

In case of sunburn or superficial burn, Sylvie Hampikian recommends, first of all, to refresh the skin with cold water. Apply compresses or a towel to the face for five minutes to lower the temperature in the skin. “Simply dab“, advises Sylvie Hampikian. Avoid ice water which could aggravate the problem.

  • Apply moisturizer

You can then apply “a moisturizing milk for babies“on the skin or aloe vera gel, known for its soothing properties. These products have the ability to limit the destructive effects of the sun’s rays on skin cells.

  • Apply potato flesh to your face

Cut thin slices of potato, apply them as a poultice on your skin. Leave on for five minutes“, specifies Sylvie Hampikian. You can repeat the experience several times during the day. This remedy also works with watermelon, cucumber, tomato, strawberries, raspberries, currants, more generally”of any fruit, naturally, rich in water“, considers the specialist.

  • Soak a compress with apple cider vinegar

Another effective remedy: apple cider vinegar. “You can also use edible white vinegar or lemon vinegar“Says Sylvie Hampikian. For that, nothing could be simpler, impregnate a compress that you apply on your face for five minutes. Avoid contact with the eyes.

  • Bet on lemon juice

Another alternative is lemon juice. “Soak a compress and dab on your face for five minutes so that the hydrating active ingredients of the lemon juice have time to soak in”.

  • Test lavender hydrosol

If your face is slightly heated, Sylvie Hampikian recommends spraying her face with a hydrosol of lavender, chamomile or geranium with soothing and moisturizing properties. Another advantage, “lavender and geranium keep mosquitoes away“, she assures.

  • Coat your lips with olive oil

Do you have chapped lips from the sun? Under the effect of dehydration, your lips tend to dry out. There is, again, care adapted to your problem. “You can coat your lips with olive or sunflower oil or grease them generously with shea butter or sweet almond oil“, insists the specialist.

Our selection of aloe vera products:

Repair gel with aloe vera Fleurance nature

This gel is with aloe vera and fair trade shea butter. It can be used both on the body and the face and is suitable for all skin types. Available here.

Soothing aloe vera gel the body shop

With 90% organic aloe vera gel from Fairtrade Mexico, this refreshing gel hydrates and soothes dry and sensitive skin. It is easily applied on the body and face. Available here.

What to do for burns ?

  • Apply Biafine to your face

Biafine is the gold standard for soothing burns and sunburns. It is mainly used to treat first or second degree burns. Thanks to its active ingredients, it helps the skin to regenerate. There is no contraindication to applying it to the face. Consider seeing a doctor if the sunburn shows any sign of infection.

  • Create a repairing lip balm

Are your lips burnt from the sun? Sylvie Hampikian gives us some tips for making her homemade, nourishing and repairing lip balm. “Take a tablespoon of shea butter or coconut oil. Add four to six drops of essential oils of true lavender, noble geranium“.

Our product selection:

Biafine

This treatment is indicated for the treatment of first and second degree burns. Available here.

How to protect your hair?

Is your hair dry and damaged? “It is not so much the sun that damages the hair but also the sea water“Insists Sylvie Hampikian. So remember to rinse them with water after swimming.”To nourish your hair, apply monoi oil or coconut oil on the ends “, explains the specialist who recommends placing a few drops of oil only in the hands before rubbing them. “It is only when the product has penetrated your hands well that you can knead your hair ends.“.

Also consider making a repairing mask when you return from your vacation. The specialist gives us a new recipe. “If you have short hair, mix half a ripe avocado with half a ripe banana. If you have long hair, mix a whole avocado with a whole banana. Apply the treatment to damp hair. Leave on for fifteen minutes before rinsing“.

VIDEO. Food supplements: the solutions to have perfect skin

Video by Juliette Le Peillet