Sunburns on Face Pictures - 8 Photos & Images

Sunburn — red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch — usually appears within a few hours after too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from sunshine or artificial sources, such as sunlamps. Sunburn may take several days or longer to fade.

Sunburn signs and symptoms include:

Pinkness or redness
Skin that feels warm or hot to the touch
Pain, tenderness or itching
Swelling
Small fluid-filled blisters, which may break
Headache, fever, chills and fatigue if the sunburn is severe

Any exposed part of your face — including your earlobes, scalp and lips — can burn. Even covered areas can burn if, for example, your clothing has a loose weave that allows ultraviolet (UV) light through. Your eyes, which are extremely sensitive to the sun's UV light, also can burn. Sunburned eyes may feel painful or gritty.

Signs and symptoms of sunburn usually appear within a few hours after sun exposure. But it may take a day or longer to know the full extent of your sunburn.

Within a few days, your body may start to heal itself by "peeling" the top layer of damaged skin. After peeling, your skin may temporarily have an irregular color and pattern. A bad sunburn may take several days or longer to heal.

See your doctor if the sunburn:

Is blistering and covers a large portion of your body
Is accompanied by a high fever, extreme pain, headache, confusion, nausea or chills
Doesn't respond to at-home care within two days