You get sunburned when your skin is exposed to the sun for a long period of time. People resort to using sunscreen to protect their skin against damage. However, SPF can’t be used on your lips. The fact remains, people are not as good at lip care as they are at protecting the rest of their body.
Sunburn can affect your lips in various ways, especially if you have sensitive lips. Some common affects are chapped lips, hyperpigmentation, dehydrating lips, sun blister on lips, reddening, swelling, elasticity loss etc. The good news is it’s fantastically easy to add sun protection for your lips to your daily beauty routine.
Causes for sunburned lips
The following are some of the most unexceptional reasons that might cause your lips to get sunburned:
- Over exposure to the sun can
- Ultraviolet rays from the sun
- Severe UVA and UVB rays from the sun
Symptoms Of Sunburned Lips
Following are the symptoms that often accompany sunburned lips:
- Itchiness
- Swollen lips
- A sensation of burning on the lips
- Split or cracked lips
- Hyperpigmentation
- Reddening of lips
- Lips might feel sore, tender, warm or dry when touched
- Puss filled blisters on the lips
- Too much of heat and excessive dehydration may lead to dry and chapped lips
- Skin starts peeling off
- Bleeding due to split lips
- During the healing process, dark spots can appear on the lips
A List Of Useful And Effective Home Remedies To Help You Take Care Of Sunburned Lips
If you are wondering how to treat sunburned lips and want to avoid taking over the counter medicine, then follow this list of home remedies to get rid of sunburned lips:
Cold Compresses
This is a very obvious suggestion but one that should never be underestimated. A cold compress should be given immediately after spotting symptoms of sunburned lips. This will help reduce the inflammation and cool down the affected area.
Directions of use: Take ice water in a bowl and soak a clean towel in the cold water. Apply the soaked towel onto the affected area and keep repeating this activity till the pain goes down and the swelling and tenderness reduces.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera leaf comprises of effective anti-inflammatory agents. This is one of the best natural treatments for sunburned lips. Aloe Vera is gentle and has hydrating properties.
Directions Of Use: You can use Aloe Vera as a remedy for sunburned lips in two ways. You can either use an Aloe Vera gel or if you have an Aloe Vera plant at your home you can cut a leaf, slice it and apply the gel directly on the affected area. You can keep the gel in the freezer for a few minutes to have a cooling effect if you choose to.
Moisturize Your Lips
Moisturizing your lips doesn’t mean grabbing the lotion or cream lying next to you and applying it. Many of these creams consist of toxic chemicals that might further harm your lips. Use natural moisturizers like coconut oil which is soothing and works wonders on sunburned lips. You can also mix coconut oil with shea butter. Other inexpensive and natural lip moisturizers include honey, almond oil, beeswax, olive oil, vitamin E etc.
Directions of use: Apply a moisturizer of your choice on chapped or sunburned lips to help prevent cracking and bleeding of lips.
Drink water
It is very important to stay hydrated when you have sunburn on your body or on your lips. After getting sunburned, you should continuously sip on liquids. But tea or soda doesn’t count. You need just plain water. This will keep your body hydrated from the inside. Drinking water is essential for your body to heal as well as for nursing your sunburned lips.
Directions of use: Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day. And keep sipping on fluids after getting a sunburned lip.
Avoid sun
You knew this was coming. You had your share of fun in the sun but after getting a sunburned lip, avoid any further exposure to the sun as that could worsen the condition and can prevent your body from healing. If you do plan to go out in the sun, be sure to wear sunscreen and keep your lips moisturized. You can also opt to wear a wide-brimmed hat which will keep your lips protected from the sun and the UV rays.
Oatmeal
This might not sound very appealing but taking an oatmeal bath is good for aching blisters and to relieve you from the pain. Taking an oatmeal bath also helps in reducing inflammation.
Directions of use: You can use a piece of muslin cloth to boil a cup of oatmeal for a few minutes. Once it cools down, apply it onto the affected area and then apply aloe vera gel or cream on it.
Potato Juice
Potato juice gives a cooling effect on the lips. Potato starch feels cool on the skin and can help with the burns and inflamed skin.
Directions of use: Grate a potato or puree raw potato in the blender. Apply the potato juice on the lips and leave it for as long as possible.
Olive Oil
Vitamin E quickly reduces dryness and roughness caused by sunburn on the lips. Olive oil is rich in Vitamin E. If you do not have Vitamin E at your home, then you can use olive oil as a substitute.
Directions of use: Apply excess of olive oil on your sunburned lips and leave it on for some time. Remove the oil with cotton before having food.
Tomato
Tomato contains a magic ingredient named lycopene. This is the reason why it is advised to eat as many tomatoes during summers as possible. Lycopene fights off harmful UV rays and protects your skin from sunburn. It is also very helpful in treating sunburned lips.
Directions of use: You can soothe your sunburned lips by mixing one-fourth cup tomato juice with half a cup of buttermilk and applying this mixture on your lips to treat your sunburned lips.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps in preventing scars and also promotes the formation of new skin. Apply vitamin E on your sunburned lip and keep it on for as long as possible. It is wise to apply it before going to sleep.
Chamomile
Chamomile works wonders on sunburned lips. Along with having an appeasing smell, it heals sunburned lips quickly.
Directions of use: You can use chamomile in two ways. You can soak a few chamomile tea bags in water and keep it in the freezer for a few minutes before applying it on the affected area. You can also mix almond oil with 3-4 drops of chamomile oil and apply the fusion onto the damaged area.
Slices of cucumber
Cucumber slices are your best bet against pain and blisters. They help in minimising the pain and works towards your speedy recovery.
Directions of use: Keep the cucumber slices in the fridge for 10 minutes before use and then apply it on the affected area till the pain eases.
Lettuce
It is indeed surprising to learn that lettuce can be used for something other than making salads but these leaves help in decreasing inflammation and have powerful properties that help with the aching sunburned blisters on the lips.
Directions of use: Boil lettuce leaves for 10 minutes, let it cool down and wash your blisters with this concoction every few hours throughout the day till the pain goes down and the inflammation reduces.
Turmeric
Turmeric has good antiseptic properties. These properties will come in handy when you are dealing with burning and painfully sunburned lips. Turmeric is a useful home remedy to help treat your sunburned lips. It decreases inflammation and alleviates pain.
Directions of use: Make a paste by mixing two tablespoons of turmeric with water and apply it on the affected area. You can also add yogurt to this paste to make it more dehydrating. Leave the paste on your lips for an hour before washing it off with cold water. Repeat this remedy until the blisters go away and the pain reduces.
Butter and Ghee
Ghee and butter are known to contain Vitamin E and fat. Vitamin E as we know reduces dryness and roughness and heals sunburned lips. This is one of the best home remedies to get rid of sunburned lips. Butter and Ghee have been known to have properties which can soothe inflamed skin. Apply a thick layer of butter or ghee on your sunburned lip and wash it off with cold water after an hour.
Precautions for sunburned lips
Following are a few precautions that should be taken to avoid getting sunburned lips:
- Wear sunscreen and look for natural brands
- Try using natural products for skincare
- Do not overexpose yourself to the sun
- Drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated
- Stop licking lips
