Sunburn – symptoms and treatment

The skin is red, swollen, and aches – the effects of sunburn are unpleasant and, above all, harmful to the skin. The medical term for sunburn is dermatitis solaris. It is an acute damage to the skin caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV light for short). UVA and especially UVB radiation in sunlight is responsible for the appearance of bad sunburn and painful skin damage. Such sunburn can lead to long-term damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. That's why it's important to prevent even mild sunburns from occurring in the first place, if possible. There are several steps you can take to prevent and treat mild, moderate, or severe sunburn. 

Sunburn manifests itself through symptoms or side effects such as: 

• the skin feels warm after spending time in the sun 
• redness and occasional blistering 
• pain 
• swelling 

Symptoms appear about 3 to 5 hours after sun exposure and are most severe after 12 to 24 hours. After about two days, the damaged skin may peel. After 72 hours, the side effects of a mild sunburn subside, and symptoms abate slowly until the affected skin areas are completely healed. The healing process is usually completed after about a week. Note that the process may take longer depending on the severity of the sunburn. 

There are some parts of the skin that are more often or more extremely affected by sunburn than others. These include 

• the face (especially the nose), 
• the neck, 
• hands and forearms as well as
• the arches of the feet (in summer).
• In women, the décolleté is also more frequently affected by sunburn. 

Since the risk of a bad sunburn is higher in these areas, you should intensively care for them and provide them with sun protection. You can do so by applying skin care products with SPF (sun protection factor). For the face, we recommend the Eucerin Sun Fluid Sensitive Protect SPF 50+ for all skin types for the summer. It provides high protection against UVA/UVB rays and high-energy visible (HEVIS) light. Year-round, you can use a moisturizing day cream that also contains a SPF, for example the Eucerin AQUAporin ACTIVE with SPF 25 and UVA protection for all skin types or the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Day SPF 30. Both hydrate sensitive and aging facial skin and protect from sunburn and sun-induced damages. Also, consider these Eucerin sun protection products to prevent bad sunburn and care for less severe sunburn that has already occurred. 

Sunburn can be divided into three degrees of severity. In the following chart, we'll show you the three levels of severity and what to do when you get sunburn, to relieve pain and other symptoms: 

Once a sunburn has subsided and the skin is peeling, a moisturizing and regenerating cream can help rebuild the skin. The Eucerin pH5 product series helps restore the skin’s natural protective barrier and soothes irritated and sensitive skin. If you experience dry skin after a sunburn, try the Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS product range for an intensive moisturizing effect.  

Children and adolescents with fair skin types (I-II) are particularly frequently affected by sunburns. About 75% of all sunburns are observed in those under 20 years of age. Parents should take care to use sunscreens suitable for children. Learn more about sun protection for babies and children and why it is so important.


Incidence of sunburns by age:

Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 71% get sunburned once a year.

Among those over 60, 16% get sunburned once a year.

Everyone has a different tolerance level to solar radiation. The extend, to which skin can prevent a sunburn due to UVA and UVB radiation, is highly individual. The interval, how long it takes before you get sunburned, is called self-protection time of the skin from sun rays. 

First and foremost, this has to do with skin type: people with lighter skin produce less melanin and are more at risk for mild and moderate sunburns even after a few minutes. The darker the skin, the longer lasting the skin’s own sun protection. 

The best way to prevent sunburn is to use appropriate sunscreens with a high sun protection factor. Eucerin sunscreen products combine broad-spectrum and photostable UVA/UVB filters to provide reliable protection. This way, you not only reduce the risk of skin cancer, which is one of the long-term risks of sunburn, but also avoid premature aging of the skin due to sun exposure (so-called photoaging). 

It is also recommended to avoid the midday sun (approximately from 11 am to 3 pm), as UV radiation is highest during this time. In addition, you can protect your body from the sun by wearing long clothes, and your face by wearing a sun hat and putting on sunglasses with UV filters. Especially people with fair skin type or photosensitivity due to medication should protect themselves from sunlight to avoid sunburns.