myFirst Aid | Sunburn | Community Health Network

Sunburn
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First Aid - Heat Exhaustion

Sunburn - Face

Sunburn - Back

Definition

Red, painful skin following sun exposure

General Information

Most sunburn is a first-degree burn that turns the skin pink or red. Prolonged sun exposure can cause blistering (a second-degree burn). Sunburn never causes a third-degree burn or scarring.
The pain and swelling starts at 4 hours, peaks at 24 hours, and improves after 48 hours.
Long-term sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer and causes aging of the skin.

If not, see these topics

Chemical or thermal burn, see BURNS

Should I
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Care at
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When to Call Your Doctor

	Call 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If
	Passed out (fainted) Difficult to awaken or acting confused Very weak (unable to stand)
	Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
	You feel weak or very sick Unable to look at lights because of eye pain Looks infected (e.g., draining pus, red streaks, increasing tenderness after day 2) Extremely painful sunburn, and not improved after taking pain medication
	Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
	You think you need to be seen Many small blisters are present Blisters are present on face Blister larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm)
	Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
	You have other questions or concerns
	Self Care at Home If
	Mild sunburn and you don't think you need to be seen Sunscreen and protection from the sun, questions about

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HOME CARE ADVICE

Home Care Advice for Sunburn

Ibuprofen for Pain: For pain relief, begin taking ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) as soon as possible. Adult dosage is 400 mg every 6 hours. If anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen are begun within 6 hours of sun exposure and continued for 2 days, they can greatly reduce your discomfort. If you can't take ibuprofen, use acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) instead.
- Do not take ibuprofen if you have stomach problems, kidney disease, are pregnant, or have been told by your doctor to avoid this type of anti-inflammatory drug. Do not take ibuprofen for more than 7 days without consulting your doctor.
- Do not take acetaminophen if you have liver disease.
- Read the package instructions thoroughly on all medications that you take.
Hydrocortisone Cream: Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream as soon as possible and then three times a day for 2 days. If begun early, it may reduce swelling and pain. If you don't have any hydrocortisone cream, use a moisturizing cream until you can get some.
- Keep the cream in the refrigerator (Reason: it feels better if applied cold).
- Available over-the-counter in U.S. as 0.5% and 1% cream.
- Available over-the-counter in Canada as 0.5% cream.
Cool Baths: Apply cool compresses to the burned area several times a day to reduce pain and burning. For larger sunburns, give cool baths for 10 minutes (caution: avoid any chill). Add 2 oz. baking soda per tub. Avoid soap on the sunburn.
Extra Fluids: Drink extra water on the first day to replace the fluids lost into the sunburn and to prevent dehydration and dizziness.
Broken Blisters:
- For broken blisters, trim off the dead skin with a fine scissors (Reason: these hidden pockets can become a breeding ground for infection).
- Apply antibiotic ointment (e.g., Bacitracin) to the raw skin under broken blisters. Reapply twice daily for 3 days.
- Caution: leave intact blisters alone (Reason: the intact blister protects the skin and allows it to heal).
Expected Course: Pain usually stops after 2 or 3 days. Skin flaking and peeling usually occur 5-7 days after the sunburn.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe and not improved after taking pain medication
- Pain does not improve after 3 days
- Sunburn looks infected
- You become worse

How to Prevent Sunburn

Prevention - Reduce Sun Exposure:
- Try to avoid all sun exposure between 10 am and 3 pm.
- You can get a sunburn while swimming. Water only blocks the ultraviolet radiation a little.Â
Prevention - Clothing:
- Wear a wide-brim hat; it protects your face and neck from the sun.
- Wear shirts with long sleeves when outdoors and pants that go down to at least your knees.
Prevention - Use Sunscreen:
- Apply sunscreen to areas that can't be protected by clothing. Generally, an adult needs about 1 oz of sunscreen lotion to cover the entire body.
- You should reapply the sunscreen every 2-4 hours. You should also reapply after swimming, exercising, or sweating.
- A sunscreen with a rating of SPF 15 to 30 should be used. Sunscreens with ratings higher than 30 provide minimal additional protection.
- Sunscreens help prevent sunburn, but do not completely prevent skin damage. Thus, sun exposure can still increase your risk of skin aging and skin cancer.
Vitamins C and E: Vitamins C and E have anti-oxidant properties, which means they help prevent sun damage to cells in your skin. Taking vitamins C and E by mouth may partially reduce the sunburn reaction.
- The adult dosage of vitamin C (ascorbic acid): 2 grams by mouth once a day.
- Adult dosage of vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol): 1000 IU by mouth once a day.
- Caution: Prevention is the key. Remember to reduce sun exposure and use sunscreens.
- Read the package instructions thoroughly on all medications that you take.

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

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Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Author and Senior Reviewer: David A. Thompson, M.D.

Last Reviewed: 1/19/2009

Last Revised: 3/21/2007

Content Set: Adult HouseCalls Online