Sunburn

Sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays. The symptoms are usually mild and don't often last very long. Even so, try to avoid sunburn, because it can raise your chances of developing serious health problems later in life, such as skin cancer.

Sunburn can make your skin:

• red
• sore
• warm
• tender
• itchy

The signs of sunburn don't usually show for several hours. So you may not realise you're getting burnt while you're still outside.

A breeze can cool your skin, and so can swimming outdoors. That can hide the burn too, and you may not notice it happening.

A few days after sunburn, the skin will normally start to flake and peel. It usually heals fully within 7 days.

Contact your doctor 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

If your doctor's chamber is closed, phone a doctor or the 16263 health line.

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

Until your skin heals, you could try a few things to ease the symptoms:

• cool the skin by having a cold bath or shower, putting a cold towel on the area, or sponging the skin with cold water
• drink lots of water, which helps cool you down and prevents dehydration
• take pain relief like ibuprofen or paracetamol (aspirin should not be given to children under 16)
• avoid sunlight, and keep your skin covered until the sunburn has healed

Mild sunburn can usually be treated at home, but there are some situations where you should see a doctor.

A local pharmacy can advise you on what to use for sunburn. They may suggest hydrocortisone cream for a few days, which can help reduce inflammation.

Severe sunburn may need burn cream and dressings. A doctor or a nurse will provide these if needed.

Sometimes very severe sunburn needs treatment in hospital.

Sunburn comes from too much exposure to the sun. But the sun on a bright, hot day isn't the only way you can get it. Light bouncing off snow can cause sunburn, and you can burn on cloudy, cool days as well.

If you're out in the sun, keep sunburn in mind and watch for your skin starting to feel hot.

• apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30
• stay out of the sun when it's at its hottest, between 11am to 3pm, March to October
• wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades 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

Anyone who is exposed to UV light can get sunburn. Some people are more vulnerable than others, though.

You should take extra care when you're 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 for work or for play, are at a higher risk of skin cancer if they don't take precautions.

Severe sunburn can bring on heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and either of these can be very serious.

Sunburn also carries longer-term risks, which include:

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