---
name: sunburn-care
description: Use when asked for general educational information about sunburn care — common symptoms, general self-care measures, and when to seek medical attention — for education only, not medical advice; always direct the reader to consult a doctor or health care professional.
---

# Sunburn Care

> ⚠️ **Ask your doctor or health care professional. This information is AI generated for education and NOT medical advice.**

Sunburn is skin damage caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV)
radiation, ranging from mild redness to severe burns with blistering.

## Common symptoms

Red, warm, painful skin; in more severe cases, swelling and blisters;
and — for extensive sunburn — fever, chills, headache, and nausea.

## General self-care measures

- Get out of the sun and cool the skin with a cool (not ice-cold)
  compress or bath.
- Apply a moisturizing lotion (aloe vera-based products are commonly
  used) — avoid petroleum-based products, which can trap heat.
- Stay well hydrated, since sunburn draws fluid to the skin's surface
  and away from the rest of the body.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief if needed.
- Leave blisters intact if they form — they protect the healing skin
  underneath and reduce infection risk.
- Protect the area from further sun exposure while healing.

## When to seek medical attention

- Sunburn covering a large portion of the body, especially with
  blistering.
- Signs of heat illness (see [[first-aid]]) alongside sunburn — high
  fever, confusion, or fainting — seek emergency care; see
  [[urgent-emergency-care]].
- Signs of infection in blistered skin (increasing redness, warmth,
  pus).
- Severe pain not relieved by over-the-counter measures.

## Common pitfalls

- **Popping blisters** — this increases infection risk and slows
  healing; intact blisters protect the skin underneath.
- **Using ice directly on sunburned skin** — this can cause further
  skin damage; a cool (not ice-cold) compress is safer.
- **Underestimating fluid loss from extensive sunburn** — significant
  sunburn can cause meaningful fluid loss, similar in some ways to a
  mild burn injury; hydration matters more than for typical minor skin
  irritation.

## Learn more

- [[dermatology-assessment]] for related skin-condition assessment.
- [[first-aid]] for related heat-illness and burn first-aid guidance.
- [[health-care]] for general navigation of health systems.