Keep yourself away from sunburn with Ayurveda

Sunburn is an acute inflammatory condition of the skin cell due to over exposure of ultra violet radiation from the sun. According to ayurveda people of pitta constitution, who are generally more faired skin are more susceptible to sun burn. Sun burn may create premature ageing and wrinkling of skin and the person looks old like a roasted potato. Ayurveda has numerous recommendations to prevent sunburn and to treat it effectively if it happens. 

Topical remedies to soothe sun burn

o  Apply aloe Vera cream. Or if you have access to an aloevera plant lightly rub a piece of the plant (after cutting it, open and taking out gel) on the sun burnt area.

o  Coconut oil is effective for soothing a sun burnt skin

o  Apply tikta ghrita topically.

o  Take gauze pad dip it into cool cow milk and apply it directly to the sun burnt area. If you have no milk available, use a cloth and dip in cool water, but milk is better.

o  Pulverize some lettuce and apply the pulp directly to the sun burnt are

o  Apply a little fresh cream from milk directly on the sun burnt area.

o  Make a paste of sandal wood and turmeric by mixing equal amount of these herbs with a little cool water. Apply gently to the sun burnt area it will have a cooling effect.

To prevent Sun Burn

o  Avoid/ minimise exposure to sun light from 10 am to 3 pm those are the peak hours of sun's strength.

o  Limit your time in the direct sun to no more than half n hour.

o  Before going in to the sun apply a few drops of neem oil mixed with sesame oil. o  Drink coconut water.

o  Don't take sauna.

o  Avoid eating spicy and fermented food.

o  Before and after showering apply neem oil to your skin and neem oil doesn't mean pure neem extract but few drops of neem mixed with sesame oil to your skin alternatively you can apply coconut oil

Yoga:  Do sheetli or Sheetkari pranayam and this will have a cooling effect on the body.