Sunburn happens when your skin gets too much UV radiation from the sun or from artificial sources like tanning beds. This radiation damages your skin cells’ DNA, causing redness, pain, and sometimes blisters or peeling. It usually shows up a few hours after you’ve been exposed and can be mild or severe, depending on things like your skin type and how long you were in the sun.

Spending a lot of time in the sun or getting sunburned repeatedly can up your chances of getting skin cancer or making your skin age faster. Protecting your skin with sunscreen, covering up with clothes, and finding shade can help prevent sunburn. Remember, it’s easier to prevent sunburn than to deal with it afterward. Try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, but if you do get burned, there are ways to ease the pain.

To treat sunburn, you have to know why it happened. Here are some common causes:

1. Being out in direct sunlight for too long without protection exposes you to UV radiation, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and in places like the beach or snowy areas.
2. Not using sunscreen, wearing protective clothes, or staying in the shade can leave your skin open to UV damage.
3. Some people are more likely to get sunburned because they have fair skin, light hair, or certain eye colors. Some medicines can also make your skin more sensitive to UV radiation.
4. Being closer to the equator or at a higher altitude can make you more likely to get sunburned. And it can happen any time of year if the UV levels are high enough.

Preventing sunburn is all about being smart in the sun:

• Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and put it on every couple of hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating a lot.
• Try to stay out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Cover up with clothes, hats, and sunglasses that block UV rays.
• Find shade under umbrellas, trees, or canopies.
• Be careful around surfaces that reflect sunlight, like water, sand, and snow.
• Drink lots of water when you’re outside.
• Check the UV index and plan your outdoor activities for times when it’s lower.
• Keep babies under six months old out of the sun and use sunscreen, clothes, and shade for older kids.
• Tanning beds can also give you sunburn and raise your risk of skin cancer, so try safer options like self-tanners.

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There are also natural ways to ease the pain of sunburn:

• Aloe vera gel can soothe your skin and reduce redness.
• Putting a cool, damp cloth on your sunburn can help with the pain, especially if you add a little chamomile or lavender oil.
• Taking a bath with oatmeal can calm your skin and stop it from itching.
• Coconut oil can moisturize your skin and stop it from peeling.
• Cucumber slices can cool your skin down and keep it hydrated.
• Green tea has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory stuff that can help with redness and pain.
• Honey can heal your skin and make it feel better.
• Mixing apple cider vinegar with water can balance your skin’s pH and bring down inflammation.

If your sunburn is really bad or you start feeling sick, see a doctor.

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