Sunburns are an end result of someone receiving too much sun or sun-equivalent exposure (i.e. UV rays from a tanning booth). Virtually everyone has been sunburned at some point in their life and anyone who visits a beach, goes fishing, works in their yard or simply is out in the sun can get burnt.

Uncomplicated/mild cases of sunburn usually result in minor skin redness and irritation. With enough sun exposure you can experience shock (poor circulation to vital organs) and even death. Sufficient exposure can become remarkably painful. Initially your skin will turn red roughly 2-6 hours after exposure and will feel irritated. The sunburn will peak between 12-24 hours.

Severe cases of sunburn will result in blistering, skin burning, fluid loss/dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, infection, chills, fever, nausea/vomiting or both, flu like symptoms and skin loss (4-7 days after exposure).

If at any time you feel as if your sunburn is severe enough to call a doctor do not hesitate. You’ll likely be asked how severe your condition is and if you have any other significant health problems. The doctor can make the decision to treat you at home or in the office or even refer to you an emergency department. Conditions that should motivate you to visit the emergency room are as follows: confusion, headache, severe pain, severe blistering, nausea/vomiting and fainting.

The easiest way to deal with your symptoms is to not get sun burnt in the first place. The best prevention is to avoid the sun however this is often not practical or desired! More practical strategies include wearing wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, long pants and using a sun-blocking agent with a high sun protection factor (SPF- The higher the SPF number, the more protection the sun-blocking agent may have)

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