When your skin is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays for prolonged periods of time, you'll likely get a sunburn. But you're also at risk of developing more serious problems over the course of your lifetime, particularly skin cancer. Sun damage can also age your skin quicker, causing wrinkles, age spots or "liver spots," roughness and blotches in pigmentation. Several herbs are helpful in treating sun-damaged skin due to their antioxidant properties.
Green Tea
Green tea may help to prevent sun damage and skin cancer as well as treat skin that's already damaged by ultraviolet rays, says the University of Michigan Health System. Green tea contains compounds called polyphenols, which are potent antioxidants that get rid of damaging free radicals that tend to cause sun damage in your skin, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Using green tea orally and topically can help to protect and heal your sun-damaged skin, according to animal and human studies. A small study in humans found that applying green tea extracts to the skin substantially decreased sunburns, the University of Michigan notes. Researchers used a green tea extract that contained 2.5- to 10-percent polyphenols. Another two-month-long, double-blind study of 40 women found that taking green tea orally combined with skin applications of green tea cream was not more effective than placebo, but researchers saw some benefits in skin cells beneath a microscope, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a popular topical remedy for treating sunburns and typically offers soothing effects on the skin. Applying aloe creams or gel may help to ease the pain and redness associated with sunburns and sun damage, but no conclusive medical research has proven whether aloe can actually prevent damage to your skin, notes the University of Michigan Health System. The only published human study of using aloe gel for treating sunburn found that aloe failed to reduce skin redness.
Coriander Oil
Applying coriander oil to your skin may help to ease the effects of exposure to ultraviolet rays. A preliminary double-blind clinical trial found that topical applications of coriander oil decreased skin redness after sun exposure more than the placebo cream, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Milk Thistle
Herbs with antioxidant properties like milk thistle may help to protect your skin and potentially prevent skin cancer, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although scientific evidence is lacking, milk thistle's antioxidant effects may help to prevent or treat skin aging due to sun damage when taken orally or applied topically, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Other antioxidant herbs that may help to treat sun-damaged skin include hawthorn, ginger, ginkgo and bilberry.
