Home Food Cures For Summer Bummers (Slideshow)
Pull together a sunburn treatment to cure those red-hot shoulders. During bikini season, some people avoid potatoes because of their carbs, but not Jamie Ahn, owner of Townhouse Spa in NYC.
Heat Rash Relief
Looking tan is nice, but save the red-hot look for lobsters and lipstick. Abby Fazio, owner of New London Pharmacy in New York City, says it's best to avoid eating spicy foods or sugar, as well as alcohol. Her recipe is a cinch:
Bug Bite Relief
Getting stung can itch, burn and overall irritate. HollyBeth Anderson of HollyBeth Organics in Atlanta uses a baking ingredient to combat those pesky bumps left by bugs.
Lackluster Hair
Beach hair is sexy, but if sea salt wasn't causing enough damage to locks, the sun surely is. Julien Farel, founder of Julien Farel Anti-Aging Haircare, recommends a sweet recipe to instantly (within 45 minutes) rebound hair from sad to shiny.
Inflamed Skin Relief
If your bottle of lotion is on its last leg (literally), Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas Salon and Skincare Collection, suggests saving the remainder of your salad to save your skin — well, not the lettuce. Avocado hydrates and provides essential vitamins while the olive oil softens sun-damaged skin immediately. It's also an anti- inflammatory.
Blister Relief
When feet sweat, and rub up against shoes and strappy sandals, blisters bloom. First things first: take off your shoes! Second: don't pop it. Third: apply apple cider vinegar, which has antibacterial properties. Like it's been said before, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."
Poison Ivy Relief
The great outdoors means a greater chance to encounter poisonous plants. "Right after exposure, rinse thoroughly in the shower then cleanse with plain soap and air dry, to avoid spreading the plant oils, advises Gretta Monahan, Salon Owner and Author of Style and the Successful Girl. "Apply white vinegar with a cotton ball to affected area, let sit for 1-2 minutes, then rinse." Gretta says the vinegar will help reduce itching. She also suggests making a paste and applying.
Oily Skin Relief
Sweating is standard for summer, but there are ways to avoid looking so oily! Gretta Monahan gives us a tomato-based mask to help us from looking like a sauce pan.
Earache
Getting in and out of the pool, lake, or ocean can cause irritation to ears! To swim through an uncomfortable situation, vitamin C (found in oranges, tomato, and guava) can be consumed to remedy the problem.
Skin Dehydration
Gatorade, step aside. For a more natural way to rehydrate, Cecilia Wong of Cecilia Wong Skincare in New York uses coconuts to combat the loss of H2O and revitalize skin. Bonus: it can be used at the pool or on the go!