Most people have been sunburned many times. Vacations can quickly turn into painful experiences when the power of the sun is overlooked. Unfortunately, the symptoms of sunburn do not begin until 2 to 4 hours after the sun's damage has been done. The peak reaction of redness, pain, and swelling is not seen for 24 hours.
Minor sunburn is a first-degree burn which turns the skin pink or red.
Prolonged sun exposure can cause blistering and a second-degree burn. Sunburn never causes a third-degree burn or scarring. Repeated sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer in the damaged area. Each blistering sunburn doubles the risk of developing malignant melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer. The sensation of pain and heat will probably last 48 hours.