Sunburn
Sunburn
Overview
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.
Common Symptoms
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Contact your GP practice urgently 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
Causes
What causes sunburn?
Sunburn happens when your skin gets too much exposure to the sun. But the sun isn't the only culprit. Sunlight reflecting off snow can burn your skin too, and you can even get sunburnt on a cool, cloudy day.
Treatment
You can usually treat mild sunburn at home, but there are some situations where it's best to get medical advice.
Your local pharmacy can advise you on treatments for sunburn. They may recommend using a hydrocortisone cream for a few days, which can help reduce the inflammation.
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, very severe sunburn may need to be treated in hospital.
Prevention
Sunburn can creep up on you without much warning, so it helps to stay alert to the risk whenever you are outside and to check your skin now and then for signs of heat or redness.
What to do
- apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30
- avoid being out in the sun when it is at its hottest, between 11am and 3pm, from March to October
- wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears
- wear a long-sleeved top with trousers or a long skirt
- wear sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms
- sit in the shade when you are outside
- keep children under 6 months old out of direct strong sunlight
You can find out more about sunscreen and sun safety.
Who is more likely to get sunburnt
Anyone exposed to UV light can get sunburnt, but some people are more vulnerable than others. Take extra care 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 a skin condition linked to a medical problem
- only get intense sun occasionally, such as while on holiday
- are in a hot country where the sun is stronger
- have a family history of skin cancer
People who spend a lot of time in the sun, whether for work or leisure, face a higher risk of skin cancer if they do not take precautions.
Complications
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
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