Sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much exposure to UV light can make your skin red and painful. This may later lead to peeling or blistering. 

Sources of UV light include: 

• sunlight
• tanning beds
• phototherapy lamps – these are used in light therapy to treat conditions such as jaundice in newborn babies (yellowing of the skin)

Sunburn often occurs when the sun’s rays are intense. However, there is also a risk of getting burned by the sun in other weather conditions. For example, light reflecting off snow can also cause sunburn. A cloudy sky or breeze may make you feel cooler, but sunlight can still get through and damage your skin.

Melanin

Melanin is a pigment that is produced when your skin is exposed to sunlight. It absorbs the UV radiation found in sunlight to help protect your skin. This results in your skin becoming darker, which is a sign that it has been damaged by UV rays.

Melanin stops you burning so easily but it does not prevent the other harmful effects of UV radiation, such as cancer and premature ageing. See Sunburn - complications for more information about these.

Who is at risk of sunburn?

Everyone who is exposed to UV light is at risk of getting sunburn. However, the less melanin you have, the less protected you are against the effects of UV light.

For example, if you have fair skin or red hair, or if you have not been in the sun much, your melanin levels will be low, which means that your risk of burning more quickly rises.

Outlook

Mild sunburn usually goes away around four to seven days after exposure to UV rays. However, frequently exposing your skin to UV rays for long periods of time increases your risk of developing various skin problems, such as:

• prickly heat – an itchy, red rash that occurs when you sweat more than usual 
• early ageing of the skin and wrinkling
• solar keratoses – rough, scaly spots on the skin due to damage from UV light exposure 
• skin cancer 

The long-term consequences of UV exposure can be prevented by using a good-quality sunscreen. Sunscreen is available from pharmacies and supermarkets, and comes in a number of different strengths. See the box to the left for more information about sunscreen and advice about how to apply it.

The symptoms of sunburn vary from person to person and depend on:

• the length of exposure to UV rays
• the person’s skin type (paler skin is more likely to burn than darker skin)

Sunburn symptoms include: 

• red, sore skin (erythema) 
• skin that is warm and tender to the touch
• flaking and peeling skin after a number of days (usually four to seven days after exposure)

Dark skin can also burn and become damaged if exposed to enough UV light. However, as dark skin contains more melanin (pigment) it can tolerate sunlight without burning for longer than paler skin.

The symptoms of sunburn are not always immediately obvious. Symptoms usually begin three to five hours after exposure to the sun’s rays. They usually peak between 12 and 24 hours after being in the sun.

Severe sunburn

Severe cases of sunburn can cause:

• blistering 
• swelling of the skin (oedema) 
• chills 
• a high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or above 
• a general feeling of discomfort (malaise) 

You may also have symptoms of heatstroke, such as:

• dizziness
• headaches
• nausea (feeling sick)

See the Health A-Z topic about Heat exhaustion and heat stroke for more information.

Sunburn is caused by overexposure to sunlight, which contains ultraviolet radiation (UV rays).

Ultraviolet rays

The sun produces three different types of UV rays:

• UVA rays – these are less potent that UVB rays but penetrate deeper into the skin, damaging the middle layer (dermis) which contains tissues that give the skin its elasticity. Prolonged exposure to UVA rays can age the skin prematurely.  
• UVB rays – these UV rays are absorbed by the top layer of skin (epidermis). The epidermis releases chemicals that cause the pain, swelling and redness associated with sunburn. 
• UVC rays are filtered by the earth’s atmosphere, which means that protection against this type of radiation is not required.

UVA and UVB are the two types of ultraviolet rays that cause sunburn. Sunburn can also be caused by exposure to other sources of UV light, such as tanning beds and phototherapy lamps. These lamps are often used in light therapy to treat conditions such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin) in newborn babies.

Exposure to UVA and UVB rays increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Therefore, sunburn is a warning sign that you are putting yourself at risk and damaging your skin.

Risk factors

You are more at risk of getting sunburn if you:

• are in a country that is close to the equator, such as Ecuador in South America or Uganda in Africa
• are under six years old or over 60
• have pale, white skin and blonde or red hair 
• are at a high altitude – for example, climbing or skiing
• spend prolonged periods of time outdoors in a sunny climate, particularly when there are clear skies
• are near snow, ice or water where the sun’s rays can reflect onto your skin

If you have sunburn, you should avoid direct sunlight by covering up the affected areas of skin and staying in the shade until the sunburn has healed.

Protecting your skin from the sun with sunscreen is better than treating it. Read information about sun protection for eyes and skin including more advice about sunscreen and how to apply it.

Most cases of sunburn can be treated at home. Advice for treating sunburn is outlined below.

Water

Cool the skin by sponging it with lukewarm water or by having a cool shower or bath. Applying a cold compress, such as a cold flannel, to the affected area will also cool your skin.

Drinking plenty of fluids will help you to cool down and will replace water that is lost through sweating. It will also help to prevent dehydration (when the normal water content in your body is reduced, causing thirst and light-headedness).

Avoid drinking alcohol because it will dehydrate you even more.

Moisturiser

For mild sunburn, apply a moisturising lotion or aftersun cream, available at pharmacies. Aftersun cream will cool your skin and moisturise it, helping to relieve the feeling of tightness.

Moisturisers that contain aloe vera will also help to soothe your skin. Calamine lotion can relieve any itching or soreness.

Hydrocortisone cream

Sunburn may also be treated by applying 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area. This type of cream contains a corticosteroid and is rubbed directly onto the sunburned area of skin to reduce pain and inflammation (swelling).

Hydrocortisone cream should not be used on children who are under two years old.

Do not apply it to certain parts of the body, including:

• the face
• genitals
• broken or infected skin

Seek advice from your pharmacist before you start using hydrocortisone cream to treat sunburn.

Painkillers

Painkillers can help to relieve the pain and reduce the inflammation that is caused by sunburn.

Paracetamol can be used to treat pain and control fever. Ibuprofen is a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which can relieve pain, reduce inflammation and lower a high temperature.

Aspirin should not be given to children who are under 16 years old. 

Severe sunburn

Severe cases of sunburn may require special burn cream and burn dressings. Ask your pharmacist for advice. You may need to have your burns dressed by a nurse at your GP surgery.

Very severe sunburn cases may require treatment at your local accident and emergency (A&E) department.

Seeking medical help

If a baby or small child has been sunburned, or if blisters or a fever develop, seek medical advice from your GP or an NHS walk-in centre, or phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

A number of long-term complications can develop as a result of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. They include:

• premature ageing of the skin and wrinkling (caused by UVA rays)
• solar keratoses – rough, scaly spots on the skin 
• infection – severe blistering from sunburn can cause infection if bacteria enters breaks in the skin
• photokeratitis – prolonged exposure to intense sunlight can cause the eyes to become painfully sensitive, known as photokeratitis or snow blindness; it can be prevented by wearing sunglasses or goggles with UV filters
• skin cancer – people who have been exposed to a lot of ultraviolet light have a higher risk of developing both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer

Skin cancer

Exposure to UV rays increases your chances of developing skin cancer. Each year in the UK, more than 70,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed. It is thought that sun exposure is responsible for most cases.

There are a number of risk factors that can increase your risk of developing skin cancer as a result of prolonged exposure to the sun. People with an increased risk are: 

• those with very fair skin that burns easily
• those who have had several cases of sunburn during childhood
• those with a family history of skin cancer
• those with lots of moles on their body (over 50)
• those who are being treated with immunosuppressant medication

You can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer by protecting your skin by using sunscreen. See Sunburn - prevention for more information and advice about sun safety.