Symptoms - Sunburn - Causes and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of sunburn include:

Pinkness or redness
Skin that feels warm or hot to the touch
Pain or tenderness
Swelling
Small fluid-filled blisters, which may break
Headache, fever and fatigue if sunburn covers a large area
Any part of your body, including your earlobes, scalp and lips, can burn. Your eyes, which are extremely sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet light, can also burn. Sunburned eyes may feel painful or gritty.

Signs and symptoms of sunburn usually appear within a few hours after sun exposure. But it may take a day or more to know the full extent and severity of sunburn.

Within a few days, your body starts to heal itself by "peeling" the top layer of damaged skin. After peeling, your skin may temporarily have an irregular color and pattern. Depending on the severity, it may take several days or more for the sunburn to heal.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if the sunburn:

Is blistering and covers a large portion of your body
Is accompanied by a high fever, extreme pain, confusion, nausea or chills
Doesn't respond to at-home care within a few days
Also, seek medical care if you notice signs or symptoms of an infection. These include:

Increasing pain and tenderness
Increasing swelling
Yellow drainage (pus) from an open blister
Red streaks, leading away from the open blister, which may extend in a line upward along the arm or leg