Mild sunburn can be treated at home with some self-care. You can advise patients to:-

• Take a cool bath or shower to soothe the skin
• Use an after sun lotion that contains aloe vera to soothe the skin
• Drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated
• Take a painkiller such as paracetamol to relieve any discomfort or pain
• Avoid going back into direct sunlight and cover any affected areas until they heal

Sometimes getting sun-burnt can also develop into further problems such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke or sunstroke. Patients may feel very hot and have a temperature, they may feel sick, have a headache, sweat excessively, vomit, be confused and have shallow breathing. If patients mention any of these symptoms they may need to seek immediate medical help.