Sunburn is a type of skin disorder manifesting as burns on the skin identified by red, painful blisters and rashes. Sun Burn occurs due to overexposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun causing inflammation of the skin. There can be blemishes just after 30 minutes of exposure. It mostly affects light skinned people. The condition may also be caused by usage of tanning beds and tanning lamps. Often resulting in disabling the person affected, it can cause discomfort but is not fatal. It can be acute and may lead to many other ailments such as scarring of the skin or skin cancer.
Ayurveda For Sunburn
Ayurveda treatments focus on setting right the disturbed balance of the body to allow it to heal itself. The medicines are natural and safe to use. The treatment of Sun Burn is preventive in general and addresses the skin rashes resulting from the condition.
Symptoms Of Sunburn
The most common symptoms are rashes, redness, blisters and scaly patches on the skin that has been exposed to direct sunrays. There may be pain and swelling also. The affected area may feel tender and hot. Dehydration and infection may occur when it gets severe. Some others may have symptoms like swelling in the legs, fever and chill, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting.
Causes Of Sunburn
Exposure to the ultra violet rays of the sun causes sun burn, mostly in people with fair skin. It may also occur due to some chronic ailments.
Ayurveda Remedies for Sun Burn
For applications on the skin Mahanarayan oil, Chandan-Bala-Laxadi oil, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut, Shata-Dhout-Ghrut, Yashtimadhuk Ghrut, and are prescribed.
Ayurvedic medicines used to treat sub burn are Arogya-Vardhini, Chandanadi-Vati, Chandrakala-Ras, Kamdudha-Ras, Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivasav, Gandhak-Rasayan, Sutshekhar-Ras and Usheerasav.
An ointment that contains herbs such as Chandan, Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Haridra, Manjishtha, Saariva, Usheer, Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra) is also useful.
Herbal medicines like Triphala (Three fruits), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Chandan (Santalum album), Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis) and Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris) can also be used for this purpose.
An ointment containing Manjishtha, Saariva, Chandan, Usheer, Haridra, Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra) and Mandukparni (Centella asiatica) can also be used for this purpose.
These medicines can reduce redness, swelling and inflammation of the skin. Gradually the effect of these medicines will reduce other symptoms like hyper-pigmentation and also desensitize the skin. Thus long-term complications like thickening and scarring of the skin and skin cancer are prevented.
Prevention of Sun Burn
- When going out use sunscreen with not less than 15 SPF with intervals of 3 to 4 hours.
- Drink plenty of water to keep dehydration away.
- Use of ultra-violet sunglasses and hat can be helpful to protect from exposure to direct sun rays.
- Wear absorbent clothes with full sleeves allowing adequate ventilation.