What should you know about back sunburn?

Because the back is hard to see and reach, ask someone you trust to check for extensive blistering or uneven areas and to help apply a gentle moisturiser without rubbing.

Ultraviolet radiation triggers inflammation in exposed skin. Discomfort may become more noticeable after leaving the sun, and peeling can follow as injured surface cells shed. Blisters indicate a deeper burn and should remain intact when possible.

Skin redness is not equally visible on every skin tone; tenderness, heat, swelling and tightness can be useful clues. Repeated ultraviolet exposure also contributes to longer-term sun-damaged skin, even when an individual burn later settles.

Leave the sun and use a cool shower or a clean, cool damp cloth. Do not place ice directly on the burn. Drink fluids, wear loose soft clothing and apply a fragrance-free moisturiser while the skin is slightly damp. A pharmacist can advise whether a pain reliever is safe with your health conditions and medicines.

Do not pop blisters or pull peeling skin. Avoid numbing products unless a clinician recommends them, because some can irritate sensitised skin. Keep the area covered with clothing and shade until healed; sunscreen complements those barriers when exposure cannot be avoided.

Seek urgent assessment for extensive blistering, severe swelling or pain, confusion, faintness, marked weakness, repeated vomiting, difficulty drinking, or signs of dehydration. Fever with worsening skin symptoms, pus, increasing warmth or spreading redness can signal a complication.

Lower the threshold for medical advice when the person is a young child, is medically vulnerable, or has a burn over a large area. A clinician can evaluate fluid loss, wound depth and whether blister care is needed.

Ask how to dress any broken blister, which moisturiser and pain medicine suit you, and what signs suggest infection. If burns recur, discuss protective clothing and how to apply enough broad-spectrum sunscreen to areas that are difficult to reach.