Does the sun help skin heal?

What about vitamin D and tanning?

Skin uses sunlight to make vitamin D, which supports normal bone formation. That benefit is separate from repairing damaged skin. Ultraviolet light, or UV, penetrates skin and can damage or kill cells. It also reduces skin's elasticity and contributes to premature aging.4

A tan reflects increased melanin, the pigment that darkens skin, rather than a repair job, despite the excellent rebranding. Tans appear after sunlight has already damaged some skin cells and killed others. A tan fades as new cells reach the surface and the tanned cells shed; fading colour is not evidence that the sun has healed anything.45

How should you care for sunburn?

Sunburn usually gets better within seven days. Skin can feel hot, sore or painful, then peel a few days later. On black or brown skin, a colour change can be hard to see, so redness is not the only sign to watch for.2

1. 1Get out of the sun as soon as possible.
2. 2Cool the skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towel. Do not use ice or ice packs.
3. 3Apply an unperfumed moisturizer or aftersun cream. Do not put petroleum jelly on sunburn.
4. 4Drink water to prevent dehydration and avoid alcohol.
5. 5Keep the burned area covered from direct sunlight until fully healed. Avoid tight clothing over it.

Do not pop blisters, scratch the burn or pull off peeling skin. Breaking blisters can slow healing and increase infection risk. There is no quick cure for minor sunburn; further exposure is not a shortcut.12

When do you need medical help?

Get urgent medical advice for blistered or swollen skin, a very high temperature, shivering, marked tiredness, dizziness, nausea, headache or muscle cramps after sun exposure. A baby or young child with sunburn also needs urgent advice. Seek medical attention for dehydration or extreme pain lasting longer than 48 hours.12

How do you prevent more damage?

Use shade, protective clothing and sunscreen together. Sun protection matters for every skin tone, including on cloudy or cold days. UV exposure is generally highest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so reduce outdoor exposure during those hours where possible.136

For outdoor exposure, use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, applying it 20 minutes before going outside. Cover often missed areas such as ears, scalp, neck, feet and backs of hands. Reapply at least every two hours and after swimming or heavy sweating. Some medicines, including doxycycline and certain diuretics, increase sensitivity to sunlight.1

How can you care for sun damaged skin?

Much sun damage is permanent, but treatment can reduce some visible signs, so 'erase' is doing more work than it deserves. Moisturizer is one option for wrinkles, which gives an ordinary bathroom product a less ordinary job description. Dermatologists also use prescription retinoids, chemical peels and laser treatments, depending on the changes being treated. Daily sun protection helps prevent, slow and even reverse some signs of damage.3

Fractional laser treatment can address sun damage, wrinkles and pigmentation. Healing skin needs protection afterward: SPF 50 or higher, protective clothing and a wide brimmed hat during healing and for several months afterward. Treatment results develop gradually rather than immediately.7

Have new dry, scaly patches assessed: they can be actinic keratoses, which are precancerous growths. Also get changes in a mole or spot's size, shape, colour or feel checked before treating it as a cosmetic mark.35