Sunburn Pain Relief - Could This New Discovery Soothe The Burn?
Sunburn Pain Relief - New Discovery Could Rid You Of The Burn
PA/The Huffington Post UK
Apart from paracetomol and slapping on the aftersun, there is precious little you can do about the pain of sunburn. However, a new discovery could lead to treatments that bring an end to the pain, scientists reveal.
Nearly 90% of Brits have revealed they have suffered from sunburn at some point, with at least 96% aware that sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer. A big percentage also only use factor 15 sunscreen.
Researchers have identified a molecule in the skin that is largely to blame for the painful effects of staying too long in the sun.
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Blocking the molecules, called TRPV4, could provide a way to combat the burning sensation and possibly several other causes of pain.
"We have uncovered a novel explanation for why sunburn hurts," said US lead scientist Dr Wolfgang Liedtke, from Duke University School of Medicine. "If we understand sunburn better, we can understand pain better."
Most cases of sunburn are caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. In moderation, this component of sunlight benefits the body by boosting levels of vitamin D.
Story continues below the slideshow:
Natural Sunburn Remedies
Aloe Vera (01 of10)
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If you look in any pharmacy or drug store aisle, you're sure to find shelves of aloe vera gel to soothe sunburn pain. That's because the plant has a long history of providing sunburn relief because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Gel fresh from the plant is better than over-the-counter products -- which could list aloe on the label but may not actually provide any relief, said Huffington Post wellness editor Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald.Though it feels soothing, most scientific evidence doesn't show that aloe vera actually speeds up healing of sunburns, said Dr. Jonette Keri, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "But it feels good, and it makes [the skin] feel cold," Keri told The Huffington Post. So if relief is your goal, it's still worth it to slather up.
Shaving Cream (02 of10)
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Weird as it sounds, shaving cream often shows up in searches for home sunburn remedies (even though yes, it's technically not a "natural" substance). While there's no scientific evidence that shaving cream works to relieve sunburn, that doesn't mean it doesn't work, Keri said. "Shaving cream in a lot of cases has menthol and other chemicals, and those things are naturally cooling and feel good to the skin," Keri said. That's because menthol is a highly volatile compound that evaporates fast and takes the heat from the sunburn with it, said Dr. Jessica Krant, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York City and founder of private practice Art of Dermatology.
Vitamin E And Vitamin C(03 of10)
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Several natural health websites recommend applying vitamin E oil to sunburns to relieve pain, as the vitamin helps to moisturize the skin. Science agrees that the vitamin helps, but preventatively: Both vitamins E and C have been shown in studies to work as a preventive measure against sunburn, Krant said. That's because the vitamins act as antioxidants to heal sunburn that is a result of oxidative damage to skin cells. The vitamins are "more effective when used regularly, rather than with a single application," Krant told The Huffington Post, but there's "no evidence of soothing a burn after it's already happened." (credit:Getty)
Vinegar(04 of10)
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The vinegar bath is (specifically apple cider vinegar) a famous home remedy for sunburn. But does it actually work? There haven't been any studies on the effects of vinegar on sunburn, but it's likely effective, said Keri, because vinegar is an antiseptic and helps to cool the skin as it evaporates. Theoretically, vinegar could help to balance the body's pH levels to take away the stinging feeling of the burn, though it likely works by just providing a cooling sensation to the skin, said Krant.
Ice And Cold Showers (05 of10)
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Common sense would tell you that if you have a burn, you should put something cold on it. And it's true -- experts agree that a cold shower can help cool the skin and make it feel better. But what about a hot shower? "Some people say that heat makes more heat come out [of the skin], but that's not true," Keri said. Naturally, ice is a cooling tactic too, but be careful when applying ice to a burn as it can make the burn sensation worse by creating an "ice burn" -- additional damage to the burn wound.
Baking Soda (06 of10)
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While there are no studies to back it up, many turn to baking soda for sunburn relief. It makes sense, said Keri. Baking soda creates an alkalized environment that is soothing to the skin. It has antiseptic properties, can help with the itch and work as an exfoliant. Fitzgerald recommends mixing together baking soda and water, and then using cotton balls to apply the solution to the affected area. Or, add a half cup of baking soda to a tepid bath and soak. (credit:Flickr: (3))
Milk (07 of10)
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A cold glass of milk is refreshing, and even more so -- a cool swipe of milk on a sunburn can help relieve pain, several health websites point out. Milk is known, anecdotally, to help soothe pain, itching and burning when used in cold compresses, Krant said. Yogurt also seems to have a similar effect. However, there aren't yet any scientific studies backing this up. (credit:Getty)
Honey(08 of10)
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Honey is hailed as a helpful healer for a variety of ills -- including sunburn pain.Honey is antibacterial and multiple studies have shown that honey can help to heal wounds, Keri said. Because of this, applying honey to a sunburn could help the skin re-epithelize (grow new epithelial skin cells), she said. Fitzgerald recommends using manuka honey in particular because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. (credit:Getty)
Tomato(09 of10)
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Yes, may sound crazy, but some people claim rubbing tomato on a sunburn can help soothe the burn. While science doesn't quite show that tomatoes actually heal sunburns, they could be useful in preventing them, Keri said. A German study shows that smearing tomato paste on the skin helps to prevent sunburn, likely because tomatoes are rich in the chemical lycopene that helps to reduce the sunburn response from ultraviolet radiation, she said. (credit:Getty)
Oatmeal(10 of10)
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Putting oatmeal on sunburn is one of the oldest home remedies in the book, and science seems to back that up. Oat extract has been shown in studies to have anti-inflammatory properties that could help relieve sunburn pain, Krant said. "It's likely that making up a batch of oatmeal and chilling it down will soothe sunburn when applied to the skin."
But too strong a dose of UVB can damage DNA in skin cells, increasing susceptibility to cancer. Sunburn is nature's way of telling us to find some shade.
Dr Liedtke's team genetically engineered mice to lack TRPV4 in their skin and exposed their hind paws - which most resemble human skin - to UVB rays.
The mutant mice suffered little sensitisation and tissue injury, while normal animals became hypersensitive and blistered.
Next the scientists produced a drug that selectively inhibits the molecule and applied it to the paws of normal mice in a solution of alcohol and glycerol.
Treated mice were largely resistant to the pain-inducing and skin-damaging effects of sunburn.
Research on human skin samples has shown increased activation of TRPV4 after UVB exposure.
The researchers , whose findings are reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, say more work is needed but envisage sun screens containing TRPV4-blockers to protect against burning.
"I think we should be cautious because we want to see what inhibition of TRPV4 will do to other processes going on in the skin," said Dr Liedtke. "Once these concerns will be addressed, we will need to adapt TRPV4 blockers to make them more suitable for topical application. I could imagine it being mixed with traditional sunblock to provide stronger protections against UVB exposure."