When should I see a doctor about sunburn?
What is sunburn?
Sunburn is burn to the skin caused by sunlight. It is the skin’s reaction to too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
You can see sunlight and feel heat (infrared radiation), but you can’t see or feel UV radiation. And it can damage your skin even on cool, cloudy days.
How long does sunburn take to happen?
The signs of sunburn can start to appear in as little as 10 minutes and skin can turn red within 2 to 6 hours of being burnt. It will continue to develop for the next 24 to 72 hours and, depending on the severity, can take days or weeks to heal.
What are the long-term problems of sunburn?
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage the skin and may cause skin cancer, including dangerous melanoma.
Each time you expose your skin to UV radiation, you increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
You don’t have to be sunburnt to increase your risk of skin cancer.
What is the best home treatment for sunburn?
There is no cure for the symptoms of sunburn except time and patience. Treatment aims to help manage the symptoms while the body heals. Suggestions include:
- Drink plenty of water, because spending time in the sun can lead to dehydration as well as sunburn.
- Gently apply cool or cold compresses, or bathe the area in cool water.
- Use calamine lotion or other cooling creams
- Don’t pop blisters. Consider covering itchy blisters with a wound dressing to reduce the risk of infection.
- If your skin is not too painful, apply moisturiser. This won’t stop the burnt skin from peeling off, but it will help boost the moisture content of the skin beneath.
- Take over-the-counter pain-relieving medication like paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen, if necessary.
- Keep out of the sun until your skin has completely healed.
Mild sunburn can be treated at home, but severe and blistered sunburn can require prompt medical help. An Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) or Minor Illness/Injury Unit (MIU) are suitable places to go.
Other resources
