Is Witch Hazel Good for Sunburn? Your Questions Answered

Sunburn is one of the worst things you can experience. Not only is it terrible for your health and increases the risk of skin cancer, but it also burns, gets itchy, and causes your skin to dry up and peel.

But what if there was a way to soothe the pain that sunburn causes? And what if that way was something as simple as witch hazel? Chances are, if you landed here, you’re already asking yourself: “Is witch hazel good for sunburn?”

Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place because we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about witch hazel and whether it can be used to ease a sore sunburn.

What Is Witch Hazel?

Witch hazel isn’t as mysterious or otherworldly as its name may imply. It’s a flowering plant that’s been used for cosmetic and medical purposes for centuries.

While the plant is pretty, to use witch hazel for sunburn, it needs to be turned into a concentrated oil (or essential oil). This oil is sourced from bark, leaves, and even twigs through a careful distillation process.

Is Witch Hazel Good for Sunburn?

Yes, witch hazel is good for sunburn. While it’s by no means a cure, applying witch hazel to a sunburn may help soothe the inflammation that’s caused by the sunburn. Typically, it’s the inflammation that causes the pain and other symptoms of sunburn, so calming this down can help you feel a lot better.

Still, you should always consult with a healthcare professional before applying the oil. We also recommend against using witch hazel mixtures that include alcohol, as this will dry out your skin further and may make matters a lot worse.

Is Witch Hazel Good for Sun Poisoning?

While witch hazel is good for sunburn, that doesn’t mean you should use it for sun poisoning. If your skin has open wounds and severe blisters from the sun, witch hazel can make the problem worse.

This is because witch hazel is an astringent that can dry out your skin. Unfortunately, this can exacerbate open wounds and expand areas of sore and inflamed skin.

How to Use Witch Hazel for Sunburn

There are a few ways to use witch hazel for a sunburn, but before you use it, make sure you do a patch test.

A patch test involves taking a small amount of witch hazel and applying it to your skin. You then wait 24 hours to see if you have any adverse reactions to the oil. After all, you don’t want to deal with an allergic reaction on top of sunburn; that would make things even worse.

Once you complete the patch test, you can use cotton balls, a cold compress, or a soothing spray to apply the witch hazel oil to your skin. Then, you can determine if it assists with the symptoms of sunburn.

We’d also like to stress again that you should avoid using witch hazel oil that contains alcohol.

Is Witch Hazel Good for Sunburn? Our Final Thoughts

So, is witch hazel good for sunburn? At the end of the day, witch hazel is good for sunburn, but only if you use it properly.

While it’s loaded with tannins that can potentially soothe inflammation and reduce the symptoms of sunburn, it’s important to use a mixture that doesn’t contain any alcohol. This is due to the fact that these mixtures can dry out the skin and lead to further discomfort.
For this reason, we recommend sourcing witch hazel oil from Wholesale Botanics. This supplier always uses natural options that help you maintain healthy skin.