6 Essential Oils to Help Relieve Sunburn

6 Essential Oils to Help Relieve Sunburn Many of us have experienced a day when too much exposure to UV sunlight has resulted in a sunburn. This over exposure to the sun can overwhelm the body’s immune system. The essential oils in this article contain compounds that help relieve sunburn and promote healing.

Various active ingredients found in essential oils have more than one positive regenerative, or protective outcome. As most essential oils contain more than one active ingredient, many have a long list of potential health benefits.

Carrier Oils Must Be Used to Dilute Essential Oils

Essential oils should never be applied directly to the sunburned or non-sunburned skin or mixed with water. Before applying essential oils to the skin, you must dilute the oils in a carrier oil. The usual recipe is 3 to 5 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil.

Carrier oils commonly used are coconut oil or sweet almond oil. Other natural items can be added to mixtures or used with these essential oils to help relieve sunburn symptoms and healing time. Additional common additives used in at-home sunburn remedies include:

aloe vera
apple cider vinegar
coconut oil
milk
black tea
oatmeal
baking soda
yogurt

Below we will look at six of the best essential oils to help relieve sunburn.

Six Essential Oils to Help Relieve Sunburn

1. Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) essential oil contains several active ingredients with known health benefits to help relieve sunburn, the most powerful by far is menthol.

Health benefits of menthol in peppermint essential oil include:

anti-inflammatory
antibacterial
antifungal
antiseptic (able to kill or discourage the growth of infectious agents)
vasoconstrictor, narrowing inflamed blood vessels

In addition to sunburn this oil is used to relieve pain from a toothache, aching feet, neuralgia, rheumatism, and muscular pains.*

Peppermint Essential Oil Safety Tips

Do not use if using ventricular fibrillation, or if diagnosed with GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Maximum skin use level 5.4%
Do not apply to face or near the face of infants or children.
Should not be used during pregnancy or if epileptic.
Should be kept away from the eyes, and is likely to irritate skin and mucous membranes.
For external use only. See our Safety Information page for further details when using essential oils.

2. Lavender Essential Oil

Extracts from the lavender plant (Lavandula officinalis) have at least seven active ingredients known to promote skin regeneration, help relieve sunburn and boost the immune function.

Lavender essential oil is also known to have properties that are:

antibacterial
anti-inflammatory
antifungal

Lavender helps reduce symptoms of pain, redness, and swelling while also lowering the risk of infection sometimes associated with sunburn. Lavender essential oil is also helpful for and aids in inflammation, cuts, wounds, eczema, dermatitis, fainting, headaches, influenza, insomnia, hysteria, migraine, nausea, nervous tension, infections, bacterial conditions, sores, ulcers, acne, boils, asthma, rheumatism, and arthritis.

French Lavender Essential Oil Safety Tips

French Lavender is non-toxic, making it safe for all skin types.
For external use only. See our Safety Information page for further details when using essential oils.

3. Tea tree Essential Oil

Extract from the needle-like leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) plant has been used as an herbal remedy for a variety of health problems including most skin conditions. The medicinal properties of tea tree essential oil are credited to the high content of terpinen oils. The oil contains 80 different terpinen oils that have been shown to be active in controlling bacterial spread by preventing bacteria from reproducing.*

The active ingredients in Tea Tree essential oil give it properties that are:

anti-inflammatory
immune boosting
antibacterial
antifungal
antiviral

This lovely essential oil is renowned for assisting the issues and supporting the body to help relieve sunburn, help fungal infections, viral infections, bacterial infections, colds, influenza, cold sores, warts, inflammation, acne, burns, candida, shock, and hysteria.*

Tea Tree Essential Oil Safety Tips

Tea tree essential oil is non-toxic but should be avoided if you have allergy prone or sensitive skin. Maximum skin use level is 15%. Oxidized tea tree oil can be a skin sensitizer.
Tea tree essential oil spoils quickly. It can last up to 6 months in room temperature or one year refrigerated.
For external use only. See our Safety Information page for further details when using essential oils.

4. Geranium Essential Oil

Steam distilled extracts from geranium leaves and flowers (Pelargonium graveolens) contains at least 12 active ingredients that have properties that are:

antibacterial
anti-microbial
anti-inflammatory

Geranium essential oil is an important oil known for its calming properties and ability to help relieve sunburn and heal skin. Its use encourages beautiful, radiant skin. The ancient Egyptians used Geranium essential oil to treat cancerous tumors, skin diseases and as a calming agent.

Geranium Essential Oil Safety Tips

May interfere with diabetes medications.
Geranium essential oil can affect certain hormone secretions.
It is not recommended to use the oil if you are pregnant.
For external use only. See our Safety Information page for further details when using essential oils.

5. Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) has been used for centuries, potentially even thousands of years, as a multi-use herbal remedy because of its soothing and calming properties. The ‘noble’ chamomile plant was used going as far back as the Egyptians. They devoted it to their gods because of its healing properties, predominantly when it was used for the acute fever also known as Ague.

With more than 10 active ingredients that have known health benefits, Roman chamomile oil has established anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been shown to promote or increase wound healing.

Roman chamomile essential oil has many documented properties as:

antibacterial
antifungal
anti-inflammatory
antiseptic

The mind is deeply influenced by Roman chamomile oil as it helps calm a racing mind, reduces stress, anxiety, and promotes a restful sleep.

Roman Chamomile Oil Safety Tips

No known hazards. This essential oil is safe for all ages.
See our Safety Information page for further details when using essential oils.

6. Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil

Extracts from the evergreen plant eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), is known to contain compounds proven to be:

antioxidant
anti-inflammatory
antibacterial

Refreshing and energizing, eucalyptus globulus essential oil is cooling, refreshing. Eucalyptus globulus has a higher 1,8 Cineole content than other eucalyptus oils.

Eucalyptus help relieve sunburn, aids in relief of arthritis and other aches and pains due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It has abilities to mend the body by relaxing stiff muscles.*

Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil Safety Tips

Avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.
Dilute before use; may cause skin irritation in some individuals, so a skin test is recommended prior to use. Avoid contact with eyes.
Do not use with infants or children under ten years of age. Can cause CNS and breathing problems in young children. Keep away from children as even small amounts may be toxic.
For external use only this is considered toxic if taken internally. See our Safety Information page for further details when using essential oils.

How Long Does Sunburn Last?

Sunburn symptoms usually start around four hours after the skin is exposed to the sun. Sunburn is a sign that the body is trying to repair damaged skin. How long it lasts will depend on how severe the sunburn is:

Mild sunburn will go on for about three days.
Moderate sunburn lasts for around five days and you will most likely experience peeling skin.
Severe sunburn can last for more than a week, and it’s possible you may need to seek medical advice.*