Sunburn duration depends on its severity:
- Mild sunburns usually last about 3 to 5 days. Symptoms include redness, slight inflammation, and tenderness. Peeling may occur toward the end of this period as the skin regenerates
- Moderate sunburns can take around one week to heal completely. These burns are more painful, with red, swollen, and hot skin, often accompanied by peeling for a few days after the initial healing
- Severe sunburns (sometimes called sun poisoning) may take up to two weeks to fully recover. These burns can cause blistering, intense redness, swelling, and systemic symptoms like nausea. Medical attention might be necessary
Sunburn redness typically peaks within 12 to 24 hours after exposure and starts to fade after about two days, but healing and peeling can extend the total duration. Swelling may last up to two days, and blisters, if present, usually subside after about a week
. While the visible symptoms resolve within days to weeks, the DNA damage to skin cells caused by sunburn is permanent and increases the risk of skin cancer over time
. In summary, most sunburns heal within a week, but severe cases can last up to two weeks or more, with long-term skin damage persisting indefinitely.
