Sunburn Treatment: Should I Get Medical Care?

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible form of radiation. They can penetrate the skin and damage cells. Sunburn is a sign of skin damage. Tanning is also not healthy. It appears after the sun’s rays have already killed some cells and damaged others. UV rays can cause skin damage during any season of the year and at any temperature. They can also cause eye problems, wrinkles, skin blemishes, and skin cancer.

To protect yourself:

• Stay out of the sun when its rays are strongest (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.)
• Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher
• Wear protective clothing
• Wear sunglasses with good coverage that give you 100% protection from UV rays
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds

Check your skin regularly for changes in the size, shape, color, or texture of your birthmarks, moles, and blemishes. These changes can be a sign of skin cancer.

See a doctor for sunburn treatment if:

• Sunburn is severe, blistering, and spreads over a significant part of the body.
• The burn is accompanied by high fever, headache, severe pain, dehydration, disorientation, nausea, or chills.
• You have developed a skin infection, as indicated by swelling, pus, or red lines coming from the blister.
• Sunburn does not respond to home care.

For sunburn, your doctor may recommend a corticosteroid cream or a short course of prednisone for severe cases involving large areas of the body. Most of the time, antibiotics are not necessary unless an infection occurs.