Obviously, you need to give it your all when it comes to sun protection, but hey, shit happens.
No matter how hard we try to prevent it, sunburns can happen. And it’s never fun to deal with. The stinging, dry and cracked skin, and heat can feel super uncomfortable. Especially for those of us with fair skin.
And to make matters worse, it can be so tempting to scratch the skin to get that dead skin off. Which is so bad for your skin. Try your best to avoid doing this.
Sunburns are just one of those things that takes time to heal.
HOWEVER, there are some skin treatments that can speed up your healing process and ease the discomfort that comes along with sunburn.
One of these skin-restoring treatments is a DIY at-home oatmeal bath. Like a milk bath, an oatmeal bath offers a safer relief to sunburn. The same can be said for irritated skin, psoriasis, and eczema.
The oatmeal works against the sunburn to soothe irritated skin and restore your skin’s natural barrier. It contains both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can heal your skin woes, skin rashes, reduce redness and swelling, promote cell regeneration and give your skin a protective barrier.
Not to mention all the other proteins, vitamins, and minerals found in oatmeal that promote soft and glowy skin. Oatmeal even contains these little compounds called saponins, which are well-known cleansing agents.
Basically, oatmeal baths are a win-win-win. We can’t believe you’re not taking one right now, lol. But, seriously. They are SO EASY to make right at home. And you probably already have everything you need. Don’t you love it when it happens like that?
And honestly, what’s better than a nice, soothing bath after a long day in the sun? It’s just self-care 101, right? Read on to learn how to whip up an oatmeal bath for sunburn in no time flat.
How To Make An Oatmeal Bath For Sunburn
What You Need:
♡ 1 cup of oatmeal (⅓ cup for children)
♡ A food processor, or blender
♡ Optional:
+ An old crew sock or pantyhose
+ Aloe Vera, lavender, apple cider vinegar, milk, etc.
Instructions:
Before we get into the instructions, let’s make sure you’re using the right oatmeal. Some brands of oatmeal contain added sugars, flavorings, and chemicals. Using processed oatmeal with these extra ingredients can actually do more harm than good.
Instead, opt for an organic version, with no added ingredients. The less ingredients the better when it comes to oatmeal baths.
♡ Step 1: Prepare the oatmeal (and not in the microwave)
Pour one cup of organic oatmeal into your food processor, blender, or coffee grinder. Blend into a finely ground powder, making sure to grind up any clumps.
Or, of course, you can simply purchase some colloidal oatmeal that’s ready-to-go. Just remember, the more natural the better.
P.S: If you don’t have one of these devices, or if you’re having trouble getting the right consistency, simply add your mixture to an old crew sock or pantyhose and use it as sort of tea bag for your bath.
♡ Step 2: Prepare your bath.
Draw a lukewarm bath. Anytime you’re dealing with sunburn, hot water is never a good idea. The skin is already damaged. Adding hot water to the mix will only further irritate and dry your skin.
While the tub is filling, gently sprinkle in your ground oatmeal. If you’re using the sock/pantyhose method, allow the water to run over oats the entire time the water is filling. This is also the perfect time to add in any other skin-soothing ingredients you have on hand.
We recommend adding Aloe Vera, lavender, raw honey, milk, epsom salt, or raw apple cider vinegar. Or, a mixture of a few – you do you.
♡ Step 3: Stir in your oats.
You want the water to absorb the fine powder and create an evenly dispersed mixture. So, you’ll need to stir in the mixture with your hands and/or a cooking spoon.
HOT TIP: Be sure to stir thoroughly and make sure the oatmeal isn’t just laying at the bottom of the tub. The better your mixture, the more effective the treatment.
♡ Step 4: Bathe for 20 minutes.
Finally, the best part. Hop in the tub and relax for 20 minutes, making sure that all your sunburn affected areas get a chance to soak. We don’t recommend staying in the water for more than 25-30 minutes. Prolonged exposure to water can lead to dry skin.
If you have sunburn on your face, it will obviously be harder to take advantage of the oatmeal bath, without literally holding your face under the water. We recommend just patting your face several times with the water and allowing it to really soak in.
♡ Step 5: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
We can not stress this enough, rehydrating the skin after a sunburn is so important. It soothes skin barriers, reduces skin spots and peeling, and promotes quicker regeneration of healthy cells.
And going back to something we mentioned earlier, moisturizing is also super important after every bath because of your skin’s prolonged exposure to water. Be sure to also drink plenty of water to rehydrate the skin.
We recommend using a lotion or oil with healing ingredients like this depuffing oil or this body butter from Primally Pure.
REST ASSURED, your sunburn relief is on its way!
Currently dealing with sunburn? Get into an oatmeal bath asap. The sooner you allow the oatmeal to do its thing, the sooner your skin will be back to its normal, smooth & glowy state.
HOT TIP: Finish off your oatmeal bath pamper-sesh with a facial massage and an ice roll. The cold massage will reduce inflammation and feel so good on your sunburned skin.
Oh, and one last thing. Remember to always wear your SPF and UPF clothing, plus an obnoxious visor. Learn all of Lauryn’s sunscreen tips here.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ scope all our tips for reapplying SPF, that won’t fuck up your makeup.
++ stalk all the items you need for the end of summer here.
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