Ultraviolet rays damage cells in the epidermis, your skin's outer layer. Your immune system increases blood flow, making the area warm and red, while damaged cells release chemical signals that cause burning pain. White blood cells then remove damaged cells. Itching can accompany that process, rather than appearing only once the skin starts visibly peeling. On brown or black skin, redness can be harder to see, so heat, soreness and tenderness also matter.13

How long does the itching last?

Mild sunburn usually improves within about a week. Redness typically peaks at 12 to 24 hours, and peeling can begin around four to seven days after exposure. There is no fixed timetable for ordinary sunburn itch separate from the burn itself. Blistering burns take longer to heal, sometimes weeks. Skin can remain sensitive to sunlight for several weeks after peeling, so disappearing redness is not a reason to expose the area again.45

How can you soothe itchy sunburn?

  1. 1Get out of the sun, preferably indoors, and keep burned skin covered from direct sunlight until it has healed.
  2. 2Cool the area with a cool shower, bath or damp washcloth. Repeat cool compresses as needed. Do not put ice or ice packs directly on sunburn.
  3. 3Gently pat yourself dry, then apply moisturizer while the skin is still damp. A moisturizer containing aloe vera or soy can soothe the area; reapply whenever discomfort returns.
  4. 4Try calamine lotion or a colloidal oatmeal bath for discomfort.
  5. 5Drink extra water, because sunburn draws fluid toward the skin and away from the rest of your body.
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An unperfumed moisturizer is an option, so the bottle does not need 'aftersun' in a dramatic font.3

Do not scratch, pull off peeling skin or pop blisters. Scratching can tear the skin and allow infection. Avoid tight clothing over the burn, and let loose skin come away on its own. If blisters rupture, gently clean them with mild soap and water and cover them with a moist, sterile dressing.234

Why does sunburn itch so badly?

Hell's itch feels deep, painful or throbbing, often on the upper back and shoulders. It can come in waves and typically settles within 48 hours. Its exact cause is unclear; damaged nerve endings at the burn site might overreact. Scratching often makes this intense itch worse rather than relieving it.2

An oral antihistamine can help reduce intense itching. Ask a pharmacist about a suitable option and follow the medicine's instructions. A 1% hydrocortisone cream is sometimes used for itching, but its benefit for sunburn is uncertain. For pain, paracetamol or ibuprofen are options; follow the leaflet rather than taking extra doses because the itch is severe.234

When should you get medical help?

Get urgent medical advice for blistering or swollen skin, extreme pain, fever, chills, dizziness, nausea or headache. A baby or young child with sunburn also needs urgent advice. Confusion or loss of consciousness needs emergency care. Increasing redness, pain or swelling, or pus over an open blister, can signal infection and needs medical attention.357

How can you prevent another episode?

Preventing sunburn prevents the itch: use shade, protective clothing and a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin. Reapply sunscreen as its label directs. Clothing protects covered skin without needing reapplication, which is one less job for a bottle.26

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1The Risks of Tanningfda.gov
  2. 2What the Heck Is Hell’s Itch?health.clevelandclinic.org
  3. 3Sunburnnhs.uk
  4. 4Sunburndermnetnz.org
  5. 5Sunburn: Symptoms & Treatmentmy.clevelandclinic.org
  6. 6How to treat sunburnaad.org
  7. 7When To See a Doctor for a Sunburnhealth.clevelandclinic.org