What should you know about first aid for sunburn?

Sunburn is an ultraviolet injury that can make skin red, warm, tender, and swollen. More intense injury may lead to fluid-filled blisters, peeling, headache, nausea, dizziness, or fever. Redness and tenderness can become clearer after the exposure, so continue monitoring the area after you leave the sun. Peeling is part of the skin’s repair process; pulling at loose skin can expose delicate tissue.

Move indoors or into shade and cool the skin with a cool, damp cloth or a lukewarm-to-cool shower. Pat dry, then apply a bland moisturiser or emollient while the skin is still slightly damp. Drink fluids and wear loose clothing. Do not place ice directly on the skin, burst blisters, scrub peeling areas, or apply products containing alcohol or strong fragrance. Avoid more sun until the skin has healed, and use protective clothing and sunscreen afterward.

Arrange medical advice for extensive blistering, severe pain, marked swelling, signs of infection, or a burn involving the eyes, face, hands, genitals, or a major joint. Urgent care is appropriate for confusion, fainting, repeated vomiting, breathing difficulty, or fever with feeling very unwell. A clinician may decide whether treatment such as a topical corticosteroid is suitable; do not self-treat broken skin with prescription products.

Ask which moisturiser is suitable for your skin, how to protect a blistered area, and whether your symptoms suggest heat illness as well as sunburn. If burning episodes happen repeatedly, ask about sun-damaged skin and a prevention plan.