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Sunburn — First Aid and Care
What to do
- Get out of the sun and into shade or indoors as soon as you notice burning — skin can keep reddening for several hours after exposure.
- Cool the skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towels applied gently for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Drink plenty of water — sunburn draws fluid into the skin and dehydration is common, especially with heat illness symptoms.
- Once cooled, apply a plain moisturiser or aloe vera gel gently to soothe the skin. Reapply as needed and wear loose cotton clothing over the area.
- Simple pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication can be used as directed on the packet if needed.
- Protect the burned skin completely from sun until fully healed, and watch for signs of heat exhaustion (headache, dizziness, nausea) — treat those as a priority.
What NOT to do
- Do not burst sunburn blisters or peel flaking skin — both invite infection.
- Do not apply butter, oils or petroleum jelly to fresh sunburn — they trap heat.
- Do not use ice directly on sunburned skin.
- Do not go back into the sun to 'even out' the burn.
When to get medical care
Seek medical care for sunburn with extensive blistering, swelling of the face or limbs, fever, chills, severe pain, confusion, vomiting, or signs of dehydration; for any significant sunburn in a baby or young child; and for burned skin that becomes increasingly painful, swollen or produces pus (infection).
Related conditions
Related symptoms
Frequently asked questions
How long does sunburn take to heal?
Mild sunburn usually settles over 3 to 5 days, with peeling as the damaged skin sheds. Deeper burns with blisters can take a week or more. Repeated sunburns add up to long-term skin damage and skin cancer risk, so prevention matters.
When is sunburn actually an emergency?
When it comes with heat illness — confusion, fainting, vomiting, a high temperature or stopping sweating — call 911, as heatstroke is life-threatening. Blistering over a large part of the body, or sunburn in a baby, also needs urgent assessment.
In an emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) first — do not delay a call to read a guide. These pages are educational first-aid information in general terms; they are not a substitute for emergency services, first-aid training, or assessment by a qualified clinician.
