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August 28, 2023
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Q&A: Best practices to follow in healing mild to severe sunburn

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Key takeaways:

  • Mild burns take about 3 to 5 days to heal, whereas severe burns may take 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Mild burns can be remedied at home; however, severe burns may need to be evaluated at the ED.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 97,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States in 2023, which will result in upward of 7,900 deaths.

The best line of defense for sunburn or skin cancer is sunscreen and other sun safety practices. When sunburn does occur, however, there are ways to help it heal.

Sunscreen 6
When sunburn does occur, there are ways to help it heal. Image: Adobe Stock.

Healio spoke with Teresa S. Wright, MD, FAAD, FAAP, division chief of pediatric dermatology at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and associate professor of dermatology and pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, about the tips and tricks on healing sunburn.

Teresa S. Wright

Healio: What are the types of sunburn?

Wright: Sunburn can range in severity from mild asymptomatic redness to more intense redness accompanied by pain and swelling or, more rarely, vesicles and blisters. When the burn is extensive and severe, it can also be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, headache and nausea.

Healio: How long does it take sunburn to heal?

Wright: Mild burns should fade and heal within 3 to 5 days, but more severe blistering burns may take 1 to 2 weeks to resolve.

Healio: What are the best ways to heal sunburn?

Wright: For mild burns, cool compresses/baths, NSAIDs, cooling lotions, mild topical steroids and moisturizing creams can help alleviate symptoms. Anyone with blistering burns or burns with systemic symptoms should be evaluated by a physician or sent to the ED.

Healio: What are the most common misconceptions among patients about healing sunburn?

Wright: The most common misconception among patients is that applying things such as vinegar or butter are helpful when in fact they are not and should instead be avoided.

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