Sunshine

What are different home remedies and treatments for sun burn?

Overview of Sunburn
- Sunburn is due to excessive exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) rays.
- The sun’s ultra-violet rays are responsible for sunburn.
- There are two types of ultra-violet rays, ultra-violet A (UVA) and ultra-violet B (UVB).
- UVB rays attack the skin’s outer layers.
- UVA are rays that attack the underlying layers.
- Sunburns, like any other burn, are classifies as first degree, second degree and third degree.

First degree Sunburn
- The symptoms of a first degree burn include pain, heat, redness and tender to the touch in the skin affected.
- These symptoms can appear from 1 to 24 hours after exposure to the sun.

Second degree Sunburn
- This includes extreme reddening, swelling, pain and even blisters can appear.
- The burn goes deeper into the skin’s layers damaging small blood vessels and elastic fibers in the skin.
- Later, there is wrinkling of the skin.
- The burn may be accompanied by chills, fever, nausea, and/or delirium.

Natural Home Treatment for Sunburn
Take measures to prevent yourself from getting sunburned:
- Avoid being outdoors between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, when the UV rays are more intense.
- Wear a hat, sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays, and clothing made of light colored, light weight, tightly woven material.
- Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
- Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas 30′ before going outside
- If you are swimming or perspiring, this is recommended.
- Make sure you buy a sunscreen that contains protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Eat lots of lean and high quality protein foods.
- Include raw fruits to supply the vitamins and minerals needed.
- Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated, and to replace the lost.
- To relief a sunburn pain apply over the affected area cool water compresses
- Fill a bathtub with cold water and dissolve one pound of baking soda or oatmeal in it.
- Soak in the bath for 30′ approximately, until relieved
- Wash the affected area with an antibacterial soap to prevent secondary infection.
- Do not burst any blister.
- They form a natural protection to help the skin sunburned to heal faster.
- Do not apply any creams, butter, petroleum jelly or any other greasy substance to sunburn.
- They only cause more damage by trapping the heat and can make a burn deeper.
- The sunburn will heal faster if left exposed to the air.

Immediate self-care is aimed at stopping the UV radiation.
- Get out of the sun
- Cover exposed skin
- Get out of the tanning bed
- Use SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher and apply frequently when outdoors.
- For mild sunburn, cool compresses with equal parts of milk and water may suffice.
- Cold compresses with Burow’s solution may also be used, and can be bought at a drugstore. Dissolve 1 packet in 1 pint of water. Soak gauze or a soft clean cloth in it.
- Gently wring out the cloth and apply to the sunburned area for 15-20 minutes.
- Change or refresh the cloth and solution every 2-3 hours.
- Aloe Vera gel or aloe-based lotions may soothe irritated skin.
- Cool (not ice cold) baths may help.
- Avoid bath salts, oils, and perfumes because these may produce sensitivity reactions.
- Avoid scrubbing the skin or shaving the skin.
- Use soft towels to gently dry the body.
- Don’t rub.
- Use a light, fragrance-free skin moisturizer.
- Stay out of the sun while you are sunburned.
- Stay hydrated to avoid dehydration.

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What are the health benefits of Vitamin D and how do you get Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique because it functions as a prohormone. Also, the body can synthesize it (as vitamin D3) when sun exposure is adequate. It is also known as the “sunshine vitamin”.

Health benefits of Vitamin D
1. Maintains Your Calcium Balance.
- Narrow range is vital for normal functioning of the nervous system.
- Vitamin D is required for bone growth, and maintenance of bone density.
- Vitamin D is essential for absorption of calcium by the body.
2. Aids Your Cell Differentiation
- Differentiation of cells leads to a decrease in proliferation.
- Cellular proliferation is essential for growth and wound healing.
- Uncontrolled proliferation of cells causes diseases like cancer.
- Proliferation inhibition and stimulation of the differentiation of cells is done by Vitamin D.
3. Boosts Your Immunity
- Active vitamin D is a potent immune system booster.
4. Has a Role in Insulin Secretion
- Insufficient vitamin D levels may have an adverse effect on insulin secretion.
- It also effects glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes.
5. Blood Pressure Regulation
- Adequate vitamin D levels is important for decreasing the risk of high blood pressure.

Vitamin D and Diseases
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Autoimmune Diseases
- Diabetes
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis

Vitamin D overdose
- Hypercalcemia
- Bone loss
- Kidney stones
- Calcification of organs like the heart and kidneys
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Sarcoidosis
- Tuberculosis
- Lymphoma

Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for Vitamin D
- Infants 0-12 months- 1000 IU
- Children 1-18 years- 2000 IU
- Adults 19 years and older- 2000 IU

Vitamin D Deficiency
- Rickets
- Osteomalacia
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Certain cancers
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Juvenile diabetes
- Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease

How do you get Vitamin D?
- Sunshine (natural)
- Foods are artificially fortified with vitamin D
- Vitamin Supplements

Dietary sources of vitamin D
- Fatty fish species, such as:
- Catfish, 85 g (3 oz) provides 425 IU (5 IU/g)
- Salmon, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz) provides 360 IU (3.6 IU/g)
- Mackerel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 345 IU (3.45 IU/g)
- Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 50 g (1.75 oz), 250 IU (5 IU/g)
- Tuna, canned in oil, 100 g (3.5 oz), 235 IU (2.35 IU/g)
- Eel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 200 IU (2.00 IU/g)
- A whole egg provides 20 IU if egg weighs 60 g (0.33 IU/g)
- Beef liver, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), provides 15 IU (0.15 IU/g)
- Fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, 1 Tbs. (15 ml) provides 1360 IU (90.6 IU/ml)
- UV-irradiated mushrooms and yeast are the only known vegan significant sources of vitamin D
- Exposure of portabella mushrooms to UV provides an increase of vitamin D