How much does the sun threaten the skin in winter?
December 12, 2025Secrets to Manage Oily Skin in Summer
December 12, 2025Sunburn is very common. It is estimated that each year, one in two adolescent boys and six in ten adolescent girls, as well as 35% of adults, experience sunburn due to prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Although it is widely believed that this exposure is intentional, recent data suggest it usually occurs accidentally. “Excessive sun exposure causes an acute inflammatory skin reaction that leads to the characteristic redness of sunburn,” says Dr. Markos Michelakis, Dermatologist-Venereologist (Aesthetic Dermatology-Dermatosurgery). “Sunbathing and tanning beds are strongly associated with this burn. However, recent data show that very often the burn is unintentional. It happens, for example, during outdoor physical activity or work, as well as in people spending time near water.”
In addition to redness, sunburn can cause a feeling of heat or burning, skin sensitivity, and swelling. When more severe, it can also cause pain or blisters. How can someone soothe these symptoms? Are there misconceptions to avoid?
“A mild sunburn usually appears within 4 hours of sun exposure, worsens within the next day, and takes 3–5 days to fully heal,” says Dr. Michelakis. “Although there is no magical way to speed up recovery, we can do several things to relieve its symptoms.”
The first is to completely avoid sun exposure, he emphasizes. Otherwise, there is a risk of further worsening. Beyond that, there are several scientifically proven ways to care for the skin. Here they are:
- Take a cold shower. Cold water can reduce heat, sensitivity, and any pain you may feel.
- Apply cool compresses (cold water packs) to the sunburn. Leave them on your skin for 20 minutes at a time and use them as often as needed. Typically, they should be applied every 2–3 hours to relieve symptoms.
- Do not apply greasy substances to the sunburn. Butter, petroleum jelly, oils, etc., are the worst for sunburn. They create a layer that traps heat inside the skin, worsening the burn.
- Gently apply fat-free yogurt to the burn. If the yogurt contains no fat, it does not trap heat inside the skin but removes it. It also contains a lot of water, moisturizing the skin. Yogurt also contains antioxidants (e.g., vitamins A and D), which may help. Alternatively, you can use compresses soaked in cold milk. In both cases, the cold provides immediate anti-inflammatory and soothing effects.
- Apply toothpaste to the sunburn. However, it should not contain mint or its derivatives, such as menthol (risk of skin irritation). Plain toothpaste draws heat from the skin, like yogurt and milk.
- Drink plenty of water. Sunburn “pulls” fluids from the body and skin, which must be continuously replenished.
- Gently apply special moisturizing lotions and gels that contain healing ingredients such as aloe. Proper hydration can significantly aid sunburn recovery.
- Take a painkiller. As soon as you notice sunburn, take a painkiller, ideally with anti-inflammatory properties. It will relieve pain and inflammation, contributing to better healing.
- Try an over-the-counter cream containing 0.5% to 1% hydrocortisone. It may reduce burning and swelling and accelerate healing. Follow the instructions for frequency of application.
If the sunburn forms blisters, cover them with a sterile, non-stick gauze to avoid infection. Under no circumstances should you “pop” them thinking it will speed recovery, warns Dr. Michelakis. Doing so will actually slow it significantly. When they open naturally, apply an antiseptic ointment and cover until a scab forms.
“These first aid measures apply to mild sunburn,” emphasizes the expert. “If the sunburn is large (e.g., covers the entire back or more than 15% of the body), if you develop a fever, or if the pain persists for more than 48 hours, you must seek medical help. In any case, you should stay out of the sun afterward, because there is a risk of recurrence. In practice, this means avoiding the beach from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., even in the shade (UV radiation reflects off the sand and can still burn you) and not relying solely on wearing a shirt (fabrics become UV-permeable when wet from sweat or seawater).”
https://www.insider.com/sunburn-relief
