Pack this tea bag in your summer travel first aid kit – but not for drinking

Home remedies can provide relief from sunburn and are a good first step. This also includes a type of tea, which should definitely be in your luggage for your summer vacation.

Sunburn happens quicker than you think. UV radiation doesn’t only harm your skin when you get sunburned – but by then it’s definitely been too much sun.

There are classic after-sun products to combat sunburn. However, you may not always have these on hand. A much cheaper home remedy for sunburn: black tea. You can transport the tea bags in the first-aid kit to save space and take them with you on your summer vacation. Below you will find out how black tea can help against sunburn.

Black tea for sunburn: This is how it works

Black tea contains so-called tannins. These have an anti-inflammatory effect and can relieve itching and regulate the skin’s water balance, as a dermatologist explains to Öko-Test.

The expert generally recommends cooling the skin well as a first step in the event of sunburn. You can use a cool, wet cloth or even curd compresses or cooled tea. The tea not only cools you down, but also relieves itching, as mentioned above.

Important: No home remedy cures sunburn. If you have burned yourself very badly, you should not rely on home remedies, but rather seek medical help. Caution is also advised if you feel weak and exhausted after a day in the sun, have a headache or even feel nauseous. This could indicate sunstroke.

This is how black tea can relieve sunburn: How to use it

A dermatologist recommends to Öko-Test that you should only make cooling compresses with black tea for sunburn with unscented tea. That means: no Earl Grey, but simple black tea. If you rely on organic tea, you often have fewer harmful substances in the finished drink, as this report shows: 50 herbal teas at Öko-Test: Many contain pesticides and plant toxins.

Here’s how you can treat sunburn with black tea:

1. Prepare a strong black tea. It should be so strong that you won’t want to drink it anymore.
2. Then the tea has to cool down. For extra refreshment, you can also put the tea in the fridge for a while.
3. Soak a towel in the cold tea and place it on the affected skin.
4. Leave the compress on your skin for about 10 to 15 minutes until the cooling effect wears off. You can repeat the application as often as you want if necessary.

Important: As already mentioned, you can also use other home remedies for the cooling compress. You should always wrap ice packs in a towel before using them on your skin, otherwise they will irritate the skin too much.

The NDR also advises: Do not place the poultice directly on areas of skin with blisters or extremely severe irritation. You should also remove the poultice before it gets dry. Otherwise it will irritate the skin unnecessarily.

Black tea for sunburn: Who is this home remedy suitable for?

The dermatologist explains in an interview with Öko-Test that compresses with home remedies are generally suitable for first aid for sunburn. He does not issue an explicit warning for certain groups of people about the tea method. However, he emphasizes:

• If your skin is very badly burned and blisters may have already appeared, you should not put a compress with black tea or other home remedies directly on it.
• The NDR recommends that if you have severe sunburn with blisters, you should go to the doctor’s office and not rely on home remedies.
• In principle, no home remedy or after-sun product can undo the damage caused by sunburn. All they can do is alleviate the symptoms and make healing more comfortable. However, it is best if you avoid sunburn in the first place.

Against sunburn: use black tea and other tips

According to NDR and Öko-Test, if you get sunburned you should pay particular attention to the following:

• Using black tea to combat sunburn is a good first step. Alternatively, as mentioned above, a pad with quark or simply a towel with cold water also works. You can also make your own after-sun lotion.

• You should also definitely drink a lot so that your body gets back the fluid it has lost. It’s best to drink water and avoid alcohol after a sunburn.
• Under no circumstances should you apply coconut oil to your sunburn. This leaves a film on the skin that can cause heat to build up. The same applies to very greasy creams.
• All acidic products (such as apple cider vinegar or citric acid) are also unsuitable, as they further irritate burnt skin.
• Ökotest emphasizes the importance of sun protection before and after a sunburn: With every sunburn, the risk of developing skin cancer increases. It is therefore important to ensure that you have sufficient sun protection when sunbathing, especially after a sunburn. This includes sunscreen and, if necessary, UV protective clothing.

• By the way, making your own sunscreen is not a good idea.

Children’s skin is particularly vulnerable. It is therefore always a good idea to seek medical advice if you have severe sunburn, especially for small children and babies. You can find out more about sun protection for babies here: Sun protection for babies: Everything you need to know for a trip outdoors.

Read more on Techzle\.com:

• Do you get tan despite sunscreen?
• Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen: Which Should You Buy?
• Treating sunburn on your face: Here’s how

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