Sunburn treatment: what to do after too much sun

Health advice ·Published 24 September 2026 ·Reviewed 17 October 2026

Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist, Ahpra registration PHA0001976405.

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor. How we write and check our articles.

If you’ve had too much sun, get out of it straight away, cool your skin with a cool shower or damp cloth, drink plenty of water and leave any blisters alone. Sunburn can’t be reversed, but good care can ease the pain while your skin heals over the next few days to weeks. Here’s a step-by-step guide to sunburn treatment at home, plus the warning signs that mean you need a doctor.

This guide is part of our common illnesses A–Z, where you’ll find plain-English advice on everyday health problems.

What is sunburn?

Sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, or from artificial UV such as tanning beds, which are now banned commercially in Australia. The Better Health Channel notes it can start in as little as 11 minutes, often before you feel anything. On the Gold Coast, where UV levels can be high even on cool, cloudy or breezy days, it’s easy to get caught out during a long afternoon at the beach, a day at the theme parks or a swim between the flags.

Better Health also points out that UV radiation isn’t linked to temperature, so a mild day can still burn you.

Signs and symptoms of sunburn

Symptoms usually build over several hours. According to the Better Health Channel, skin can start to turn red within 3 to 4 hours, with redness and inflammation peaking 12 to 24 hours after exposure. You might notice:

• skin that looks pink, red or even purple, depending on your skin tone;
• skin that feels hot, tight or tender to touch;
• pain or itching;
• swelling;
• fluid-filled blisters with more severe burns;
• peeling a few days later as the damaged skin sheds.

Sunburn treatment: a step-by-step guide

Step 1: Get out of the sun

Move indoors or into full shade as soon as you notice your skin is burnt. The Better Health Channel advises staying out of the sun until your skin has completely healed.

Step 2: Cool the skin

Have a cool shower or bath, or apply cool, damp cloths to the burnt areas. Skip soap on sunburnt areas, as it can dry and irritate the skin further.

Step 3: Drink plenty of water

Both Cancer Council Australia and the Better Health Channel recommend drinking plenty of water. After a hot day outdoors you may already be low on fluids, so keep sipping over the next day or two.

Step 4: Soothe and moisturise

Once the skin has cooled, a gentle moisturiser can help if your skin isn’t too painful to touch. The Better Health Channel suggests asking your pharmacist about soothing products and notes that sprays may be easier to apply than creams on very tender skin. healthdirect notes that aloe vera may feel soothing but doesn’t speed up healing and may sometimes irritate the skin. Don’t put butter on sunburnt skin.

Step 5: Ease the pain

Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help ease discomfort. Follow the label or your pharmacist’s advice, and check with a pharmacist first if you have other health conditions, take other medicines, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Step 6: Leave blisters alone

Don’t pop blisters. They protect the healing skin underneath. If a blister breaks, keep the area clean and cover it with a non-stick dressing to help protect it from infection.

Step 7: Let peeling skin come away on its own

When your skin starts to peel, resist the urge to pick. The Better Health Channel advises letting dead skin detach by itself and removing loose pieces gently. Keep moisturising and keep the new skin covered from the sun.

What not to do after sunburn

• Don’t go back into the sun on burnt skin, even for a quick swim.
• Don’t put butter on sunburnt skin.
• Don’t use harsh soaps, scrubs or perfumed products on the area.
• Don’t wear tight or rough clothing over the burn. Loose, soft cotton is kinder to tender skin.
• Don’t rely on a tan to protect you next time. Cancer Council Australia explains that tanning is a response to DNA damage in your skin.

How long does sunburn take to heal?

Depending on how bad the burn is, sunburn can take days or weeks to heal, according to the Better Health Channel. Cancer Council Australia notes redness and pain can keep developing for a couple of days before they ease, and peeling often follows as your skin sheds damaged cells.

Healing the surface doesn’t undo the damage underneath. healthdirect explains that no treatment can undo UV damage, and repeated sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, as well as premature ageing. If you’ve had a bad burn, it’s a good reminder to check your skin regularly and see your GP about any spot that’s new or changing.

How to prevent sunburn on the Gold Coast

Every day in Queensland, the UV index reaches 3 or higher at some point, so Cancer Council Queensland says sun protection needs to be a priority all year round. In 2024, more than 4 in 10 Queensland adults (44.6%) said they’d been sunburnt in the previous 12 months.

• Check the UV. The Bureau of Meteorology issues sun protection times whenever the UV index is forecast to reach 3 or above. Cancer Council’s free SunSmart app shows them for your location.
• Use all five SunSmart steps. Slip on sun-protective clothing, slop on SPF50 or higher broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen, slap on a broad-brimmed hat, seek shade, and slide on sunglasses that meet Australian Standards.
• Apply enough sunscreen, often enough. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outside, and reapply at least every two hours, and after swimming, sweating or towelling dry. An adult needs about 35 mL, roughly seven teaspoons, to cover the whole body.
• Check the date. Most sunscreens last about two to three years. Store yours below 30°C, and don’t leave it in a hot car.
• Protect babies. Keep babies under 12 months out of direct sun as much as possible when the UV index is 3 or higher. Cancer Council doesn’t recommend sunscreen for babies under six months.

Read more in our Gold Coast sun safety guide. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

How your pharmacist can help

Our pharmacists can help you choose:

• cooling gels, sprays and gentle moisturisers suited to sunburnt skin;
• pain relief that’s suitable for you, taking into account your other medicines and health conditions;
• non-stick dressings for broken blisters;
• after-sun options for children and sensitive skin.

We can also take a look at your skin and tell you whether it’s something you can manage at home or whether you should see a doctor. Once you’ve healed, our beauty advisors can talk you through sun-friendly skincare and fake tan options so you can get a glow without the burn.

When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department

See a doctor, or go to an emergency department, if you have:

• blistering over a large area, or severe pain;
• sunburn covering a large part of your body;
• fever, headache, nausea or vomiting;
• dizziness or feeling confused or faint;
• signs of dehydration, such as dizziness, tiredness or passing less urine than usual;
• signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, pus or yellow crusts.

If a large area of skin is blistered, hospital care may be needed.

Babies and children can become unwell quickly. If your child has sunburn with blistering, a fever, vomiting, dizziness or a headache, see a doctor promptly. Call 000 if they become confused or very unwell. If you’re worried about your child’s health, you can call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) to talk to a registered nurse at any hour.

Call 000 if someone with sunburn becomes confused, has slurred speech or poor coordination, has hot, dry skin, has a seizure, collapses or loses consciousness. These can be signs of heatstroke, which is a medical emergency.

This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.