Practice updates

Sunburn

Sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays. The symptoms are mild and don’t often last very long. However, it’s important to try to avoid sunburn because it can increase your chances of developing serious health problems like skin cancer later in life.

Symptoms of sunburn

Sunburn can cause the skin to become:

  • red
  • sore
  • warm
  • tender
  • itchy

The symptoms of sunburn don’t usually develop for several hours. This means you may not know you’re getting sunburn when you’re outside.

If there’s a breeze or you’re swimming outside, this can also cool your skin. This means you may not realise you’re getting burnt.

The skin will normally start to flake and peel a few days after sunburn. It’ll usually heal fully within 7 days.

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment if:

You’ve been out in the sun and:

  • your skin is blistered or swollen
  • your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery
  • you feel very tired, dizzy and sick
  • you have a headache and muscle cramps
  • your baby or young child has sunburn

Phone 111 if your GP practice is closed. 

How to ease sunburn yourself

If you have sunburn, get out of the sun as soon as possible. You can go indoors or into a shady area.

To help relieve your symptoms until your skin heals, you could:

  • cool the skin – have a cold bath or shower, apply a cold towel to the area or sponge the skin with cold water
  • drink lots of water – to help cool you down and prevent dehydration
  • take pain relief like ibuprofen or paracetamol – aspirin should not be given to children under 16
  • avoid sunlight – cover your skin until the sunburn has healed

Treatment for sunburn

You can usually treat mild sunburn at home but there are some circumstances where you should get medical advice.

Your local pharmacy can advise you on treatments for sunburn. They may recommend using hydrocortisone cream for a few days. This can help to to reduce inflammation.

Find your local pharmacy

Severe sunburn may need to be treated with burn cream and dressings. Your GP or a nurse at your GP practice will provide these, if needed.

Sometimes hospital treatment may be needed for very severe sunburn.

What causes sunburn?

Sunburn is caused by too much exposure to the sun. However, there’s a risk of getting sunburn in other weather conditions too. For example, light reflecting off snow can cause sunburn. You can also burn in cloudy and cool conditions.

How to prevent sunburn

It’s important to be aware of the risk of sunburn if you’re outside and look out for your skin getting hot.

Do

  • apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30
  • avoid being out in the sun when it’s at it’s hottest – between 11am to 3pm, March to October
  • wear a wide-brimmed hat that provides shade for your face, neck and ears
  • wear a long-sleeved top and trousers or a long skirt
  • wear sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms
  • sit in the shade when you’re outside
  • keep children aged under 6 months out of direct strong sunlight

Find out more about sunscreen and sun safety

Who’s at risk of sunburn?

Everyone who is exposed to UV light is at risk of getting sunburn. However, some people are more vulnerable than others.

You should take extra care when out in the sun if you:

  • have pale, white or light brown skin
  • have freckles or red or fair hair
  • usually burn rather than tan
  • have many moles
  • have skin problems linked to a medical condition
  • are only exposed to intense sun occasionally – for example, while on holiday
  • are in a hot country where the sun is more intense
  • have a family history of skin cancer

People who spend a lot of time in the sun, whether it’s for work or play, are at a higher risk of skin cancer if they don’t take precautions.

Complications of sunburn

Severe sunburn can lead to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can be very serious.

The longer-term risks of sunburn include:

  • actinic (solar) keratoses – rough and scaly pre-cancerous spots on the skin
  • skin cancer – including both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer
  • eye problems – like photokeratitis (snow blindness) and cataracts
  • premature ageing of the skin and wrinkling