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Treating Sunburn
By the time the redness shows up, the damage is already done. Sunburn is the body's inflammatory reaction to ultraviolet radiation, and it usually appears hours after exposure, which is why most people only realise they have it once they're home from the beach, the boat, or the bushwalk.
Cancer Council Australia reports that two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70, and most of that damage starts with a sunburn that seemed mild at the time. The steps below cover the first 24 to 48 hours of care, when to escalate to a doctor, and what to avoid doing. The earlier you start, the more comfortable the next few days will be.
How to spot sunburn early
Sunburn often appears hours after exposure, not while you are still in the sun. Watch for warmth, pinkness, tightness across the skin, or a stinging sensation when you touch a recently exposed area. In darker skin tones, redness may be less obvious; look for tenderness, swelling, or skin that feels noticeably hotter than surrounding areas. If you are unsure what stage you are at, this short guide on spotting the early signs of heat stroke and sunburn walks through the warning signs in more detail.
Step-by-step first aid for sunburn
Step 1. Get out of the sun
Move into shade or indoors as soon as you notice any pink tinge or unusual warmth. Sunburn worsens with continued exposure, even if the sky is overcast. If you're out hiking, at the beach, or working outdoors, stop and cover up with loose, dry clothing on the way to shelter.
Step 2. Cool the skin
Run cool, not cold, water over the affected area, or apply a clean damp cloth for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Cool baths and showers help across larger areas. If you're out 4WDing, camping, or boating and access to running water is limited, a damp microfibre cloth from a chilled water bottle is the next-best option. Don't use ice directly on the skin, as it can deepen the injury; repeat the cooling process across the first few hours if the skin still feels hot.
Step 3. Hydrate from the inside
Sunburnt skin draws fluid towards the surface and away from the rest of the body, which is why you can feel weak or shaky after a bad burn. Drink water steadily across the first two days, and watch for dehydration signals such as thirst, dizziness, dry mouth, dark urine, or reduced urination. If those symptoms appear and water alone is not improving them, get medical advice.
Step 4. Moisturise once the skin has cooled
After cooling, pat the skin dry and leave it slightly damp, then apply a plain moisturiser or an aloe-vera-based after-sun gel. Light, fragrance-free products work best. Avoid anything petroleum-based on a fresh burn, as it can trap heat in the skin.
Reapply throughout the day. If the skin has open blisters or is weeping fluid, leave the moisturiser off and follow the blister guidance below instead.
Step 5. Manage the pain
Over-the-counter ibuprofen taken at the first signs of sunburn can reduce both pain and inflammation in the days that follow. Paracetamol is an alternative for those who cannot tolerate ibuprofen. Stick to the dosage instructions on the packet and check with a pharmacist if you take other medications.
Step 6. Protect blisters
Blisters form when the body is shielding deeper layers of skin from damage. Don't pop, peel, or scrub them. Cover any blistered area loosely with a non-adherent dressing to reduce friction from clothing or bedding.
If a blister breaks on its own, gently clean the area with cool water and cover with a sterile dressing. Watch for signs of infection, including increasing pain, redness spreading outward, yellow discharge, or fever, and see a doctor if any appear.
Step 7. Let the skin repair itself
Peeling is the body's way of shedding damaged cells. Avoid scratching, picking, or rubbing off loose skin, as this exposes vulnerable layers underneath and increases the chance of pigment changes. Keep the area moisturised, wear soft clothing, and stay out of direct sun until the burn has fully healed.
The most common after-sun question we get at our East Bendigo store is what to use on a peeling face. Plain, fragrance-free moisturiser works better than dedicated after-sun gels at the peeling stage, where added cooling agents and fragrances can sting on raw skin.
Spots people often miss
Lips burn easily and tend to be ignored. They need a fragrance-free moisturiser or plain lip balm, not standard after-sun gel, which can sting and is often unpalatable on the mouth. Reapply throughout the day until the skin has settled.
The scalp burns quickly under thinning hair, a buzz cut, or a part line. Cool the area in the shower, then apply a light moisturiser. A soft, brimmed hat is far easier than treating a sunburnt scalp again.
Eyes can burn too. Photokeratitis, sometimes called sunburn of the cornea, presents as gritty, painful eyes a few hours after exposure, often with light sensitivity and watering. It usually settles within 48 hours with rest, dim light, and cool compresses, but see a doctor or optometrist if pain is severe or vision is affected.
When to seek medical attention
Most mild sunburn heals at home within a week. See a doctor or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if any of the following apply:
- Blistering covers a large area of the body, or includes the face, hands, feet, or genitals.
- The sunburn is on a baby under 12 months, regardless of severity.
- The person has a fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, or confusion.
- Signs of dehydration are not improving with fluids.
- A blister becomes painful, hot, or discharges yellow fluid (possible infection).
- The pain is severe or out of proportion to the burn's appearance.
Call triple zero (000) if the person is unresponsive, severely confused, or showing signs of heat stroke alongside the burn.
Common mistakes to avoid
A few well-meaning home remedies make sunburn worse, not better:
- Butter, oil, or toothpaste on the burn. These trap heat and increase infection risk.
- Ice directly on the skin. Can cause cold injury on top of the burn.
- Popping blisters. Removes the body's natural protective barrier.
- Thick, heavy creams in the first 24 hours. Wait until the skin has cooled.
- Going back out in the sun before fully healed. Even gentle UV exposure on a recovering burn can deepen the damage.
Sunburn in children
Children's skin is thinner and burns more quickly than adult skin. The same general first aid applies, including shade, cool water, fluids, and soft clothing, but the threshold for getting medical advice is lower. Any blistering, fever, or unusual lethargy in a child warrants a call to the GP or healthdirect on 1800 022 222. For infants under 12 months, sunburn is always a reason to see a doctor.
A small first aid kit with cool packs, non-adherent dressings, and after-sun gel is well worth having in the car, the boat, or the day pack. For a closer look at what belongs in a hiking-specific kit, see what to pack in a hiking first aid kit.
Why this matters beyond the burn
Each sunburn permanently damages skin cells and adds to lifetime skin cancer risk, including melanoma, which Australia has one of the highest rates of in the world. A blistering burn before age 20 roughly doubles the lifetime risk of melanoma, according to Cancer Council Australia. The treatment steps above ease the short-term discomfort, but the longer game is prevention. If you would like to set yourself up to prevent heat stroke and sunburn next time, our companion guide walks through the sun safety habits that actually hold up across an Australian summer.
For the bigger picture on staying safe through hot Australian days outside, head to our main hub: First Aid in the Australian Outdoors. If your home or travel kit could do with a refresh before next summer, our outdoor first aid kits include the after-sun, dressing, and hydration basics.
Frequently asked questions
How long does sunburn take to heal?
Mild sunburn usually settles within three to five days. Moderate burns with peeling can take seven to ten days. Blistered burns can take two weeks or more to fully heal, and may leave temporary pigmentation changes.
Should I use aloe vera for sunburn?
Yes, plain aloe vera gel is one of the most evidence-supported options for soothing sunburn. Choose products without added fragrance, alcohol, or numbing agents like benzocaine, which can irritate damaged skin.
Can you get sunburn through clouds or in the car?
Yes. Up to 80% of UV radiation passes through cloud cover, and side car windows do not block UVA. The SunSmart UV Alert shows the daily UV level for any Australian postcode, and any reading of 3 or above is enough to cause sunburn.
When is sunburn a medical emergency?
Severe blistering across a large area, sunburn in an infant under 12 months, fever, confusion, severe dehydration, or signs of heat stroke alongside the burn all warrant urgent medical attention. Call triple zero (000) if the person is unresponsive or severely confused.
Is sunburn worse in Australia than elsewhere?
The UV index in much of Australia regularly reaches extreme levels in summer, which is well above the threshold at which sunburn is possible in under 15 minutes. According to Cancer Council Australia, this is one of the reasons Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world.