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Patient education: Sunburn (Beyond the Basics)

Patient education: Sunburn (Beyond the Basics)
Literature review current through: Jan 2024.
This topic last updated: Jul 20, 2022.

SUNBURN OVERVIEW — Sunburn occurs when skin gets too much sunshine (generally by being out in the sun too long) by ultraviolet radiation (UVR), resulting in damage to the skin cells. It is common, with more than 30 percent of adults and 70 percent of children and adolescents reporting at least one sunburn during the course of a year. Although most sunburns are not severe, a lifetime of sun exposure and/or frequent sunburns significantly increases your risk of developing skin cancer, wrinkles, and other cosmetic concerns.

This article addresses the symptoms, causes, potential complications, and treatment of sunburn. Prevention of sunburn is discussed separately (see "Patient education: Sunburn prevention (Beyond the Basics)"). Severe sunburns are treated like other skin burns and are discussed separately (see "Patient education: Skin burns (Beyond the Basics)"). More detailed information about sunburn is available by subscription. (See "Sunburn".)

SUNBURN SYMPTOMS — Unlike other types of skin burns, sunburn may not be immediately apparent because redness starts to develop between three and five hours after being out in the sun. Common symptoms of sunburn include reddened skin that is hot to the touch (picture 1 and picture 2), skin pain, and increased sensitivity to skin pressure and heat (eg, hot water); more severe sunburns cause skin swelling and blistering (see "Patient education: Skin burns (Beyond the Basics)"). The sunburn damage in the skin also triggers skin tanning. It is a well-known fact that tanning is the body's response to damage to the skin cells.

Redness peaks approximately 12 to 24 hours after sun exposure and typically fades over 72 hours.

SUNBURN CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS — Normally, the skin is protected from the sun by a substance in the skin called melanin. Melanin is a pigment (coloring) that causes your skin to appear light or dark colored. If your skin is exposed to excessive ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun or a tanning bed, it becomes burned.

The amount of UVR required to burn your skin depends upon:

The amount of melanin in your skin. In general, people with fair skin and light-colored hair have less melanin and are at a higher risk of sunburn compared with people with darker-colored skin. Some people can develop sunburn after less than 15 minutes of sun exposure.

Where you are. People in regions that are closest to the equator and high altitudes (eg, mountainous areas) are at a higher risk for developing sunburn. Take extra precautions when you are exposed to a breeze (eg, sailing) because this masks the heat of the sun, which is a good guide to the intensity of UVR. Also remember that snow reflects UVR.

Certain medications make the skin more sensitive to sunburn. This includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, ibuprofen), quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics (eg, Ciprofloxacin, tetracycline), diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), psoralens (methoxsalen/Oxsoralen), and phenothiazines (eg, Compazine). Other drugs include amiodarone and antifungals, including voriconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole. If you take one or more of these medications, you should avoid the sun and use protective measures (eg, sunscreen) to avoid sunburn.

SUNBURN COMPLICATIONS — Sunburn is associated with premature skin aging (eg, wrinkling of the skin) as well as skin cancer, including malignant melanoma, a very serious form of skin cancer. Sun exposure and ultraviolet radiation damage can also increase the risk of developing cataracts (when the lens in the eye becomes cloudy). (See "Patient education: Melanoma treatment; localized melanoma (Beyond the Basics)".)

SUNBURN TREATMENT — Treatments for sunburn can help to relieve skin discomfort. You should stay out of the sun until your skin redness and pain resolve. You can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen to relieve pain. These medications are especially helpful if you take them as soon as you notice pain; the benefit of NSAIDs decreases after 24 hours. However, it is important to bear in mind that you need to be careful about going in the sun afterwards.

For mild sunburns, there are several products advertised to relieve pain, including cool compresses, aloe-based lotions, and lotions or sprays with a local anesthetic (numbing medication, eg, Solarcaine, Dermoplast). Although studies have not proven that these products are helpful, they are not likely to be harmful. However, these products do not reduce the long-term risks of sunburn (eg, skin cancer).

PREVENTING SUNBURN — The prevention of sunburn is discussed in a separate article. (See "Patient education: Sunburn prevention (Beyond the Basics)".)

WHEN TO SEEK HELP — If you have a severe sunburn, call your health care provider to determine if you can use treatment at home or if you need to be evaluated in the office or an emergency department.

Symptoms of severe sunburn include severe skin pain and skin blistering. People with severe sunburn can also have heat stroke or heat exhaustion (when your body temperature is extremely high), which can cause fever, headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and fainting. If you have any of these problems, you should go to the emergency department immediately.

WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION — Your health care provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem.

This article will be updated as needed on our website (www.uptodate.com/contents/table-of-contents/patient-education). Related topics for patients, as well as selected articles written for health care professionals, are also available. Some of the most relevant are listed below.

Patient level information — UpToDate offers two types of patient education materials.

The Basics — The Basics patient education pieces answer the four or five key questions a patient might have about a given condition. These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials.

Patient education: Sunburn (The Basics)
Patient education: Melanoma skin cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Non-melanoma skin cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Actinic keratosis (The Basics)

Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon.

Patient education: Melanoma treatment; localized melanoma (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Sunburn prevention (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Skin burns (Beyond the Basics)

Professional level information — Professional level articles are designed to keep doctors and other health professionals up-to-date on the latest medical findings. These articles are thorough, long, and complex, and they contain multiple references to the research on which they are based. Professional level articles are best for people who are comfortable with a lot of medical terminology and who want to read the same materials their doctors are reading.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC): Clinical features and diagnosis
Actinic keratosis: Epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnosis
Basal cell carcinoma: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnosis
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Epidemiology and risk factors
Primary prevention of melanoma
Melanoma: Epidemiology and risk factors
Screening for melanoma in adults and adolescents
Selection of sunscreen and sun-protective measures
Sunburn
Treatment and prognosis of basal cell carcinoma at low risk of recurrence
Treatment and prognosis of low-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)
Treatment of actinic keratosis

The following organizations also provide reliable health information.

National Library of Medicine

     (https://medlineplus.gov/sunexposure.html, available in Spanish)

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

      (https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm)

The National Cancer Institute

      (https://progressreport.cancer.gov/prevention/sunburn)

The Environmental Protection Agency

      (www.epa.gov/sunsafety)

The Skin Cancer Foundation

      (www.skincancer.org)

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention

      (www.skincancerprevention.org)

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Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
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