Sunburn

Sunburn is red, hot and sore skin caused by too much sun. It may flake and peel after a few days. You can treat it yourself. It usually gets better within 7 days.

How to ease sunburn yourself

See a GP urgently or call NHS 111 if:

• your skin is blistered or swollen
• your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery
• you feel very tired, dizzy and sick
• you have a headache and muscle cramps
• your baby or young child has sunburn

Severe sunburn can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be very serious.

Getting sunburnt can increase your chance of getting skin cancer. Find out how to protect your skin from the sun and avoid sunburn.