Sunburn is damage to the skin caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Too much UV radiation causes the skin to become hot, red and painful. Skin that has been sunburnt turns red within hours — and the sunburn will continue to develop for the next 1 to 3 days. Most people who have been sunburnt also peel, which is the body’s way of shedding dead and damaged skin cells and making way for the new skin underneath.

How is sunburn caused?

UV radiation causes the skin to make more of a pigment called melanin to protect itself. This causes the skin to change colour. When there is more radiation than your skin’s melanin can cope with, you get a sunburn. You can be exposed to UV radiation from the sun and also from a solarium (tanning bed). It's also possible to get sunburn while swimming or in the snow. This is usually caused by the sunlight reflecting off the snow, ice or water and burning your skin. You are most at risk of sunburn if you have fair skin. But all people can get sunburn, including people with dark skin.

How is sunburn treated?

If you have been sunburnt: Give your skin the time it needs to repair and build up another protective barrier of cells. Stay out of the direct sun until the redness, peeling and pain have disappeared. To ease the pain of sunburn, take a cool or lukewarm bath or shower. Leave any blisters alone, do not break them open or pop them. If they open on their own, clean the area with water to keep it clean and avoid infection. You can buy an ointment or cream to soothe sunburn. Don’t use them on young children as they can cause skin irritation. Use paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling. Drink plenty of water.

Can sunburn be prevented?

You can prevent sunburn by avoiding exposure to UV radiation. Even when it’s cool or overcast, you can still be exposed. The best advice is to stay out of the sun between 9am and 4pm, depending on the time of year and where you are in Australia. You can also check the UV levels (called the UV Index), whatever the weather. When the 'UV index' is 3 and above, the sun’s rays are strong enough to damage your skin and a UV Alert is issued by the Bureau of Meteorology and you should use sun protection. The UV Alert is reported on the weather page of all Australian daily newspapers, on the Bureau of Meteorology and on some radio and mobile weather forecasts. You can also check the UV Alert for cities and towns across Australia with this SunSmart widget, developed by Cancer Council Australia. Select your location and find out if sun protection is required. For smartphone users, Cancer Council Australia’s free SunSmart app is a great way to check the UV Alert when you are out and about. iPhone users can download it at the iTunes App Store, and Android users at Google Play. Sun protection When you are in the sun, the best way to prevent sunburn is to ‘slip, slop, slap, seek and slide’. Slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Slop on broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF30+ sunscreen. Slap on a hat which is broad-brimmed or legionnaire-style to protect your face, head, neck and ears. Seek some shade. Slide on some sunglasses, making sure they meet Australian Standards.

To protect against sunburn, you should apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30+ or more. Children and adults who are prone to sunburn should use a higher SPF. You should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, meaning it will protect you against different forms of UV rays (UVA, UVB and UVC). Make sure the sunscreen is water-resistant. Apply it to clean, dry skin at least 20 minutes before you go outside, and then reapply every 2 hours. You may need to reapply it more often if you are swimming, sweating a lot or rubbing yourself dry with a towel. You need at least a teaspoon of sunscreen for each arm and leg, your back and your body. You need about half a teaspoon on your face and neck. Make sure your sunscreen has not passed its expiry date and hasn’t been stored in direct sunlight or hot temperatures such as in a hot car or by the pool, as then it may not work properly.

How to protect babies and children

Babies and children have more delicate skin than adults and can burn more easily. You can buy sunscreen for children that is recommended for their sensitive skin. Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under 6 months. The best advice is to keep babies out of the sun to prevent sunburn.

When should I see a doctor?

You should see your doctor immediately for severe sunburn, or if you have: blisters that break open or that are filled with murky fluid fever headaches nausea or vomiting dizziness severe pain that can’t be controlled with painkillers swelling or if the area looks infected

Are there complications of sunburn?

If you have been in the sun too long, you may develop heatstroke or dehydration . A bad sunburn can get infected. Long term, sunburn increases your risk of developing skin cancer , including melanoma. To prevent skin cancer, it’s particularly important to prevent children getting burnt. A lot of sunburns can make your skin age and get wrinkly.

The 5 biggest sunscreen mistakes people make

Blog post | 19 Nov 2017

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Australians still love a sunburnt country. According to research by the Cancer Council, 2.7 million adults get sunburnt every weekend.

Two in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, yet misinformation about sun protection is rife.

The Cancer Council's most recent National Sun Protection Survey found that almost half of Australians believe it's unsafe to use sunscreen every day, with many respondents worried that sunscreens contain ingredients that are bad for them.

"Sunscreens in Australia are strictly regulated by the Therapeutics Goods Administration to ensure that the ingredients they contain are safe and effective," says Craig Sinclair, chair of the Public Health Committee, Cancer Council Australia. "Australians should be confident that they can use sunscreen on a daily basis — there is no evidence to suggest the ingredients are bad for your health."

Here are 5 common mistakes people make when it comes to sunscreen (and how to fix them):

Mistake 1: Thinking sunscreen will lower your vitamin D levels

One in 5 adults believe this one, reports the Cancer Council. "Several studies have shown that sunscreen use in real life has minimal impact on Vitamin D levels over time. In summer, most of us get enough Vitamin D through incidental sun exposure," explains Mr Sinclair.

Mistake 2: Not applying enough sunscreen

You need at least one teaspoon of sunscreen per limb, one for the front of the body, one for the back and one for the head, says Mr Sinclair. That's around 35ml, or 7 teaspoons, in total.

Mistake 3: Forgetting to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or after swimming

Regardless of what the label says — water resistant SPF 50+, for example — any sunscreen should be slapped on again after 2 hours, or after swimming, sweating or towel drying.

Mistake 4: Relying on SPF makeup

Unless it's SPF 30 or higher, you should apply additional sunscreen under your makeup if you're going outside for an extended period.

Mistake 5: Using only sunscreen

Think 'slip, slop, slap' (that's slip on a t-shirt, slop on your sunscreen and slap on a hat). Far from being the only protection you need, sunscreen should be used in conjunction with protective clothing, shade, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Get more sun protection tips here.

Sun protection infographic — Print, download, share or embed this sun protection infographic.

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