Sunburn Treatment Vitamin E and C

Did you know that vitmains like vitamin e and c can do wonders if you have been in the sun for too long? Learn more about sunburn treatment and vitamin E and C.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient we need for our body.  It is important for its role as a skin tissue builder but it is also impressive as a sun protection.  It is not a sunscreen because creams made with vitamin C cannot protect against ultraviolet rays.  Sunscreen is actually a shield that absorbs the ultraviolet light from the sun so your skin doesn’t burn.  Vitamin C works by scavenging free radicals that are caused by the sun’s rays.  Vitamin C can be rubbed into the skin and unlike sunscreen, it can’t be rubbed off.

Tests were done n fair skinned individuals and the test proved the volunteers applying a 10 percent vitamin C solution.   Results showed they burned less than the volunteers who did not apply vitamin C.  If they did burn, they experienced less severe burns because of the vitamin C application.

The question could be asked, can you get the same protection by eating lots of oranges?  Vitamin C lotion can provide 20 to 40 times more vitamin C to your skin than you could get by eating oranges.  It doesn’t work to spray your skin with vitamin C, all you get with that is sticky skin!  The vitamin C needs to be incorporated into a special mixture to be effective.

Vitamin E can also provide added protection by being a free radical scavenger.  Researchers are recommending the use of vitamin E after sun exposure rather than before.  If vitamin E is applied immediately after exposure to the sun, it will soothe the skin and help prevent sunburn.  Researchers state that this method can be effective even if applied a half-day after the sun exposure.  It is better if the vitamin E acetate is applied before eight hours have elapsed after sun exposure. 

Applying vitamin E before sun exposure is not effective.  Vitamin E produces a free radical when exposed to ultraviolet light.  Vitamin E is most effective if you have accidentally exposed yourself to the sun’s rays longer than you intended to. 

Vitamin E also can work from the inside out as an oral supplement.  Taken internally it will also significantly reduce damage and inflammation caused by sun exposure.  Before sun exposure a person should five capsules of 400 international units for two days.  If you are gong to continue to be in the sun, take a capsule of the same strength each day.  It is safe to take vitamin E orally before you go out into the sun.

Selenium also will stop free radicals at the cellular level, which in turn will reduce inflammation and skin damage caused by too much sun.  There is not a cream on the market that contains selenium but you can use oral supplements as well as using regular sunscreen.  Selenium can be taken in with tuna, salmon, and cabbage.

Zinc has long been a favorite protection for lifeguards.  Many wear zinc on their noses to protect from the sun’s damage.  It works as a physical blocker of ultraviolet light.  Many lifeguards have white covering their noses.  A new improvement has been made that now breaks the zinc down into nearly invisible particles that can be put in sun blocks.  Zinc is a topical barrier and it will not give you any protection against sunburn by taking it orally.

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