How Long Does Sunburn Last - Everything You Need To Know
Sunburn is the most popular nuisance of the summer season among most people. It lingers on the skin for a week or two since it really hurts and burns. Envision yourself coming back from a sunny beach day and feeling that familiar tingling on your shoulders and forehead. Sunburn strikes again, and you are left to guess when it will stop.
ABOVE knows that the summertime beach or poolside fun is of utmost pleasure; that’s why you don’t have to be worried about how long does a sunburn last. Here is all you need to know!
Sunburn Stages and Healing Time
Sunburn could happen to anyone who is in the sun without any protection from sun rays. Every year, at least 33,000 sunburns requiring emergency room visits are reported by NCI, wherein bypassing these can expose a person to the danger of skin cancer.
Sunburn is usually divided into various stages, such as skin healing from UV rays. Recognizing these stages will allow you to deal with and treat sunburn in the right way.
1. Mild Sunburn (3-5 days)
Many people get sunburns that simply involve redness and heat on the skin, which may be accompanied by a bit of soreness or pain. You might be wondering how long for sunburn redness to go away. Well, this period often manifests itself within the first few hours after sun exposure and may become as intense as the next day at its peak.
The exposed area may feel claustrophobic or scratchy. As the damaged skin heals, you may observe mild peeling; that is, small pieces of skin start to flake off. Most people recover from a mild sunburn within 3-5 days through the use of cool compresses and moisturizing lotions.
2. Moderate Sunburn (5-7 days)
A moderate sunburn is more apparent as skin becomes redder, swollen, and hurts than during mild sunburn. The affected skin, consequently, will feel hot and will become more aggravated. The question arises how long does sunburn last? Moderate sunburn will take approximately 5 to 7 days to heal properly. It is essential not to expose the sunny area and to keep that area clean and moisturized during this time.
3. Severe Sunburn (Over a week)
Sunburn, especially of the severe kind, represents the highest grade of sun damage, which can be very painful. The color of the skin turns dusky, even dark red or purple; blisters may be significant and can be found even on every part of the body. Apart from that, a number of other symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, and headache can appear in an extreme case of sunburn that shows such a reaction is severe.
In extreme cases of sunburn, patients may require medical care to help them with relief from symptoms and avoid complications like dehydration or infection. Recovering from a major sunburn may take over a week or even more, and it is not uncommon for the skin to look roughened and flaky as it regrows.
Consultation with a medical professional becomes imperative if you have acute sunburn symptoms in order to secure the best treatment and speedy recovery. Also, it’ll resolve your query about how long does sunburn last.
Factors Affecting Healing Time
The duration of sunburn recovery depends on different factors. Some sunburns could heal in a few days, but for others, it would take weeks for the skin to heal completely.
Here, we will look at these factors in depth so as to understand how long does sunburn last.
1. Sunburn Severity
The grade of sunburn has a direct impact on how long it takes to be healed. Higher and more painful sunburns that grade in more destruction to deeper skin layers are slower in healing than mild sunburns that are peeling only the outer layer of skin. Prolonged or severe sunburns almost always lead to elastic and blood vessels being more negatively affected. The body needs more time to restore proper function.
2. Skin Type
One factor that determines how quickly the sunburn heals is the type of skin. Lighter skin tones, such as fairer skin, not only burn faster but also thicker than dark skin since the melanin in dark skin provides natural protection from sunburn. Consequently, the fair-skinned might experience a more extended healing period following sunburn in contrast to the dark-skinned.
3. Overall Health
The condition of your health and any previous or ongoing medical ailments may also contribute to the speed of sunburn healing. Some particular health problems or drugs may interfere with the body's overall function, which is required for the skin to restore itself from sun damage. For instance, a decreased healing rate from a sunburn might be seen in individuals with immunosuppression or autoimmune diseases.
4. Aftercare
Effective aftercare is fundamental to speeding up skin healing in case of sunburn. You must remember to hydrate yourself properly, which helps in skin recovery; thus, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Icing the body part with cool compresses or taking a cool bath can be effective in reducing pain as well as inflammation. When you are enjoying summertime at the pool, along with the pool floats like Sunset Chaser and Beach Patrol from ABOVE, keep sunscreen or an extra scarf with you for protection.
The application of soothing creams with moisturizers like aloe vera or lotion with vitamin E can calm the skin and prevent it from excessive peeling. Sun bathing should be avoided entirely, and protective clothing should be worn during the recovery period, which will assist in speedy healing.
Soothing Sunburn Symptoms
Sunburn may be painful, but there are viable ways to ease the discomfort and expedite recovery. Here's how you can soothe sunburned skin:
Home Remedies
- Drink enough water to stay hydrated
- Rub aloe vera gel onto the sunburned skin to get rid of inflammation and start the process of healing.
- Apply a cold and wet cloth or a towel on the area that hurts.
- Consider using soft moisturizers or lotions with vitamin E instead to help keep your skin hydrated and avoid over-peeling.
- Take ibuprofen and acetaminophen to relieve the pain
Seeking Medical Attention
While most sunburns can be treated at home, specific symptoms may indicate the need for medical attention:
- If blisters are large or widespread across your skin surface, you need to consult a health provider.
- The presence of a high fever accompanying sunburn could be a sign of an even graver reaction that requires hands-on evaluation from a qualified healthcare provider.
- The presence of these symptoms, such as further reddishness, swelling, warmth, and pus, can mean that the area is infected and that you should seek medical help.
- The best course of action, in this case, is to see a doctor if your pain from the sunburn requires vital medicines and remedies that you cannot get from the usual store.
- Know that prevention comes before getting a sunburn.
Conclusion
Sunburn is not only a painful condition but can also lead to long-term problems. It is essential to have sun protection in order to enjoy the outdoors safely. Remember that protection is always more effective than the remedy. One of the best ways to ward off sunburn is to apply sunscreen with SPF 50 or more, wear hats and sunglasses, and find shade during the hours with the highest risk of sunburn.
Not only with sun protection but also with ABOVE floats, your outdoor living is more exciting. We guarantee quality and durability, and our line of pool floats includes different designs made of the most resilient materials to help you have the best experience outdoors at the highest standards. Contact us for details.
FAQs
1. How Long Does It Take For A Sunburn To Fully Go Away?
Low-grade sunburns usually go away in a couple of days up to a week. Moderate burns last for at least two weeks. The blistering and swelling of a severe sunburn may even take a longer time, i.e., about one or two weeks, to fully heal. The wound healing time can be reduced by keeping the affected area moist, avoiding additional sun exposure, and using over-the-counter products such as aloe vera gel or moisturizing ointment.
2. Can You Heal A Sunburn In 2 Days?
The recovery process takes several days to a week, depending on the severity. Nevertheless, you can practice some techniques to reduce pain and slow down the recovery process. Applying cold compresses, constant hydration, and soothing herbs like aloe vera can be used to relieve the symptoms faster and aid the healing process. You mustn't sunbathe afterward to stop the burn from becoming worse.