“Lips are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and sun damage,” says Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, a dermatologist in La Jolla, California.
The skin on your lips is very thin and delicate, and doesn’t have as much protective pigment (called melanin) as the skin on other parts of your body. Applying a shiny balm or gloss without SPF can make things worse. “The light from these products actually magnifies the sun’s UV rays and makes the damage worse,” Dr. Shirazi adds.
Fortunately, there are ways to treat and prevent lip sun poisoning. Here are the signs to look out for, other symptoms, home remedies, and whether you should seek help from a dermatologist.
Signs of sun poisoning on the lips
Sunburn can occur on the lips if you burn your entire body. However, because the lips are so thin and delicate, they can be much more severely sunburned than the rest of your skin, Dr. Shirazi points out. “It often occurs 12 to 24 hours after exposure to the sun,” she adds.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, common signs of sun poisoning include:
- severe redness
- pain or sensitivity
- Blisters or peeling of the skin
- dehydration
- sickness
- dizziness
- Confusion
- dizziness
- In severe cases, fainting or difficulty breathing, etc.
And what does a sunburn on the lips look like? Lips that are especially severely sunburned and poisoned by the sun may show some additional symptoms, including: Dr. Shirazi says:
- severe redness
- edema
- Fluid-filled blisters caused by sun exposure
- Severe pain that makes it difficult to eat, drink, or speak
- itch
- As the burn begins to heal, dryness, peeling, and crusting appear.
“Lips are particularly susceptible to sunburn and sun damage.”—Azadeh Shirazi, MD, dermatologist
How to treat sun poisoning of the lips
If the burn does not cause systemic symptoms (symptoms that actually make you feel sick), you can manage sun poisoning of the lips with home remedies. The sedatives often used are very similar to those used for severe sunburns on other parts of the body, but there are a few extra precautions to be taken to be gentle on your lips.
If you're wondering what to put on your sun-damaged lips (or how to treat them in general), try these, according to the Mayo Clinic and Dr. Shirazi:
- Get out of the sun: Find some shade. If possible, use air conditioning.
- Start drinking lots of water: Sunburn can cause dehydration. Even if your lips feel uncomfortable, try taking a sip at a time to prevent them from drying out further.
- Try a cold compress: A bag of frozen peas wrapped in a kitchen towel can help reduce inflammation and provide quick relief. (Just avoid applying ice directly to the area, as it can irritate the lips.) Apply for 20 minutes, rest for 20 minutes, and repeat as needed, Dr. Shiraz recommends.
- Use a disinfectant spray: Sun-damaged lips are at risk for infection. Applying an antiseptic spray containing hypochlorous acid, such as SkinSmart Antibacterial Wound Therapy, can help your skin heal while suppressing bacteria. “It’s gentle on the skin, has antibacterial properties, and is safe for use on sensitive lip mucosa,” says Dr. Shirazi.
- Try aloe vera: One of the best post-sunburn products is plain aloe vera gel. An aloe-based balm like AziMD Skincare SootheHC can also soothe red, irritated lips. “Keep it in the fridge and apply it cold,” she adds.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help reduce some of the swelling and make you feel more comfortable.
- Try our healing lip balm: If your lips start to peel, apply a healing balm like CeraVe Healing Ointment or plain petroleum jelly. “This will help to retain moisture, form a barrier, and repair the lips,” says Dr. Shirazi. Options like coconut oil or shea butter? They can provide moisture, but they’re also more likely to irritate sensitive skin, so you may want to avoid them, she adds.
- Leave the blister alone. Sunburn rash on the lips often starts as small blisters. Try to avoid picking at them if possible, as doing so dramatically increases the risk of infection.
How to prevent sun poisoning of the lips
In addition to the usual sun protection tips (e.g., wearing sunscreen, reapplying every two hours, and staying in the shade when the sun is at its strongest), there are a few additional steps you can take to keep your lips safe from sun damage. Try:
- Apply SPF lip sunscreen or balm: Look for a product with SPF 30 or higher, says Dr. Shirazi recommends. Try SunBum SPF 30 Lip Balm or Burt's Beets SPF 30 Lip Balm. Avoid wearing shiny or glossy lip products without SPF when out in the sun. They will legitimately fry your lips.
- Applying sunscreen to your lips: If you don’t have a dedicated sunscreen lip balm, regular sunscreen will do the trick, says Dr. Shirazi. (Check out our SPF awards to see the best!)
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat: It's not a replacement for sunscreen, but it can add a little more coverage to your lips.
When to see a doctor
If you think your sunburn has turned into sun poisoning (i.e. you have other symptoms such as pain, fatigue, fever or vomiting), seek medical attention as soon as possible. At this point, severe dehydration may set in and IV fluids may be needed to restore fluid levels.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, your doctor may also determine whether medications, such as steroids or antibiotics, are needed for sun poisoning of the lips.
frequently asked questions
How long does it take for sun damaged lips to recover?
Healing time depends on how severe the burn is. But generally, you can expect your lips to heal in about a week, says Dr. Shirazi. If you continue to get a rash on your lips and skin after exposure to sunlight, you may have a sun allergy. You can control it by staying in the shade as much as possible and cooling your skin when you go indoors.
What does sun damage look like to your lips?
At first, severely sunburned lips may look like they’ve been stung by a bee (think very red, swollen, or puffy). As the damage begins to heal, it can become extremely dry, cracked, or flaky, as if you’ve been in the desert for days without water or lip balm. In the long term, sun damage can look like discolored skin (like age spots), freckles, or wrinkles, according to Yale Medicine.
How do you tell the difference between sunburn and a cold sore?
Cold sores are small, fluid-filled blisters that can form on the lips. Unlike sunburns, cold sores are caused by a viral infection rather than sun exposure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, symptoms are usually limited to the area where the blisters are located. It may be slightly itchy, tingling, or uncomfortable, but it does not cause redness or swelling across the lips like sun poisoning does.
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