Sunburns have a delayed response time as they typically appear within a few hours of exposure to the sun. Even still, it can take a day or so for the full sunburn to be seen and felt, including any damage it has caused. At home treatment for mild to moderate sunburns can be achieved with the use of over-the-counter soothing gels, creams, and lotions available for purchase at most drug stores, specifically formulated to provide relief for sunburns. However, sunburns that penetrate deep below the skin will require medical attention and preventive care. It takes up to a week or so for mildly sunburnt skin to heal as the burnt skin will dry out and flake away to reveal fresh, healthy, non-sunburned skin underneath. The new skin will appear tanned or can appear slightly sunburnt compared to your natural skin tone but even this will fade over time as the outer layers of skin naturally renew and flake away. Medical attention and walk-in clinics are beneficial for severe sunburns to minimize the risk of infection and ensure the skin is in fact healing.