The sun is a good source of vitamin D, which keeps the skin healthy and looking young. It is beneficial for the bones and makes them sturdy and strong. Inadequate exposure to sunlight can lead to sickly looking skin as well as skin diseases.

But overexposure to the sun can also have bad side effects, and the most common of all is sunburn. It appears within 24 hours after exposure to high levels of ultraviolet rays. People with fairer skin tones think that it’s better to have suntans. What they don’t know is that they are hurting themselves by over-exposing themselves to the sun’s rays.

Sunburn ointments are readily available from stores and online sites. At Amazon, sunburn ointments cost a little less than $10. But you can save by using home remedies to treat sunburn. You can try the remedies below the next time you suffer from sunburn.

Cold Water

For immediate relief from sunburn, soak the affected area in cold water. Don’t use ice water. You can also use cold compresses for 15 minutes. The cold decreases the swelling and removes the heat from the skin.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is another common item from the kitchen that can be used to treat sunburn. Add oatmeal into a cool bath and soak in it. Simply grind a cup of oatmeal in a food processor and add it to the bath water. You can also use a colloidal oatmeal product, which is available from Amazon.

Green Tea

A green tea compress can work wonders for sunburn. To make one, just brew a pot of green tea and let it cool. Then get a clean cloth and soak it in the tea. Use this as a compress over the sunburned areas. Green tea is said to possess properties that help protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation damage and decrease inflammation of the skin. Amazon offers several brands of green tea which you can choose from.

Peppermint

Peppermint has cooling properties that help soothe sunburn. To make a home remedy for sunburn, make peppermint tea or place two drops of peppermint oil into a cup of lukewarm water. Chill the solution and apply it to the sunburned area. You can buy peppermint tea for as low as $10 per 100-count box.

Fresh Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are not just good for salads. You can also use them to get instant relief from sunburn. Rub a sliced potato or cucumber onto the affected area. They have compounds that help reduce the swelling.