The shoulders and forehead as two hot spots for sunburns, but other places on your body are also susceptible to sunburns. For example, your lips are susceptible, especially your lower lip. Your lips are vulnerable to sunburns and chronic sun damage that can cause pain and increase your chances of developing skin cancer. The lower lip is 12 times more likely to be affected by skin cancer than the top lip. There are many ways you can treat sunburned lips and prevent burns from happening.
What are the symptoms of sunburned lips?
Symptoms of sunburned lips include:
- lips that are redder than normal
- swollen lips
- skin that feels tender to the touch
- blistering on the lips
A mild sunburn usually lasts three to five days.
Cold sore or sunburn?
The lip blisters caused by a sunburn have very different symptoms from cold sores (oral herpes).
Cold sore blisters usually tingle, burn, or itch. While cold sores can occur from sun exposure, they can also be triggered by other factors such as stress or a cold. They can present as little blisters that become pus-filled. These may result in small ulcer-like lesions as they heal.
Sunburn blisters are small, white, fluid-filled bumps. You will likely notice signs of sunburn elsewhere on sun-exposed, unprotected areas of your skin. Signs may include:
- redness
- swelling
- pain
- blistering, which results from severe sunburn
When to call a doctor
You can treat most cases of sunburned lips with at-home remedies. However, seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms that include:
- severely swollen lips
- swollen tongue
- rash
These symptoms could mean something more serious, such as an allergic reaction.
If you’re unsure if your lips are severely swollen, look for one or both of your lips being larger than normal. Your lip may feel “fat” and painful. You may also have difficulty doing the following:
- eating
- drinking
- talking
- opening your mouth
What are the treatments for sunburned lips?
Sunburned lips can be treated with healing and cooling ointments. Some of the traditional remedies you might use for sunburns on your body may not be good to use on your lips. There’s the likelihood you could ingest what you put on your lips.
For your lips, try these remedies:
Cold compresses
Rinsing a soft washcloth in cold water and resting it on your lips can reduce the hot feeling on your lips. Another option is to dip the washcloth in ice water. Avoid icing your burn directly.
Aloe vera
The aloe vera plant’s soothing gel can be used to relieve sunburn-related pain. If you have a plant at home, you can break off one of the stalks, squeeze the gel out, and apply it to your lips.
You can also purchase after-sun gels at most drugstores. For your lips, only purchase gels that are made of 100 percent aloe. The gel can also be stored in the refrigerator to provide a more cooling sensation.
Anti-inflammatories
Taking an anti-inflammatory medication can help ease the pain and redness associated with a sunburn, especially if taken soon after sun exposure. Examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). They can relieve pain from the inside.
Moisturizers
Adding moisture back to irritated skin can help soothe and protect the skin while it heals. One example is applying a topical moisturizer, such as CeraVe cream or Vanicream.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), avoid moisturizers that contain petroleum. They seal heat from the sunburn in your skin.
Hydrocortisone 1 percent cream
You can apply this to the sunburn areas on your lips if the other methods are not working. If you do apply it, be careful not to lick your lips, as the product is not meant to be ingested.
Treatments to avoid
You should avoid any products that have “–caine” listed, such as lidocaine or benzocaine. They can cause irritation or an allergic reaction on the skin. These ingredients also shouldn’t be ingested.
You should also avoid petroleum-based products. They seal heat from the sunburn in your skin.
If your lip sunburn leads to blistering and swelling, avoid popping the blisters.
Always talk with your doctor before starting any treatment method.
What’s the outlook for people with sunburned lips?
You can take steps to prevent future lip sunburns. Purchasing a lip balm or lipstick with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 is a great start.
You need to reapply lip sunscreen more frequently than sunscreen to the rest of your skin, due to eating, drinking, and frequently licking your lips. Reapplying every hour is a good rule to follow.
Regardless of where you live, your lips are exposed to the sun year-round. Wearing a sun-protective lip balm all the time can offer protection that keeps you from experiencing sunburn in the future.
Sunburned Eyelids: What You Should Know
Sunburn occurs because of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. This results in reddish, hot skin that can blister or peel. It can occur anywhere on your body. This includes places you might forget about, like the tops of your ears or your eyelids.
Getting a sunburn on your eyelids is similar to a regular sunburn elsewhere on your body, but there are certain things you should keep in mind to make sure you don’t need medical attention.
What are the symptoms of sunburned eyelids?
Sunburn usually starts to appear a few hours after sun exposure, although it can take a day or two for the full impact of the sunburn to appear.
Typical symptoms of sunburn can include:
- pink or red skin
- skin that feels hot to the touch
- tender or itchy skin
- swelling
- fluid-filled blisters
If your eyelids are sunburned, your eyes may also be sunburned. Symptoms of sunburned eyes, or photokeratitis, can include:
- pain or burning
- gritty feeling in your eyes
- sensitivity to light
- headache
- redness
- blurred vision or “halos” around lights
These usually go away within a day or two. If these symptoms last more than 48 hours, call your eye doctor.
When to see a doctor
While a sunburn typically resolves on its own, a severe sunburn might warrant medical attention, especially when it involves your eyes or surrounding areas. Call your doctor if you notice:
- blistering
- a high fever
- confusion
- nausea
- chills
- headache
If you experience symptoms of sunburned eyes for more than a day or two, call your eye doctor. It’s possible to have a sunburn on your cornea, retina, or lens, and your eye doctor can perform an exam to see if there’s any damage.
How to treat sunburned eyelids
Sunburn can take several days to fully develop, and then another several days after that to start healing. Some at-home remedies to help treat sunburned eyelids include:
- Cool compresses. Wet a washcloth with cool water and place on your eyes.
- Pain relief. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) when you first notice the sunburn.
- Protection. If you go outside, wear sunglasses or a hat to protect your burned eyelids. Sunglasses can also help with light sensitivity, even indoors.
- Moisturize. If your eyelids are sunburned, your eyes might feel dry. Using preservative-free artificial tears can help provide cooling relief.
- Avoid contact lens use. Take a few days off from wearing your contact lenses until your sunburn has resolved.
Stay indoors for a few days to ensure that you’re out of UV light and to facilitate recovery. Even though your eyes might itch, try not to rub them.
What’s the outlook for sunburned eyelids?
The good news is that, much like a regular sunburn, sunburned eyelids usually resolve on their own within a couple of days and without medical treatment. If symptoms don’t begin to improve after a day or two, call your doctor to make sure there’s nothing more serious going on, and to see if you need more specialized treatment.
If your eyelids and eyes are exposed to UV rays over a long period of time or repeatedly without any protection, this can increase your risk of skin cancer, premature aging, and even affect your eyesight.
To protect your eyelids from UV light, sunglasses are your best bet. A moisturizer that contains SPF is also helpful, since your eyelids will better absorb moisturizer than sunscreen.
