All About Sunburn: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

In this article:
What is sunburn?
What causes sunburn?
Sunburn symptoms
Long-term effects of sunburn
How to care for sunburn
How NOT to care for sunburn
How to prevent sunburn
Can skin become more resistant to sunburn?

Of all the forms of visible sun damage, sunburn is the most immediately noticeable. The term itself conjures images of hot, uncomfortable, reddened or darkened skin for many of us.

According to an American Academy of Dermatology survey, about one third of American adults report experiencing a sunburn in the 2023 calendar year (1). Our goal is to bring that number down and, for those who accidentally get too much sun, help your skin feel better fast!

Here are the research-based facts on what sunburn is, how to care for sunburn and how to prevent getting one in the first place.

What is sunburn?

Sunburn is a complex response to UV damage from the sun (or a tanning bed) that has both short-term and long-term repercussions. In the short-term, it can cause painful, hot-to-the-touch skin that causes peeling, redness in light skin tones and a darkening in deeper skin tones. In the mid-to-long-term, sun damage brought on by sunburn can cause premature skin ageing, laxity, wrinkles, dark spots, volume loss, texture changes and larger skin issues (2).

There are three different types of sunburn (first, second and third degree), each with their own set of symptoms and instructions for care. Depending on severity, a sunburn can last anywhere from three days to two weeks.

All skin tones can get sunburns, even those with dark skin, in an array of environments - including on cloudy days (3). Your skin tone and location don’t make you exempt!

Although many think of sunburn as the cause of (or precursor to) tans, they are two separate responses to UV rays (4). Still, both are signs of sun damage, so skip out on sunbathing and indoor tanning beds, please.

What causes sunburn?

UVA and UVB rays cause sunburn and sun damage. UVB (shorter-range) rays cause most sunburns. UVA (long-range) rays go deeper into skin and are primarily responsible for signs of premature ageing such as wrinkles and sagging since they directly damage skin’s collagen and elastin fibers.

When skin is bombarded with UVB rays, you might not initially feel it in. Sunburns can intensify up to 24-36 hours after initial sun exposure, sometimes even continuing to develop up to 72 hours later.

Although UV rays are the primary culprits for sunburn, other factors also contribute to the risk and severity of sunburn, including:

• How much sunscreen you apply. Misunderstanding how to apply sunscreen and what counts as liberal application (5).
• Mistimed sunscreen application. Applying sunscreen once outside rather than putting it on before you leave the house. “Ideally, sunscreen should be applied 15-30 minutes prior to exposure,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman.
• Reapplication. Forgetting to reapply sunscreen every two hours when you’re outdoors or in direct sunlight and after water submersion.
• Time of day. The sun’s strongest between the hours of 10AM-2PM. Seek shade during those hours.
• UV index. The UV index (ultraviolet index) is a measure (on a scale of 1-11+) of UV ray strength. The higher the number, the more risk.
• Environment and altitude. Sunburn can happen in all weather conditions and environments. For example, sunburn can happen while skiing due to mountains’ high altitude (closer to the sun) and reflection of UV rays off snow.
• A one-sided sun protection routine. Relying only on sunscreen to protect your skin leaves skin vulnerable. Even the best sunscreen doesn’t filter out 100% of UV rays! According to Dr. Hartman, a well-rounded routine includes: oral supplements, sunglasses, hats and UPF clothing.

Sunburn symptoms

While most of us are familiar with the classic visual signs of sunburn (hello, redness and peeling), there are other symptoms that can go beyond the classic hallmarks of sunburn.

Here’s a list of what to be aware of when it comes to sunburn symptoms (6):

• Redness on light skin tones or darkening in deeper skin tones.
• Skin that’s warm to the touch.
• Swelling on the sunburned parts of the body.
• Pain, soreness or tenderness in the affected area.
• Headache.
• Fever and/or chills.
• Blistering.
• Flaking, sunburn peeling and itchy skin.

Important note: severe, or third-degree sunburns, require the attention of a medical professional. If you experience a high fever, nausea, vomiting, severe swelling, intense pain or large blisters, it’s time to urgently get help. It’s important after getting a sunburn to continue to monitor your symptoms as they can develop and change over a period of not just hours, but days.

Long-term effects of sunburn

The short-term effects of sunburn can no doubt be painful – but what UV damage does to skin over time is worse.

Just some of the long-term effects of unprotected sun exposure include:

• Fine lines and wrinkles.
• Skin laxity (sagging).
• Depletion of skin-beneficial substances, such as collagen and elastin.
• Dark spots and uneven tone.
• Dryness.
• Rough texture.
• More serious skin issues (7).

How to care for sunburn

Of course, sometimes, if you’re outside longer than anticipated, forget to reapply your sunscreen, don’t apply a high enough SPF, or don’t apply enough sunscreen in the first place, you can wind up with a sunburn. Though that’s not ideal, there are steps you can take to reduce sunburn redness and the overall impact sunburn has on your skin.

Once you recognise you have a sunburn, it’s critical to take the following steps as soon as possible for sunburn relief:

• Remove yourself from direct sunlight immediately; ideally, go indoors or to a completely shaded area. Drink plenty of hydrating (no alcohol or caffeine) fluids to avoid dehydration (8).
• Calm the skin over a few hours using cool, damp compresses or a bag of ice wrapped in a towel (never put ice directly on skin). This will help draw the heat from the skin and lessen redness or darkening.
• Keep your sunburned skin moisturised, not dry, with lightweight, water-based hydrators. Carefully apply a thin, almost watery lotion, toner or serum packed with a broad range of skin-repairing ingredients, like vitamin C, and soothing ingredients to the affected area. You’ll often see aloe vera recommended as a “fix-it-all” solution, but your skin needs a more robust mix of ingredients to improve quickly.
• Let you sunburn “breathe” by not covering it up; doing so allows heat to escape from skin.
• Avoid direct contact with sunlight as your skin improves, taking care to wear lightweight yet SPF-rated sunlight-blocking clothing.
• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen to avoid any additional sun damage.

As stated above, if you have a severe sunburn – which means a bad second- or third-degree burn – seek medical attention.

How NOT to care for sunburn

In addition to what you should do to help your skin after a sunburn; there are some things you should not do to ensure you’re treating your skin the best way you can to soothe sun damage.

Here are some sunburn DON’TS:

• Do not place ice directly onto your skin. The extreme cold can cause skin to become more damaged.
• Do not use creams that have fragrance or so-called “cooling” ingredients like menthol. They can cause skin to flare up more than it already is with the sunburn.
• Do not apply thick, occlusive balms, creams or butters to skin. Especially avoid petrolatum (petroleum jelly) based products. They trap heat in skin, increasing symptoms.
• Do not wear tight, restrictive clothing that can rub up against skin, creating additional irritation.
• Do not scratch or pick at skin, which can cause blisters to burst, leading to potential infection and scarring (9).

How to prevent sunburn

The easiest way to avoid sunburn is to not go outside. For most people, this tactic is neither practical nor fun! However, sunburn prevention doesn’t have to mean holing up inside.

Here are some tips on how to avoid sunburn that let you live life to the fullest:

• Liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to all areas of exposed skin at least 15 minutes before heading outside. "Liberal" means you can see a fairly thick layer of sunscreen before massaging into skin.
• Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your feet, back of your hands, ears, scalp and other parts of the body you usually miss when applying sunscreen.
• Apply a water-resistant sunscreen if you’re swimming, in water or perspiring heavily. Sunscreens labeled "water resistant" will last 40 minutes when you’re wet; sunscreens labeled "very water resistant" will last 80 minutes, so reapplication is important.
• If you’re outdoors or in direct sunlight, the FDA recommends reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours.
• Round out your sun protection routine. Seek shade often and be sure to wear UV-rated sunglasses, UV-rated clothing, wide-brimmed hats and lip care with SPF.
• Avoid being in the sun during the peak hours when UV light is most intense (10AM-2PM).
• Get inside as quickly as possible if you see your skin turning pink or dark, even if you've reapplied sunscreen.

Can skin become more resistant to sunburn?

You might have heard that repeated exposure to UV rays makes skin less prone to sunburn. While technically true, this has some major caveats. First is that decreases in sun sensitivity, through a process called UV adaptation, can vary widely, from well over tenfold to barely 10%, and there are no certainties which category you’ll end up in, so it’s better just not to chance it (10).

The other issue is that even if your skin becomes more sunburn resistant, it does not mean skin stops getting damaged – it just stops giving immediate visual signals it’s in trouble. Think of smokers whose lungs are damaged from the habit, yet they don’t have a chronic cough or breathing problems (yet).

Long story short, it’s always a good idea to defend skin with sunscreen and other skin protective measures, full-stop!

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References for this information:

1. American Academy of Dermatology Association, Accessed February 2025, Webpage
2. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, August 2012, pages 19-24
3. JAMA Dermatology, May 2018, pages 561-569
4. U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Accessed February 2025, Webpage
5. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, January 2023, pages 21-26
6. Mayo Clinic, Accessed February 2025, Webpage
7. Journal of Dermatology Research, January 2021, pages 1-9
8. BIO Web of Conferences, January 2024, pages 1-7
9. Mayo Clinic, Accessed February 2025, Webpage
10. Experimental Dermatology, July 2017, pages 557-562