Thursday, August 29, 2013

The Miracle of Alcohol

{Rubbing alcohol that is.}

So this week I dozed off/lost track of time while tanning in my back yard and got sunburnt. I generally tan pretty easily if I'm careful (especially for being fair skinned), but if I stay out too long, I also burn pretty easily. So a few years ago when a friend told me to try rubbing alcohol, I was trepidatious. I was cynical towards anyone who claimed to have found a miracle cure for sunburns. I had accepted them as part of life. I had resigned myself to always being the burnt white chick.

BUT. My friend? She was right. I tried rubbing alcohol on a bad sunburn and I was blown away by how much less my burn hurt. Then one day by total accident, I discovered the additional wonders a steam shower can do for a sunburn. I had stayed out in the sun too long and got burnt, so I used alcohol on it. Later that evening I was the shade of a lobster, but I had no pain. So I took my usual hot shower. By the next day I was tanned with no sign of redness. I was so shocked. So, from that day on, it is my sunburn ritual to put alcohol on, let it sit for a few minutes and then take a hot shower. 


My words are not enough?


 The photo on the left was taken yesterday (wed, aug 28th) about 2-3 hours after sun exposure. The photo on the right was taken this morning (thurs, aug 29th) around 9:30am. I had applied the alcohol right after I came inside (before I even knew how bad it was) and took a hot shower. Several hours later I noticed the redness on my neck (still no pain though) so I did round 2 of alcohol and hot shower, and went to bed. 

But how does it work? 
Honestly, I have no idea. My theory is that both the alcohol and the hot steam shower open the pores of the skin and let the heat out, which makes the burns painless and heal overnight. Not that I'm a burn/skin expert, but clearly it does something! So my loves, this IS the overnight cure for sunburns. At least for me! Try it on your next sunburn and let me know how it works for you! 

Cheers! Xoxo 

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