A little too long in the sun and we already have a sunburn. The reddened, painful skin is not only uncomfortable, but indicates that our skin is damaged. While creams from the pharmacy promise relief, many people swear by home remedies. But what really helps against sunburn? And what should you do better?
According to a representative survey on behalf of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection from last summer, 49 percent of Germans had at least once a sunburn in the previous year. The painful combustion arises when too much energy-rich UV radiation hits the skin from the sun. How much sun tolerates the skin depends on the individual skin type. For people with light skin, 20 minutes can be too much in the sun.
But the current UV index also plays a role in solar tolerance. It indicates how strong the ultraviolet radiation is in one place and a certain point in time. This depends on the height and location of the place, the clouds, the ozone situation and other factors. Most of the UV-B radiation and UV-C radiation that are harmful to us blocks the ozone layer in the stratosphere of the earth. The somewhat lengthy UV-A radiation, on the other hand, does not stop the atmosphere.
How does a sunburn arise?
UV-B radiation damages inheritance molecules such as the DNA and the messenger RNA (mRNA) in our skin cells. The mRNA molecules are responsible for transporting building instructions for proteins to the ribosomes. In early 2025, researchers found that this messenger RNA is jointly responsible for the development of the sunburn: If the information of the mRNA is damaged by the solar radiation, protein production in the ribosomes is disrupted. This triggers a stress reaction and messenger substances that cause inflammation and cell death of the damaged skin cells. The body eliminates damaged cells and increasingly guides blood into the affected skin to promote the healing process. The side effect: the affected skin becomes red, swells and burns – we get a sunburn. In severe cases, this can also lead to skin bubbles, headaches, fever, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. In such cases, a doctor should be consulted.
In the future, the risk of sunburns could increase: on the one hand, the ozone layer has still not recovered from the consequences of the FCKW, which humanity has released for decades due to drift gas and refrigerant. The chlorine -containing connections reduce the ozone in the stratosphere under the influence of sunlight. Climate change affects the air currents that favor this ozone reduction and can increase UV load on earth, especially in spring. Another effect of climate change: fewer clouds and thus more hours of sunshine in Germany. If people stay outside during this time, sunburn quickly occurs.
Why should you avoid sunburns?
In the long term, sunburns and UV damage weaken the protective function of the skin, let the skin age prematurely and increase the risk of skin cancer. Among other things, this is because the body does not always reliably remove the damaged cells. According to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, over 4,000 people currently die from skin cancer annually, which are due to UV radiation.
It is therefore important to prevent sunburns as far as possible. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection recommends that to avoid direct sun and above all the midday sun between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., to be in the shade instead, to wear sung hat and sunglasses. You should also use sun protection cream with a high sun protection factor (30 or 50) and drink plenty of water.
What helps with a sunburn?
However, if it is too late to prevent, some measures can relieve the symptoms of sunburn. Experts recommend cooling the reddened skin through a cold shower, cool compresses and moisturizing creams. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help with severe pain. It is also important to drink enough because the sunburn withdraws a lot of liquid. In addition to after-sun creams, home remedies can also cool and donate moisture.
Aloe Vera is one of the most popular home remedies in sunburn. The medicinal plant was used in China, Egypt and India millennia ago. If you have sunburn and an aloe vera at home, cut one of the outside leaves and peel it. Then apply the escaping gel to the affected area. The plant angel is anti -inflammatory, moisturizes and supports the skin in healing. Studies have shown that the application of aloe vera accelerates the healing of burns and reduces pain. However, the exact mode of action is still inadequate.
According to a study, marigold and chamomile can also accelerate the healing of burns and reduce swelling. For use, soak a cloth in a cold chamomile or marigold and put it on the affected area. These medicinal plants can also help as a cream. Green and black tea are also popular for wraps. However, their anti -inflammatory effect has not yet been scientifically proven.
Another known home remedy for sunburn is yogurt. The anti -inflammatory effect attributed to it has not yet been proven by scientific studies, but yogurt can cool pleasantly in sunburn.
Which home remedies should you avoid?
However, coconut oil and vaseline are not advisable in sunburn. The heavily fatty products can clog pores and thus lead to a heat build -up. This can make the symptoms of sunburn worse. After healing, however, they can be used to supply the skin with moisture.
Home remedies such as vinegar and lemon juice additionally irritate the skin and should also be avoided. The same applies to products that contain alcohol or perfume because they also dry out the skin.
