How Long Does a Sunburn Last? (2023)

FAQs

How Long Does a Sunburn Last? ›

"Most sunburns will lose their associated pain and red tone in three to five days. But if you have a more severe, blistering burn, this could last up to 10 days," Dr. Klein said. Pain from a sunburn usually starts within two to six hours of sun overexposure and peaks at about 24 hours.

Mild sunburns are a light red, not noticeably swollen, and not particularly uncomfortable or sore. They can heal within three days or less, and they often will turn into a tan, especially if you follow the advice a little lower down.

How Long Do Sunburns Take to Fade? If you have a mild sunburn, you'll notice redness about two to six hours after sun exposure. The redness will fade in about two days. The more severe your sunburn, the longer it will take to for the redness to subside.

It is typically at its worst at 24 to 36 hours after sun exposure and resolves in 3 to 5 days. Ultraviolet rays can also initially cause invisible damage to the skin. Excessive and/or multiple sunburns cause premature aging of the skin and lead to skin cancer.

Sunburn pain in general lasts anywhere from one to three days, but more severe burns can sting for longer. Over-the-counter pain relievers and proper sunburn care can help you reduce this pain. Also, be sure not to pick at your skin. You might be tempted to touch blisters or peeling skin.

Apply distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to your skin with a cotton ball, or put some in a spray bottle and spray it on your body every few hours. For a severe, full-body sunburn, oatmeal is a lifesaver.

Mild sunburns usually come with redness and some pain, which can last anywhere from three to five days. Your skin may also peel a bit toward the last couple of days as your skin regenerates.

Blistering and swelling over a larger area. Wet-looking skin. Pain. White discoloration within the burn.

Why do sunburns feel hot? ›

This causes the skin's blood vessels to leak into the spaces between cells and other skin structures. It's this extra fluid and the swelling it causes that lead to the red skin, hot sensation and painful sensitivity of freshly sunburnt skin.

Severity of Sunburn

Most sunburn is a first-degree burn that turns the skin pink or red. Prolonged sun exposure can cause blistering and a second-degree burn. Rarely, severe sunburn can cause a third-degree burn or scarring.

“Aloe vera can help cool and soothe the skin to make it feel better symptomatically, but it does not cure the burn itself.” If you want to use an aloe vera product for symptomatic relief, it is best to use a moisturizing lotion that contains aloe vera, Dr. Tsai adds. Moisturizing the skin overall can help with healing.

Yes, sunscreen will help protect sunburned or burned skin from UV rays.

If your severe sunburn is accompanied by headache, fainting, vomiting, or a very high fever, you should visit the ER. These symptoms may indicate a more serious condition, such as heatstroke or sun poisoning, which can be extremely dangerous.

Keep in mind that you won't be able to get rid of sunburn overnight even if your burn is mild. Most instances of first-degree sunburn should still take at least a week to heal, even when properly treated, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. More severe sunburn may take weeks or even months to heal.

Rather than damage skin even more with something that's too cold, stick to a cool bath or shower or a cool compress to help reduce pain before bed. Wear loose, breathable clothing. It's a good idea to avoid constricting clothing on sunburned areas.

Third-degree (full thickness) burns

Third-degree burns destroy the epidermis and dermis. Third-degree burns may also damage the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons. The burn site appears white or charred. There is no sensation in the area since the nerve endings are destroyed.

Avoid putting ice on a sunburn, as this can make matters worse by causing intense vasoconstriction, where blood vessels narrow sharply and cut off local blood supply to already damaged skin. Moisturising lotions can also help soothe by keeping moisture in, but avoid skin-numbing creams unless prescribed by your doctor.

Is it good to put lotion on a sunburn? ›

When you're sunburned, you need to keep your skin as moisturized as possible to aid its recovery. Be sure to reapply as often as needed. You can also chill the moisturizer in the fridge before applying for added relief.

Does a hot shower help a sunburn? No, it is a myth that taking a hot shower can ease the pain of a sunburn. In fact, taking a hot shower will make sunburn hurt even worse. On the other hand, cold showers can help to soothe a sunburn.

You may ask "what harm can one sunburn do?" Answer: A lot. Even a single sunburn can increase your risk for developing skin cancer. It's not the burn itself that affects your risk; it's the amount of sun exposure that's associated with that burn. After a sunburn, it's common to find your burnt skin peels off.

Don't take a hot bath or shower—this includes hot tubs, saunas and heated pools. Hot water can aggravate your inflamed skin and possibly cause more damage.

By causing blood vessels to contract, the thick gel-like juice of the aloe vera plant can take the sting and redness out of a sunburn. Apply aloe vera to the sunburned area five or six times a day for several days. This can not only help ease the pain but can help to keep skin moisturized and minimize peeling.

"But if you've already been sunburned, taking a cool shower or bath can be a helpful start." Dr. Kermott says the cool water from a shower, bath or cold compress works to tame the inflammation that occurs around a sunburn. Taking an anti-inflammatory medicine can help too.

First degree sunburn damages the skin's outer layer and will heal by itself, usually within a few days. A person with first degree sunburn may notice the following skin symptoms, usually about 4 hours after exposure to sunlight: redness, which is more apparent on light skin. a warm or tight feeling.

It will continue to develop for the next 24 to 72 hours and, depending on the severity, can take days or weeks to heal. Sunburn will become worse with more exposure to UV rays.

A first-degree burn, also called a superficial burn, only affects the epidermis, or outer layer of skin. The burn site appears red, painful, dry, and absent of blisters. Scarring is rare or minimal. The most common type of first-degree burn is mild sunburn.

Is A sunburn worse than a tan? ›

While sunburn is dangerous, regular tanning also greatly increases your chance of both premature aging and cancer, additional to wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, it is always best to avoid midday sun, seek shades when possible, and wear protective clothing.

A common reaction is shivering, which is the body trying to generate heat in an effort to compensate for the heat that is being lost. So, even while your skin feels hot to the touch, you shiver and feel chilled as your body tries to make up for the extra heat loss.

Don't touch blisters

Even though you might be tempted to, don't touch those sunburn blisters. You'll cause more harm than good. “To prevent infection and scarring, let blisters heal on their own,” advises Dr.

Big skin-care news: A study has found that UV damage to the skin continues for hours after you've left the sun and that melanin—the pigment that gives skin its color—may be contributing to this damage.

Some people believe that taking a hot shower takes some of the pain out of a sunburn. However, this can actually exacerbate the problem! Jumping into a hot shower will increase the diameter of your blood vessels, encouraging more blood to flow toward the surface of your skin.

The right clothes help.

You should avoid wearing red as well though, but also avoid blue and green. Stick to darker colors, notice how they play down a burn while lighter ones highlight it. Also avoid anything too tight, scratchy, or form-fitting, it'll make uncomfortable skin feel worse.

The Cancer Council in Australia suggests that darker colors absorb UV rays, which helps block them from your skin. That's why dark blue, black, and dark red are the best colors for sun protection compared to white or pastel colors of the same fabric.

The size of a burn can be quickly estimated by using the "rule of nines." This method divides the body's surface area into percentages. The front and back of the head and neck equal 9% of the body's surface area. The front and back of each arm and hand equal 9% of the body's surface area.

Stick to cool showers on the lowest pressure possible, or even a soak in a cool tub, until your skin has healed. Running cool baths allows you to submerge the burn as much as you want without worrying about strong pressure from the shower head. Try adding a few tablespoons of baking soda to your bath.

Why does my sunburn sting when I put aloe on it? ›

While you can place the juice directly onto the sunburn, it may sting a little since aloe vera juice is an astringent. Try mixing the aloe vera juice with a little moisturizing Vitamin E and dab it onto the sunburn.

Does shaving cream reduce sunburn? There is no scientific evidence that using shaving cream can reduce the symptoms of sunburn. However, some shaving creams contain hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, such as aloe vera and vitamin E. These ingredients may help soothe irritation caused by sunburn.

If you don't want to wear a waterproof bandage, you should avoid swimming until the burn is fully healed and no blistered or broken skin remains, says Dana Ellis, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Newport Beach, Calif., who represented Canada in the pole vault at the 2004 Olympic Games.

Your doctor might suggest a corticosteroid cream for your sunburn, or a short course of prednisone for severe cases involving large areas of your body. Antibiotics are most often not required unless you develop an infection.

Apply a moisturizer, lotion or gel.

An aloe vera lotion or gel or calamine lotion can be soothing. Try cooling the product in the refrigerator before applying. Avoid products made with alcohol.

Does a hot shower help a sunburn? No, it is a myth that taking a hot shower can ease the pain of a sunburn. In fact, taking a hot shower will make sunburn hurt even worse. On the other hand, cold showers can help to soothe a sunburn.

If your skin is not blistering, moisturizing cream may be applied to relieve discomfort. DO NOT use butter, petroleum jelly (Vaseline), or other oil-based products. These can block pores so that heat and sweat cannot escape, which can lead to infection.

What makes sunburn worse? ›

Sunburn will become worse with more exposure to UV rays. Mild sunburn can be treated at home, but severe and blistered sunburn requires prompt medical attention.

Antihistamines: Oral or topical antihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), can reduce itching associated with sunburn. Oral antihistamines also have a sedating effect that may help when pain prevents restful sleep.

Aloe vera is an excellent treatment for sunburn because it reduces inflammation, stimulates collagen production, and moisturizes skin. The best way to apply it is to use aloe from the plant itself and rub it into the sunburnt areas. You can reapply it several times a day, as needed.

Hydrocortisone creams help calm itching and irritation. Farber said over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment, like Cortizone 10 cream, is a good place to start, but prescription steroids may be necessary for more severe burns — you should consult your doctor about those.

Antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin or Bacitracin can help prevent infection and speed up the healing process. After applying it Neosporin on a burn, make sure you cover the area with a clean cloth or cling film.

Over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve the discomfort of sunburn. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), naproxen, and ibuprofen all relieve pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen have the added benefit of an anti-inflammatory effect, which may help reduce skin inflammation.