publication date: Jul 7, 2007
Sunburn, or inflammation of the skin caused by
overexposure to the sun’s rays is the most
common ailment when on holiday in
sunny climes.
It is also
important to remember that some
medications such as the heart drug
Amiodarone, the antibiotic
Tetracycline and the herbal remedy
St John’s Wort can increase the
sensitivity of skin to the
sun.
If you do get
burned, there are several measures that can give fast relief.
- If the skin is hot to the touch, swollen and throbbing but not particularly painful then Belladonna is usually the homeopathic remedy of choice, whereas Cantharis might be preferred in itchy, stinging, blistering cases. It is not uncommon to start with one and follow up with the other if the symptoms change.
- If it is safe for you to do so, take a mild anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Have a warm shower (not cold!) to draw heat out of the skin and hydrate the burned area. If you prefer a bath, again make it warm and add a couple of capfuls of an oatmeal-based bath oil if you can track some down.
- Apply a good quality aloe gel or calendula cream liberally to the affected area and repeat this often. If you keep the tube in the fridge between applications, the cooling sensation is absolute bliss!
- If you exhibit any symptoms of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, persistent headaches or fever, you must seek medical attention immediately.
Prickly heat
Another very
common and related condition is
prickly heat which is a very
itchy red skin rash, with a prickling or
burning feeling, that affects many people in
hot and
humid weather.
A new
homeopathic remedy is
Sol. Taken in the
30c potency twice a day
starting two to four weeks
before you go and continuing while
you are away, it can often
significantly reduce the incidence of
symptoms. For
topical treatment, use
Urtica urens cream.
* A
version of this article
appeared in the summer issue of
Health and Homeopathy. To find out more about homeopathy visit
www.trusthomeopathy.org
