About a week: redness and pain peak in the first day or two, then fade - with peeling arriving several days in as damaged skin sheds.
Blistering means a deeper burn that takes longer, and fever, chills, nausea, or dizziness with a burn is the "sun poisoning" picture that warrants medical care. While healing: cool compresses, moisturizer on damp skin, extra water, and strict sun avoidance on the burned area.
What to do
Common questions
How long does a sunburn last?
About a week for a typical burn: redness and pain peak in the first 24 to 48 hours, then fade over the following days, and MedlinePlus notes peeling arrives several days after the burn as the damaged skin sheds - do not pick at it, since the skin underneath is tender and new. The course stretches when the burn is worse: blistering means a deeper, second-degree burn that takes longer and scars more easily, and systemic symptoms - fever, chills, nausea, dizziness, or widespread blistering - are the "sun poisoning" picture that warrants medical care, especially in children. While it heals: cool showers and compresses, plain moisturizer or aloe on damp skin, drink extra water (burns pull fluid to the skin surface), an over-the-counter pain reliever, and absolute sun avoidance on the burned skin - it burns again far more easily. Each blistering sunburn also raises lifetime skin cancer risk, which is the argument for the sunscreen habit next time. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you grade a burn.