It was a gorgeous day at the beach! We were only planning to be there until about 11:30am as another trick to avoiding sunburns is to go inside when the sun is sweltering hot! So… as I was explaining to this lovely mom why we choose to use as little sunscreen as possible and that we use hats and long sleeves etc., the most ironic thing happened! Not only did we stay an extra hour and a half being engulfed in such incredible and knowledge filled conversation, but I also completely forgot to take care of my own sun defense needs! I was so focused on our daughters and making sure that they were protected, that the time just crept by. Pretty soon I was radiantly baked to a brilliant red lobster shine! I would like to emphasize this by saying that I am a redhead.
After our traditional post beach trip to the ice-cream place, we made our way home, me sitting as lightly as possible in the driver’s seat. I got home and did what any well broiled adult would do. I followed the advice I learned in an Archie Comic I had read as a child. Betty had gotten sunburned while weeding her garden. Her mother, Mrs. Cooper, drew Betty a bath and poured tea into it. Jokes about cream and sugar ensued, but low and behold, Betty awoke to a golden tan the next morning! This of course stuck with me and though I didn’t know the science behind it, it of course had to work as I had read it in the Archie Comic! Next, I invented the ‘Tea-Shirt’. I boiled some black tea on the stove and once it was cooled down I took a t-shirt that I wasn’t concerned about staining and drenched it. I wrung it out for the most part and then put the still slightly dripping shirt on. Hallelujah! The burning, itching agony went away! Luckily we had no dinner guests or company so that was my continued attire for about 24 hours, not including sleep of course. When the shirt would get dry, I would simply submerge it in the tea again when I put it on it would cling to my most burned areas, such as my shoulders. It was amazing! Also amazing… I didn’t peel AT ALL! Now I am not a doctor and I cannot guarantee that you will have the same outcome if you choose to do this, but I can tell you that for me it was magnificent! And, if you are the type to go with science rather than Archie Comic remedies, black tea contains tannic acid which draws heat from the burn and restores the skin's acid balance. It is also full of anti-oxidants which help to rejuvenate your skin. You can surf the web for all natural sunburn remedies and you will find many. Everything ranging from black tea, to yogurt, to oatmeal! It’s a regular breakfast buffet! Do your research, and make the decision that best fits you. And of course, contacting a naturopath is always a FANTASTIC idea as well. I have gotten many pieces of bad advice from the internet that our doc has had to talk me down from. If you are looking for a naturopath in the Central Maine area, feel free to click on my ‘Local Connections’ link. If you are not in the Central Maine area, you can simply do an internet search for one in your area. So enjoy the sun! We have all earned it! And be aware of what you are wearing, the time of day and even the weather. You can actually burn worse on a gray day than a sunny one as you don’t ‘feel’ your skin getting as hot. Thanks for reading… I’ll be back again soon… Laura
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AuthorLaura started the well traveled road to health when her friends were concerned about her addiction to Ramen noodles. Archives
October 2015
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