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If a baby or small child has been sunburnt, or if blisters or fever occurs, seek medical advice from your GP or an NHS walk-in centre, or by phoning NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
General advice for treating sunburn is as follows.
Staying out of the sun
Avoid direct sunlight by covering up and staying in the shade until the sunburn has healed.
Water
Cool the skin by sponging it with lukewarm water or by having a cool shower or bath.
Drink plenty of fluids to replace the water lost through sweating in the sun, and to cool down. Do not drink alcohol, because it will dehydrate you further.
Moisturisers
For mild sunburn, apply a moisturising lotion or a special aftersun cream from a pharmacy. Aftersun helps to cool the skin as well as moisturising and relieving the feeling of tightness. Calamine lotion can also be used to relieve itching and soreness.
Painkillers
For adults, painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help relieve pain and reduce swelling.
Treating severe sunburn
Severe burns may require special burn cream and burn dressings. Ask your pharmacist for advice. You may need to see your GP and have your burns dressed by a practice nurse.
In severe cases, you may need treatment at your local accident and emergency department.
view information about Sunburn on www.nhs.co.uk »Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
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