Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsComplicationsTreatmentWhen to Seek CarePrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Complications
Treatment
When to Seek Care
Prevention
Sun blisters can usually be treated at home. Your healthcare provider can provide treatment if your sunburn is severe or if you have complications, including signs of infection.
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Sun blisters are white or clear fluid-filled bumps that form with a sunburn. They are considered second-degree burns, which affect the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) and dermis (layer below the epidermis that includes blood capillaries and nerve endings). As such, they can be highly painful.
Sun blisters usually appear a few hours after sunburn occurs, but they can take up to 24 hours to develop.The type of symptoms you experience depends on the degree of burn. Without protection, your symptoms may be more severe.
Sun blisters typically last a few days to a week depending on the size and number of blisters.There are three degrees of sunburn that are based on the size and depth of the burned skin.The higher the degree, the more severe the burn is.
First-degree (superficial) burnsare typically mild and only affect the epidermis. Symptoms include:
Second-degree burnsaffect the epidermis and dermis. Common symptoms include:
Third-degree burns,which are the most severe, destroy the epidermis and dermis. In some cases, they may also damage bones, muscles, and tendons. Common symptomsinclude:
When to Get Immediate Medical Care
Sun poisoning is not a medical term but it is often applied to an extreme case of sunburn that requires medical attention. Symptoms can include:
Skin infections are another complication to watch for. If you pick or peel the blisters off, it can cause bacteria to enter the wound, leading to infection.
Long-Term Sun ExposureOver time, excessive sun exposure can lead toskin damage, premature skin aging, andskin cancer. If you have a history of severe sunburns, you are 2.4 times more likely to developsquamous cell carcinomaand 1.5 times more likely to developmelanoma.
Long-Term Sun Exposure
Over time, excessive sun exposure can lead toskin damage, premature skin aging, andskin cancer. If you have a history of severe sunburns, you are 2.4 times more likely to developsquamous cell carcinomaand 1.5 times more likely to developmelanoma.
Sun Blisters Treatment and Home Remedies
While most cases of sun blisters can be treated at home, seek medical attention if your symptoms do not improve within a week.
Common home remedies to treat sun blisters include the following:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Seek immediate medical attention if you display any of the following symptoms:
Preventing Sun Blisters
You should always try to avoid sunburn. Sunburnsage skin cellsand increase the risk ofsolar lentigo(“liver spots”) and skin cancer.Prolonged sun exposure (especially during the summer) is associated with all major forms of skin cancers, includingbasal cell carcinoma,squamous cell carcinoma, andmelanoma.
To reduce the risk of sun damage:
Summary
Sun blisters are a sign of second-degree burns from prolonged exposure to the sun. They can appear in a few short hours after exposure or take up to 24 hours to develop. Sun blisters usually last a few days to a week, but it depends on the size and number of blisters.
Symptoms of second-degree sunburn include the formation of blisters, deep redness, and severe pain. While most cases of blisters can be treated at home, seek immediate medical attention if blisters cover more than 20% of the body.
At-home remedies include drinking extra water, applying soy or aloe vera moisturizer, using a cold, damp compress, and taking a pain reliever. Sunburn ages skin and increases the risk of skin cancer, so take preventive steps to reduce your sun exposure.
While it’s best to plan ahead so you don’t get a sunburn, it can happen due to unexpected circumstances. Get out of the sun at the first signs of redness. While sunburn is common, it can also be a serious condition, especially if it has reached the point of blistering.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn & your skin.UPMC Health Beat.How to treat sun blisters.Johns Hopkins University.Sunburns.Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.How long does sunburn last? What to know about the short and long-term effects of sunburn.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Burns and wounds.Northwestern Medicine.Quick dose: When should I see a physician for sunburn?University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Sun poisoning dangers: symptoms, treatment, and prevention.Nemours Foundation. TeensHealth.I got blisters from a sunburn. What should I do?Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA.History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-33. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282MedlinePlus.Liver spots.Additional ReadingHolman DM, Ding H, Guy GP, Watson M, Hartman AM, Perna FM.Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behaviorial characteristics with sunburn among US adults.JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(5):561. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0028
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn & your skin.UPMC Health Beat.How to treat sun blisters.Johns Hopkins University.Sunburns.Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.How long does sunburn last? What to know about the short and long-term effects of sunburn.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Burns and wounds.Northwestern Medicine.Quick dose: When should I see a physician for sunburn?University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Sun poisoning dangers: symptoms, treatment, and prevention.Nemours Foundation. TeensHealth.I got blisters from a sunburn. What should I do?Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA.History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-33. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282MedlinePlus.Liver spots.Additional ReadingHolman DM, Ding H, Guy GP, Watson M, Hartman AM, Perna FM.Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behaviorial characteristics with sunburn among US adults.JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(5):561. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0028
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn & your skin.UPMC Health Beat.How to treat sun blisters.Johns Hopkins University.Sunburns.Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.How long does sunburn last? What to know about the short and long-term effects of sunburn.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Burns and wounds.Northwestern Medicine.Quick dose: When should I see a physician for sunburn?University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Sun poisoning dangers: symptoms, treatment, and prevention.Nemours Foundation. TeensHealth.I got blisters from a sunburn. What should I do?Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA.History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-33. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282MedlinePlus.Liver spots.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn & your skin.
UPMC Health Beat.How to treat sun blisters.
Johns Hopkins University.Sunburns.
Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America.How long does sunburn last? What to know about the short and long-term effects of sunburn.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Burns and wounds.
Northwestern Medicine.Quick dose: When should I see a physician for sunburn?
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Sun poisoning dangers: symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
Nemours Foundation. TeensHealth.I got blisters from a sunburn. What should I do?
Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA.History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-33. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282
MedlinePlus.Liver spots.
Holman DM, Ding H, Guy GP, Watson M, Hartman AM, Perna FM.Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behaviorial characteristics with sunburn among US adults.JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(5):561. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0028
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