Heat rash and sunburn: what should you know?

Heat rash usually consists of fine bumps or prickling in sweaty, covered, or rubbing areas. Sunburn usually affects sun-exposed skin and feels warm, sore, tight, or tender; peeling or blisters can follow. Both may redden the skin, so appearance alone is not always enough. More detail about [Skin Bumps](/symptoms/skin-bumps/) and [Skin Redness](/symptoms/skin-redness/) can help you describe what you see.

Leave the sun, cool the skin with a damp cloth or cool shower, drink fluids, and wear loose clothing. Avoid ice directly on the skin, rubbing, fragranced products, and popping blisters. Keep damaged skin covered from further sun exposure while it heals. A plain moisturiser may soothe dryness; [Emollient Therapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/emollient-therapy/) is a treatment option to discuss when the barrier feels dry or irritated.

Seek urgent care for extensive blistering, severe pain, confusion, faintness, repeated vomiting, breathing difficulty, or signs of dehydration. Arrange medical review for pus, increasing warmth and tenderness, fever, eye involvement, or a rash that keeps worsening after leaving the heat. A clinician can assess whether this is [Heat Rash](/conditions/heat-rash/) or another [Skin Rash](/symptoms/skin-rash/).

Ask whether the affected area needs treatment for inflammation, how to protect healing skin from sunlight, and which products to avoid. Before using [Topical Corticosteroids](/treatments/medical-dermatology/topical-corticosteroids/), ask whether the skin is broken, blistered, or infected.