What Is Sunburn?
Sunburn happens when the skin is exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. The skin becomes inflamed and irritated, which can lead to redness, pain, and peeling.
Factors that increase the risk include:
- Fair or light skin
- Spending long periods outdoors
- Not using sunscreen
- Wearing limited protective clothing
- Being outside during peak sunlight hours
Even a mild sunburn can damage skin cells. Over time, repeated UV exposure can increase the risk of early skin aging and skin cancer.
Symptoms
Sunburn symptoms may appear within a few hours after time in the sun and can continue to worsen over the next day.
Common symptoms include:
- Red or pink skin
- Tenderness or pain
- Warmth or swelling
- Itching or dryness
- Peeling skin as it heals
- Blisters in more serious burns
- Fever or chills
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue or weakness
- Dehydration
How Is It Diagnosed?
Healthcare providers usually diagnose sunburn by examining the skin and discussing recent sun exposure. They may ask about outdoor activities, tanning bed use, and when symptoms started.
If the burn is severe, providers may also check for dehydration or other heat-related illness.
How Is It Treated?
Most mild sunburns can be treated at home and improve within several days.
Treatment may include:
- Applying cool compresses
- Taking cool baths or showers
- Using fragrance-free moisturizer or aloe vera gel
- Drinking extra fluids
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers if needed
- Staying out of the sun while the skin heals
Blisters should be left alone to reduce the risk of infection.
Severe sunburn may require medical care, especially if symptoms include widespread blistering, fever, vomiting, confusion, or signs of dehydration.
The best way to prevent sunburn is to protect your skin with sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing. Broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher should be applied before going outside and reapplied regularly.
