Sunburned lips can happen because the skin on the lips is thin and delicate, leaving it vulnerable to damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or tanning beds. Both types of UV light (UVA and UVB) can damage the cells of the outer layer of your skin, causing your body to respond with the redness and inflammation known as a sunburn.
If your lips are sunburned, they may:
- Look redder or darker than their normal tone
- Feel tender, sore, or warm to the touch
- Appear and feel swollen due to inflammation
- Blister (small, fluid-filled bumps)
- Start peeling as they begin to heal
Sun poisoning is a severe sunburn that causes additional symptoms, like fever, chills, nausea, and dehydration. It’s possible that if your lips are burned severely enough, you could develop sun poisoning, so take note of any flu-like symptoms if you’ve recently gotten a bad sunburn on your lips.
You can help your sunburned lips heal with the following home remedies:
- Apply cool compresses to your lips, but avoid putting ice directly on your skin.
- Moisturize your lips with a gentle balm or lotion. Avoid heavy, petroleum-based ointments, which can seal in heat from your sunburn.
- Apply aloe vera to your lips to soothe redness and tenderness.
- Take anti-inflammatory medications like Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), or Bayer (aspirin) to help reduce swelling.
- Stay properly hydrated.
- Avoid further sun exposure.
- Treat your lips gently. Avoid popping or picking at blisters, and gently cleanse any that pop on their own.
You can prevent sunburned lips by following sun protection strategies to keep this sensitive area of your face safe.
- Apply SPF to your lips: When spending time outside, even on cloudy days, wear a lip product—such as a balm, gloss, chapstick, or lipstick—with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Choose a broad-spectrum product to protect you from both UVB and UVA rays. Reapply often, especially after swimming or sweating.
- Avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds: Stay out of direct sunlight, especially when the sun’s rays are strongest, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Don’t use tanning beds.
- Wear a hat: A hat with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) that’s large enough to shade the lower half of your face can also help protect your lips.
Most people with sunburned lips can expect them to heal within a few days to one week. More severely burned lips may need more time. In some cases, complications may develop:
- Infection: Sunburned lips may sometimes lead to infection. If your lips are blistered, bacteria can enter through open wounds. Later, if your lips begin to peel during the healing process, picking at the peeling skin can introduce bacteria to your lips as well.
- Cancer risk: Several types of skin cancer can develop on the lips, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Skin cancer is more common with more sunburn, but even just one blistering sunburn in your life can increase your risk.
- Skin changes: Exposure to UV rays also ages your skin prematurely, causing wrinkles, dark spots, and texture changes.
Some factors increase your risk of burning more quickly or having more severe sunburn symptoms. You may be at an increased risk of sunburned lips if you:
- Have light skin, hair, or eyes
- Have a medical condition that affects your immune system
- Have a family history of skin cancer
- Take certain medications, like antibiotics, antifungals, and diuretics
- Use certain skin care products, such as retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)
- Spend time outdoors during peak sunlight hours, on sand or around water, in the snow, at high altitudes, during the summer, or closer to the equator
Usually, you don’t need to see a healthcare provider for a sunburn on your lips. A sunburn typically heals with basic home care within a week. If you think you may have sun poisoning, seeing a healthcare professional is important. Sun poisoning can cause dehydration, and severe burns increase the risk of infection.
If you have sunburned lips and other symptoms like fever, chills, severe blistering, or signs of infection like red streaks or oozing discharge, contact a healthcare provider immediately. They may give you intravenous therapy (IV) placed in your arm to rehydrate you. They may also prescribe medications, like steroids or antibiotics, to treat inflammation or infection.
Your lips can get sunburned if they’re exposed to UV rays outdoors or in tanning beds. Sunburned lips often look red and swollen, are painful or sore, and may blister.
Good hydration, moisturization, and cool compresses can help treat sunburned lips at home. Contact a healthcare provider if you have a fever or any signs of infection.
You can also protect your lips from UV rays and sunburn by staying out of the sun during its strongest hours, wearing a hat that covers your whole face, and applying a lip product with SPF.
