Sunburn: safe care and protection
Getting out of the sun is the first step after sunburn. Learn about safe cooling, blister care and symptoms that need medical help.
Preview draft: clinical content and translations await hospital review.
What changes in the skin?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight can damage skin. Heat, pain, tenderness, redness and later peeling may occur; a severe burn can blister. Darker skin can burn even when colour changes are less obvious. Sunburn is a sign of damage that can increase skin cancer risk.
First care steps
- Leave the sun and move somewhere cool. Soothe skin with a cool shower or damp cloth; do not apply ice or ice packs directly.
- Ask about a suitable unperfumed moisturiser. Avoid irritating cosmetics and tight clothing that rubs.
- Drink water if fully alert and able to drink comfortably; follow your own plan if fluids are restricted. Avoid making a young child too cold during cooling.
Blisters and pain
Do not burst blisters or pull off peeling skin. Blistering or significant swelling warrants medical assessment; follow professional advice for dressing open areas. Pain medicine suitability varies with age, pregnancy, other illnesses and medicines; do not add several medicines yourself.
Preventing another burn
Protect skin from further direct sunlight until it heals. Combine shade with sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Apply and reapply broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to exposed skin as directed. Sunscreen does not make unlimited time in the sun safe.
Warning symptoms alongside sunburn
Seek prompt advice for sunburn in a baby or young child, widespread blistering, fever or chills, dizziness, nausea or significant dehydration. Call 112 for confusion, collapse or a seizure in the heat and move the person to a cool place; do not give fluids by mouth if consciousness is impaired. Do not dismiss these symptoms as just a skin burn.
Information sources
These sources support general information; they do not confirm our hospital’s services or clinical approval.
This information is general and does not replace individual diagnosis or treatment advice. Discuss your own situation with your healthcare team.
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