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Sun burn does not usually require any medical treatment, and can be handled quite effectively using home remedies. Excessive exposure to sunlight causes the skin, and sometimes other tissue as well, to burn, resulting in inflammation and several other problems. In some cases, the effect of the sun exposure is mild, only involving some inflammation, stinging, and pain, but in other cases, sunburn can be quite severe, with formation of blisters, fever, dizziness, and dehydration. In such cases, it is very important to get medical treatment, and sometimes hospitalization may also be needed. In very severe cases, sunburn can be fatal if not attended to promptly.
However, if the only symptoms you are experiencing are the stinging and burning of your skin, you do not need to worry or get medical treatment. You should keep your skin moist and cool - take a cold shower several times a day, and between showers you can also periodically apply a cold compress by dipping a soft cloth in cool water and placing it against the sunburnt parts of your skin. You can also apply aloe gel or a moisturizing lotion (if the skin is unbroken), and in addition, ensure that you drink plenty of water for the next few days. If and when the blisters appear, if they are not too many and too painful, you can continue to treat them yourself. In fact no real treatment is necessary except to avoid touching or bursting them, and then to keep the area clean when the blisters burst. If you feel the need, you can also take an over the counter medication, taking into account any allergies or other medical conditions you may have.
Severe sunburn, even once, greatly increases the risk of skin cancer and other similar conditions - if you ever notice any new lesions or blemishes that have no explanation or seem to change shape or grow, get them examined immediately.
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