When Should You See a Doctor for a Sunburn?

Sun protection is crucial throughout the year. Even just one major sunburn injury can increase your lifetime risk of developing skin cancer. But most cases of sunburn don’t require acute care at a walk-in clinic. If your skin is only mildly burned, you can apply a cool compress, drink extra fluids, and apply aloe vera gel for symptom relief.

You do need urgent care for sunburn if it doesn’t get better in two days, or your symptoms worsen. You should also see a doctor for professional sunburn care if you develop blisters over a large area of your body, or if you experience a fever, severe pain, headache, confusion, nausea, or chills. It’s possible to develop an infection from sunburn, particularly if you scratch the blisters and break the skin. Seek urgent care if you have worsening swelling, blisters with pus, or red streaks emanating from the blister.

Paramount Urgent Care provides a wide range of urgent care services. Serving all of Orlando, Lake, Polk, Sumter, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. For more information about our prompt and courteous medical services, please visit our contact us page for a location near you or call 352-674-9218.