Luckily there are a few home remedies hiding in your fridge or fruit bowl that will help to ease the tightness, soothe the stinging and alleviate the itching that comes along with a nasty dose of sunburn.
Potatoes
Potatoes are rich in starch, which can help to take the sting out of sunburn.
Slice up this store cupboard staple and gently rub on to the most painful spots; you can also finely grate raw potato and apply it as a poultice for a more intensive treatment.
Oatmeal
Oats are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be soothing on red-hot skin.
Cook as instructed, adding a little extra water to make it slightly runnier than normal, and then carefully apply to the skin, making sure not to rub it in.
When the pain has eased, rinse off with cool water. Reapply as often as required, using fresh oatmeal each time.
Cucumber
Due to their high water content, cucumbers make a great natural pain-reliever.
Blend chilled cucumber in to a paste and apply to the affected areas.
(While you’re at it, grab a couple of slices and pop them over your eyes to reduce puffiness and stinging, and take a moment to relax. Much better.)
Tomatoes
Another piece of produce with a high-water content is the humble tomato; placing cold slices on stinging skin can bring about a lot of relief.
There is also evidence, though, that eating a tomato-rich diet can help to prevent sunburn; the study suggests that the lycopene found in cooked tomatoes protects the skin against UV radiation.
Tea
Room-temperature tea applied to sunburnt skin alleviates pain and itching, and the tannins present in black tea may also help to repair sun damage.
Steep a handful of tea bags in hot water, before allowing the liquid to come to room temperature. Soak a clean rag in the tea and dab gently on to the skin; you can reapply as often as required.
