Sun and sunburn

Sunburn is acute skin damage from excessive ultraviolet radiation; accumulated damage increases the risk of premature skin ageing and skin cancer. Cool the skin, drink enough and avoid further sun. Confusion, a seizure or collapse in the heat may be heatstroke and requires an ambulance.

• Red, darker, warm, painful or swollen skin that is tender to touch.
• Itching, tightness and later peeling; on dark skin, redness may be harder to see than warmth, pain and swelling.
• Cover burnt skin with loose, cool clothing and avoid further sun until pain, redness and blisters have healed.
• Cool briefly with lukewarm water several times, pat dry and apply a bland moisturiser without rubbing hard.
• Call the same day for extensive blistering, very severe pain, burns on the face or genitals, or sunburn in a baby.
• For urgent GP care outside office hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediate threat to life.