Home remedies from Katie Couric to take the burn out of sunburn

There’s nothing like a great day at the beach or at the pool, but that day of fun in the sun too often leads to a night of agony as you’re nursing a sunburn. 

Most of us know the drill about sunscreen—experts recommend an SPF of 30.  Apply it every two hours and reapply if you go for a swim or if you’re sweating a lot.  Here’s something we didn’t know…dermatologist Audrey Kunin told Katie you have an 8-hour window to treat sunburn if you want to minimize your risk of skin cancer down the road. 

She also had some tips for simple home remedies that are probably sitting right on your picnic table.

Katie: This is my all time favorite.  I spent my summer smelling like a salad when it was cool to be burned. 

Dr. Kunin: The acidic acid in vinegar is related to the topical enzyte, you know one of those little pills you take when you have a headache.  It not only zaps the pain but it prevents the long-term damage associated with burn.

Katie: And then mustard, really?

Dr. Kunin: Mustard is incredible.  It’s really rich in two minerals: Selenium and magnesium, and they work to repair and shut down all this free radical damage that leads to skin cancer.

Katie: OK, and finally we have tea.

Dr. Kunin: If you’re trying to literally chill out in the evening, you could run a bath and just have cool water…throw in some tea bags and let it steep and just chill.

Remember the best way to treat a sunburn is to never get one at all,  slather on the sun block. 

Remember to catch the premiere of Katie on ABC2 starting at 4pm on September 10th.  To learn more go to Katie's website .  You'll find out how you can be a guest!