Tomato for sunburn
According to BBC – Science & Nature (2014), there is a magical component in
tomatoes that research is beginning to show could protect our skin from UV damage from
sunburn. It’s called lycopene and it is a very effective antioxidant. About 85% of lycopene
in the western diet is obtained only from tomatoes and the best place to find it is in tomato
paste. As a defense against UV rays, the body tans when exposed to moderate levels of
radiation. This helps to block UV penetration and prevent damage to the vulnerable skin
tissues deeper down. A small group of women who sunburned easily ate increased
amounts of tomato paste for 12 weeks. At the end of that period, it was found that they
experienced a 30% increase in protection from sunburn.
Reference:
BBC - Science & Nature - Tomatoes and Skin Protection. (2014). Tomatoes and Skin Protection.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutfood/young/tomatoes.shtml
Using slices of tomato to treat your skin might sound like a kooky spa treatment,
but it actually works, according to Good Housekeeping. The fruit will feel cool against your
skin and, according to StyleCaster, the juice will help with any redness or swelling
associated with the sunburn. In fact, tomato juice is good for any kind of burn, not just a
sunburn. (Dixon, 2021)
Reference:
Dixon, C. L. (2021, May 24). Can you really use tomatoes to treat sunburn? TheList.Com.
https://www.thelist.com/419244/can-you-really-use-tomatoes-to-treat-sunburn/
Krause, R. (2015, April 22). Page not found. StyleCaster.
https://stylecaster.com/behttps:/stylecaster.com/beauty/weird-sunburn-cures/auty/weirdsunburn-cures/
Tomatoes aren’t a substitute for sunscreen, but the lycopene in the fruit may have
a photo-protective effect. Eating tomatoes may offer some protection from UV lightinduced erythema or sunburn.
A study from 2006 found that after 10 to 12 weeks of ingesting lycopene or tomato
products rich in lycopene, people demonstrated decreased sensitivity to UV radiation. It’s
unclear if you can get those same benefits from applying tomatoes topically to your skin,
though.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture(2019) nutrient database, 1 cup of
tomatoes contains about 30 grams of vitamin C. Vitamin C is commonly found in skin care
products. It may promote the growth of new connective tissues, which may also
help repair wounds and speed the healing process.
Reference:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019.
fdc.nal.usda.gov.
Stahl, W., Heinrich, U., Aust, O., Tronnier, H., & Sies, H. (2006). Lycopene-rich products and dietary
photoprotection. Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European
Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology, 5(2), 238–242.
https://doi.org/10.1039/b505312a
Higuera, V. (2019, July 22). Can You Use Tomatoes for Skin Care? Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/health/tomato-benefits-for-skin#potential-benefits
Sunburn
According to The Skin Cancer Foundation (2021), sunburn is an inflammatory
reaction to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage to the skin’s outermost layers. Some people
are more prone to sunburn. Skin type determines the susceptibility; people with fair skin
run the greatest risk. But anyone can get burned.
Reference:
The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2021, May 27). Sunburn. https://www.skincancer.org/riskfactors/sunburn/
The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2021b, August 2). UV Radiation.
https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/uv-radiation/
Sunburn is red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. It is caused by too much
exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light may be from sunlight or artificial sources, such
as sunlamps and tanning beds.
Melanin is the dark pigment in the skin's outer layer that gives skin its normal color.
When you're exposed to UV light, your body protects itself by producing melanin faster.
The extra melanin creates tan. A suntan is the body's way of blocking UV rays to prevent
sunburn. But the protection only goes so far. Intense, repeated UV light exposure that
results in sunburn increases the risk of other skin damage, such as dark spots, rough
spots, and dry or wrinkled skin. It also raises the risk of skin cancers such as melanoma.
Home remedies can usually provide sunburn relief, but sunburn may take days to
fade. Sunburn is caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light may be
from sunlight or artificial sources, such as sunlamps and tanning beds. (Mayo Clinic,
2020)
Reference:
Sunburn - Symptoms and causes. (2020, July 17). Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sunburn/symptoms-causes/syc20355922#:%7E:text=Sunburn%20is%20red%2C%20painful%20skin,may%20take%20
days%20to%20fade.
The researchers