What is Sunburn?

A sunburn indicates a massive amount of UVB rays have entered your skin. It causes DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer in the future.

Your risk of burn increases with:

Fair-skinned people will sunburn faster than people with olive or brown skin.  But remember, every skin type can sunburn.

Longer duration in the sun.

UVB rays are most intense:

• during the middle of the day between 10 am and 3pm
• in the summer
• the closer you are to the equator
• when they are reflecting off things like sand and snow (sand and snow reflect up to 85% of UVB making for really intense exposure)

Clouds don’t really block much of the UVB rays and they penetrate into water too.

The harmful UVB rays cause inflammation that leads to pain, redness, and swelling. When severe, the fluid seeps between the cells of the epidermis and split the spaces open into blisters.

The process involves:

1. Redness usually starts to show up 6 hours after excessive UVB exposure.  It peaks about 12-24 hours later.  It can show up faster and be more severe in extreme sun exposure (i.e. really fair skin on a tropical beach)
2. Tenderness, which follows the redness.
3. Blistering happens after extreme exposure.
4. Peeling usually occurs in a week, regardless of whether there was blistering.
5. Really severe exposure will also cause skin swelling (edema), fever, chills, nausea, rapid heart rate and even dangerously low blood pressure.  This can last up to a week and can be a medical emergency.

Every year, 2,600 people in Britain die from skin cancer. Over the past 25 years, the rate of malignant melanoma has risen faster than any other cancer, probably as a result of the increasing numbers taking foreign holidays. Skin cancer is that though diagnosis can happen in adult life, it often relates to damage as a child - it just takes a long time to develop.


This highlights the importance of wearing (and reapplying) sunscreen at any age, as well as wearing a large hat and sunglasses.

Ideally, you should aim for ingredients that calm irritation, combat free radicals and the oxidative stress which comes from sun exposure, and help to rebalance and hydrate the skin. 

Alhydran - Medical aftercare for the skin

Aloe vera is a highly recommended ingredient after sun exposure. It has a “cooling” effect on the skin and contains a multitude of nutrients including vitamin A, C, and E, vitamin B12, folic acid, enzymes, fatty acids, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc. 

Oxygenetix Oxygenating Hydro-Matrix Moisturiser 

Another aloe vera based skincare product, which is great for sunburns, post-laser, or red sensitive skin.This Oxygenating moisturiser hydrates sensitive post-procedure skin while promoting healing. Unlike other moisturisers that sink into the skin or dry to leave a barrier over the surface which can suffocate the skin, the Pro-Healing Moisturiser forms a breathable ‘second skin’ layer.  This allows oxygen to reach the epidermis. Providing essential hydration and ingredients to improve the healing process it also soothes sensitive skin for a more comfortable aftercare experience.

Try Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Masque for Instant Relief

Phyto Corrective Masque is an intensive calming botanical face mask formulated with a unique blend of cucumber, thyme, and olive extracts and hyaluronic acid to help rehydrate and soothe temporarily reactive skin.

For best results apply at night, sleep with it on and wake up with radiant-looking skin.

It is our go-to in-clinic product after any procedure.

iS CLINICAL Sheald Recovery Balm

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask

A soothing gel mask for all skin types, especially sensitive skin. Formulated with cucumber and aloe vera, to instantly soothe and aid relief after procedures such as waxing, shaving,  peels and even sunburn.  Also, papaya, orange, and pineapple extracts, that are rich in antioxidants to target free radicals.