CBD for Sunburns? Why CBD Oils & Creams May Be What You Need

Sunburns can strike while at the beach or on the water, but they can also sneak up on you after a day of skiing, hiking, or working in the garden. Regardless of how you got your sunburn, there’s no denying the nasty discomfort of inflamed, sensitive skin.

The dramatic red and pain come from too much exposure to ultraviolet light, specifically UVB radiation. As a result, inflammatory cells are released in order to heal and repair the skin, evoking many of the symptoms we associate with sunburns.

Luckily, nature has provided us with a natural sunburn cure that has been used for centuries, CBD. This oil nourishes, moisturizes, and replenishes the skin, thus mitigating inflammatory symptoms and easing discomfort. All these advantages add up to make CBD quite good for managing sunburns. 

How CBD Can Help With Post-Sunburn Recovery

CBD Oil Delivers Anti-Inflammatory Properties to Sunburns

A sunburn is an inflammatory response triggered by damage from overexposure to UV rays, hence the angry red color that emerges. CBD oil naturally contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties that help reduce redness and inherent pain. Plus, valuable antibacterial components of CBD help protect burnt skin from infection. 

CBD Dulls Pain Receptors 

CBD oil is also amazing for soothing sunburns because it naturally contains anandamides, which mitigate pain through the body’s endocannabinoid system. Depending on the extent of the sunburn, you can take the oil sublingually to receive full-body pain relief or apply it directly to troubled areas and let the topical CBD be absorbed by the sunburnt skin.

CBD Oils and Creams Infuses Sunburnt Skin With Vital Moisture

Using CBD oil or cream post-sunburn helps your skin recover quickly by hydrating the skin through natural oils contained in the hemp plant. CBD contains fatty acids which promote moisturization and help reduce the uncomfortable dryness, flaking, and tightness that can result from sunburns. 

Our point? Between the anti-inflammatory qualities, pain suppression, increased hydration, vitamins, and minerals that are contained in nature’s healer, your skin will bounce back much quicker by adding CBD to your sunburn remedies. 

Can CBD Oil Help Prevent Sunburns?

Having moisturized, nourished skin before getting some sunshine is beneficial for the health of your skin. What’s more, CBD can provide some protection from external stressors, including UV rays. Nonetheless, CBD oil or cream should not be used as a substitute for sunscreen. It is important to always use sunscreen with a high SPF that targets UV rays to protect your skin from sunburn and age-related sun issues. 

CBD Products for Minimizing Sunburn Pain 

Deeply hydrating and packed with anti-inflammatory properties, the Elite Elixir can be applied directly to your sunburn or mixed into your favorite relief cream. With 1500mg of full-spectrum CBD and hemp seed oil, natural antioxidants and soothing ingredients will help provide relief from your sunburn.

As the name implies, Vitamin C & CBD Elixir from Botanika Life combines 1000mg of CBD with Vitamin C. Not only does this second ingredient play a role in reducing sun damage, but it also contributes redness-reduction and anti-inflammatory benefits to pre existing sunburnt. Also featured in this powerhouse elixir is squalane, a plant-based element that is rich with omega fats to lock much-needed moisture into sunburnt skin. 

For more severe sunburns, active ingredients like lidocaine and menthol can further combat inflammation while cooling and numbing the sunburnt skin. The CBD Pain Relief Roller is compact and mess-free, making it an easy travel accessory when you know sun exposure is at play. 

There is nothing that feels better when you have a sunburn than cooling the affected area to alleviate pain. The Cryo Ball Massage Roller is the perfect addition to CBD oil or cream to treat sunburns by adding the soothing, anti-inflammatory component of cold therapy to the mix. 

Why Product Quality Matters For Sunburnt Skin

Your skin is at its most vulnerable state when sunburnt. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to use plant-based ingredients that are organically grown free from pesticides and other harmful elements. What's more, you'll want to steer clear of elements that could further dry or irritate your sunburnt skin, such as alcohol, fragrances, or synthetically produced CBD.  

Botanika Life believes in clean, simple formulas that nourish the skin. What’s more, we verify the purity of our ingredients with the third-party lab results we publish for all our CBD products, available at this link.

Other Natural Sunburn Relief Options

In addition to using CBD cream or oil to treat your sunburn, other natural ingredients that can provide soothing relief include aloe vera, lavender oil, and coconut oil. 

Commonly associated with sunburn relief, the aloe plant naturally stimulates collagen production, reducing inflammation, and moisturizing skin. Combining a few drops of lavender with coconut oil and then applying it to your sunburn area is also a sunburn relief method that has been around since ancient days. These essential oils have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help soothe and repair skin post-sunburn. 

Lastly, it is important to not only hydrate your skin from the outside but also increase your water intake while recovering from a sunburn. When your skin is damaged from the sun, fluid is drawn to the skin's surface and away from the body. By increasing hydration and adding electrolytes to your drinks, you can replace lost body fluids and nutrients, allowing your burn to heal more quickly.

Bonus: You Can Make Luxury-Level CBD-Infused Cream for Sunburns?

When faced with an oh-so-painful sunburn, treat your skin to a full arsenal of nourishing skincare ingredients using an at-home cream. The beauty of creating your own remedy is that you can guarantee the quality of the individual elements and adjust the cream's recipe based on personal preference. Ingredients that blend harmoniously for a personalized CBD sunburn cream include:

• An aloe-vera enriched gel as the foundation
• Full-spectrum CBD oil
• Coconut oil
• Lavender and/or tea tree oil

While the balance of ingredients depends on your preferred consistency, we have found that the optimal ratio is 2 parts coconut oil to 1 part aloe vera gel. The essential oils and CBD should be measured in drops (rather than pouring in the entire elixir), as a little can go a long way in your homemade sunburn cream.

For the best consistency, ensure that all the ingredients are at room temperature when mixing. Stir thoroughly during preparation and before each use.

FAQ About Using CBD for Sunburns

Is it possible that CBD can irritate my sunburnt skin?

CBD can be used by most everyone (especially topically) but, as is true for any serum applied to skin, a mild allergic reaction is possible. Therefore, it's always a good idea to do a patch test before applying it to a larger area of sunburnt skin. However, we must emphasize that CBD is particularly well-suited for sensative skin, as discussed in this article.

Is there any part of the body where I shouldn't use CBD on the skin?

CBD is safe to apply to sunburned skin, regardless of where it is on the body. Our best advice is to steer clear of your eyes.

Can pregnant women use CBD topically on a sunburn?

It's always best for pregnant women to consult with their healthcare provider before using any new products, including CBD. While topical CBD is generally considered safe, it's important to prioritize the advice of a medical professional during pregnancy.

Can ingesting or using CBD under the tongue help with sunburn relief?

Ingesting or using CBD under the tongue may provide full-body pain relief (including to the sunburn) but won't targeted effect as if topically applied. 

Can I combine CBD oil with my sunscreen?

By Emily Wegener

With a unique background as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Masters Degree in Teaching and experience in Psychology, Emily spends much of her time researching and trying out new holistic healing modalities.