First Aid & Emergencies
Sunburn Treatment
Call 911 if the person:
- Does not seem to be responding appropriately.
- Has a seizure, visual changes, or any other neurologic symptoms. These could be symptoms of severe heat illness.
Call a health care provider if:
- The burn has blisters or the skin is white-appearing or numb. These are symptoms of a more-serious sunburn
- The sunburned person is a child under one year old.
1. Rehydrate
- Replace body fluids with water, juice, or sports drinks.
2. Treat Symptoms
- Apply aloe or over-the-counter moisturizing lotion to skin as directed.
- To soothe and cool skin, bathe in lukewarm water or apply cool compresses to the area.
- For pain, take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
David M. Walker, MD on November 01, 2011
© 2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
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