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Symptoms of Sunburn

Sunburnt skin is red and sore. It is warm to the touch, even after attempts to cool it with water or by moving into the shade. After a few days, the redness may fade into a tan, or in very fair people with little melanin pigment in the skin, it may just return to white. The skin may also flake or peel after a number of days. Dark skin can also burn and become damaged if exposed to enough UV light, although because it contains more pigment it can tolerate sunlight without burning for longer than paler skin.

Severe sunburn can cause blistering, swelling of the skin and fever. At the same time there may also be symptoms of heatstroke, such as dizziness, headaches, and nausea.

The symptoms of sunburn are not usually immediately obvious, and the worst pain occurs 6-48 hours after being in the sun.

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