Sunburn

Sunburn is hot and sore skin caused by too much sun. It may flake and peel after a few days.

Check if you have sunburn

If you have sunburn, your skin may:

feel hot to touch
feel sore or painful
flake or peel – this usually happens a few days after you get sunburn

Your skin may also blister if your sunburn is severe.

If you have white skin, your skin will usually be red or pink. If you have black or brown skin, you may not notice a change in the colour of your skin.

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you or someone has any of these:

Signs of a heart attack (chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest)
Signs of a stroke (face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking)
Sudden confusion or delirium (unsure of own name or age)
Suicide attempt (by taking something or self-harming)
Severe difficulty breathing (not being able to get words out, choking or gasping)
A serious accident, or severe injuries burns or scalds
Heavy bleeding (spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle)
Severe injuries (after a serious accident or assault)
A seizure or fit (shaking, jerking, or unconscious & can’t be woken up)
Sudden, rapid swelling (of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue)

How to ease sunburn yourself

There are things you can do to help ease symptoms of sunburn.

Do

get out of the sun as soon as possible
cool your skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towel (take care not to let a baby or young child get too cold)
apply aftersun cream or spray
drink plenty of water to cool down and prevent dehydration
take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for any pain
cover sunburnt skin from direct sunlight until skin has fully healed