8 Best Essential Oils for a Sunburn (Tea Tree and Lavender Oil?)

tea_tree_oil_on_sunburn

What are the best essential oils for a sunburn?

 The best essential oils for a sunburn include:

  1. Chamomile Oil
  2. Lavender Oil
  3. Peppermint Oil
  4. Organic Tea Tree Oil
  5. Helichrysum Oil
  6. Geranium OIl
  7. Vitamin E essential oil
  8. Vitamin C essential oil

The active ingredients in these oils give them numerous healing and pain-relieving properties, such as:

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-fungal
  • Anti-viral
  • Antiseptic
  • Protection from UVA and UVB rays

Can Tea tree oil be used on a sunburn?

Tea Tree oil can be used on sunburn. It is a popular ingredient in after-sun lotion. This oil promotes skin regeneration, soothes inflamed and sunburnt skin, and protects against infections by providing a clean wound environment.

A study also showed tea tree oil to have antimicrobial properties. This oil is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. 


Can Lavender oil be used for soothing a sunburn?

Lavender oil may be used for soothing a sunburn. Lavender oil is derived from the plant Lavandula and is known for its fragrance and regenerative properties. A study was conducted to see the effects of lavender oil on wound healing, and it was concluded that lavender oil has a potential therapeutic benefit in wound healing.

Overexposure to UVA and UVB sun rays causes blisters and, in extreme circumstances, skin peeling. Lavender oil can be used on that wound to help soothe the skin and promote regeneration.

In the video below, Dr. Josh Axe teaches how to ease a burn or sunburn fast and naturally with Lavender Essential Oil (#1 way to ease burns).

This is our recommended Lavender oil supplement (Amazon’s Best Seller):

Handcraft Lavender Essential Oil – 100% Pure and Natural – Premium Therapeutic Grade with Premium Glass Dropper – Huge 4 fl. Oz

What are the best carrier oils for sunburn?

The best carrier oils for sunburn include:

  • Jojoba carrier oil
  • Kukui carrier oil
  • Rosehip carrier oil
  • Sweet carrier oil

Carrier oils dilute the essential oil and help “carry” them into the skin.


Can Olive oil on be used on a sunburn?

Olive can be used on a sunburn. Olive oil is rich in vitamin A and vitamin E, making it a great candidate for treating sunburns. Olive oil protects the skin from free radicals, promotes cellular repair, and prevents the mucous membranes from going dry. 

Overexposure to the sun may weaken the skin’s hydrolipidic film; olive oil contains squalene, an organic structure that covers the upper layer of the skin and keeps the skin hydrated. Moreover, a 2020 study concluded that a Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin.


Can a Sunburn heal faster and improve with the use of Coconut oil?

The Skin Cancer Foundation advises against using oil-based moisturizers and petroleum-based products for sunburn. This is because coconut oil may trap heat in the skin. Although it can be used to prevent sunburns as it is found to have an SPF of 7.1, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is always better and recommended.

There is no recent research on how coconut oil can be beneficial for sunburnt skin, but a 2020 study conducted on animals looked at the effects of coconut oil on albino mice with sunburns. The study concluded that coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties, but the study could not prove whether coconut oil improves healing time.


Can Peppermint oil be used for a sunburn?

Peppermint oil derived from peppermint, scientifically known as Mentha piperita, has many active ingredients that may help skin after a sunburn. Still, the one with the most benefits is Menthol. 

Menthol is a natural cooking agent that may help relieve the burning sensation after a sunburn; numerous studies on the effects of menthol on the skin have been conducted over the years; one such study conducted in 2020 looked at the anti-inflammatory potential and antioxidant defense system stimulation of menthol. The study concluded menthol has anti-inflammatory properties in addition to being an antioxidant that stimulates the body’s defense system.


Can Jojoba oil be used for treating a sunburn?

Jojoba oil is rich in vitamin E, which promotes skin regeneration for skin with a sunburn. It also has a high amount of iodine which gives it anti-bacterial properties which protect against infections.

Jojoba oil may be used for treating a sunburn; however, there is no medical recommendation regarding its use. In a study published by E. Ranzato in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, it was found that Jojoba oil accelerates wound healing by promoting collagen synthesis in tissue.

Jojoba oil is a non-toxic liquid extracted from the seed of the jojoba plant scientifically known as Simmondsia Chinensis. 


Is Castor oil beneficial for treating a sunburn?

Castor oil is great for sunburns as it has been known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help ease the pain caused by sunburns. 

Castor oil also has skin moisturizing properties which can help with the skin peeling that follows sunburns.


Can Argan oil be used for treating a sunburn?

Argan oil is great for sunburns. It is rich in Vitamin A, which protects the skin against free radicals, in vitamin E, which moisturizes the skin and helps with the skin peeling that follows sunburns. It is rich in fatty acids, namely linoleic acid, which helps soothe inflamed and irritated skin.

A 2016 study on rats showed that argan oil is beneficial in healing experimentally created burns on rats.


Is Rosehip oil useful for treating a sunburn?

Rosehip oil may be useful for treating a sunburn naturally. It is rich in natural vitamin C, which is great for healing damaged skin and reducing inflammation. Rosehip oil is most commonly mixed with lavender essential oil. 

Although there is no direct evidence that rosehip oil helps heal sunburns, a 2019 study on rosehip oil concluded that rosehip oil boosts wound recovery by accelerating the changes associated with maturation in white blood cells.


Is Emu oil useful for treating a sunburn?

Emu oil is useful for treating a sunburn. It is a great source of essential fatty acids and a great solution to sunburns. The fatty acids promote skin regeneration and reduce the redness and swelling caused by sunburns. 

A study conducted on baby mice showed that emu oil indeed does have a positive effect on wound healing, and it also increases the number of hair follicles in its area of effect.


Is Almond oil good for a sunburn?

Yes, almond oil is good for a sunburn, as it is a great source of fatty acids, namely oleic acid, and linoleic acid. Both of these promote skin regeneration and moisturize the skin to prevent dryness and skin irritation. 

It is concluded through research that almond oil can be used to treat dry skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.


Is Frankincense essential oil good for a sunburn?

Frankincense essential oil may be good for a sunburn. It is good for treating dehydrated and itchy sunburnt skin because it provides the necessary moisture to rehydrate the skin. It helps promote quick recovery due to its anti-inflammatory properties.


Can Hemp oil be used for soothing a sunburn?

Hemp oil can be used for soothing a sunburn because of its wide range of healthy active ingredients.

The following ingredients in hemp oil are most helpful for sunburnt skin:

  • Omega-6 oils – Protects against skin drying and thinning
  • Omega-3 oils – Tempers sunburn response
  • Vitamin A – Stimulates the production of collagen 
  • Vitamin D – Associated with tissue repair and anti-inflammatory properties
  • Vitamin E – An antioxidant, decreasing inflammation

Is Kukui nut oil beneficial for treating a sunburn?

Kukui oil may not be beneficial for treating a sunburn. It is better used to prevent sunburns as it has natural SPF activity. It has been used by the locals in Hawaii for more than 1500 years and is quite a popular remedy. 

The composition of Kukui oil (42% linoleic acid and 29% alpha-linolenic acid) may help heal certain skin conditions while keeping the skin healthy and nourished.


Is Grapeseed oil good for a sunburn?

Grapeseed oil is good for a sunburn. Research shows that grapeseed oil can help protect the skin from absorbing large amounts of UV rays that may result in unwanted damage.

Further research shows that grapeseed oil can also improve the skin’s moisture by aiding the Vitamin E and C already present in the skin to be more effective.


Is Avocado oil good for a sunburn?

Avocado oil is good for a sunburn. It is a great source of antioxidants that may help ease the symptoms of a sunburn. According to a 2011 study, vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin D, protein, essential fatty acids, and lecithin may support healing and soothe the skin.

Other studies have shown that consuming avocados may help protect the skin from harmful UV radiation.


Is Tamanu oil useful for treating a sunburn?

Tamanu oil may not be useful for treating a sunburn. It is believed that tamanu oil may have healing and antibacterial properties, but no studies have been conducted to understand its effects on burns.


Can Sunflower oil be used for soothing a sunburn?

Sunflower oil may be used for soothing a sunburn. It is a rich source of linoleic acid that helps maintain the skin’s natural barrier against UV rays and supports its ability to retain moisture. 

A study has shown that sunflower oil has anti-inflammatory effects when used topically. This makes it an effective agent for managing dry skin and associated conditions like eczema


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Sources

This article makes use of information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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8 Best Essential Oils for a Sunburn (Tea Tree and Lavender Oil?)
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