Staying out in the sun too long can lead to a painful sunburn if you have not adequately protected yourself. Most drugstores and supermarkets sell commercial "after-sun" products, but you don't necessarily want to treat your reddened, blistered skin with lots of chemicals. Vinegar, something you probably already keep in your kitchen cabinet, can calm a sunburn.
Bath
If you have sunburned a large area of your body, you know that taking a shower can be painful. Bathing in lukewarm water replenishes the moisture you've lost through the burn and can be more soothing than the pelting rain of a shower. Apple cider vinegar added to your bath water can calm your pain, according to Botanical.com. The sharpness of the vinegar helps stabilize your skin's pH levels, which may be out of balance due to your sunburn. Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to your bath and soak for at least 15 minutes to let the vinegar work on your skin.
Compress
A cool vinegar compress can bring some relief to smaller areas of your body that you have overexposed to the sun. Dip a washcloth or other soft cloth into a bowl of vinegar--white or apple cider is fine--and squeeze out the excess. Hold the compress to your burned skin until you begin to feel the pain recede. If the compress stings your skin, add some cool water to the vinegar to dilute it.
Spray
Having a spray bottle full of white vinegar is a handy and natural way to treat sunburn, according to Vinegartips.com. Using a spray bottle lets you deliver a fine mist of the liquid to your skin if you notice you've overindulged at the beach or during other outdoor activities. Keeping the spray bottle in the refrigerator to chill the vinegar can give the remedy a more soothing effect on your skin. Spray yourself with vinegar as often as needed, and take a lukewarm bath or shower later to remove the pungent smell from your skin.
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