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What to Do if Your Lips Get Sunburned, According to Dermatologists
Sunburn may happen with your scalp, shoulder, legs, and lips. Yes, your lips are tender skin, just like all over the body, and may be burned by strong UV radiation of the sun, allowing one to develop a sunburn that is painful. Ahead, we asked board-certified dermatologist Dr. Orit Markowitz and Dr. Ellen Marmur, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare, to give us the scoop on what sunburned lips look like, how to treat them and how to prevent this issue in the first place.
Can Your Lips Get Sunburned?
As you heard above, your lips can indeed get sunburned, just like the rest of your skin. That is why it’s so very important to make sure you protect all of your skin that’s exposed to
the sun when you head outside, including your lips. “Like any other part of your body, if you are out long enough in the sun, your lips will burn,” Dr. Marmur says. “For some people, the lips are more sensitive than the rest of the body, and one is always better off with extra care and precaution.
It’s the bottom lip, according to Dr. Marmur, “because lower lips are usually larger and fuller than the upper lip.”
Can Sunburned Lips Be Worse Than Other Sunburns?
Sunburned lips can be worse than other areas of sunburn on the body, says Dr. Markowitz. “Lips have almost no melanin to protect them, and the epidermis is thinner on the lips generally,” she says. “This increases your chances of sunburn because it’s more susceptible to damage from UV rays.
She continues to say, “since the lips have a high concentration of vessels and nerve endings, most of the time the irritation from UV rays leads to swelling and discomfort”. Lip sunburns can also result in blistering rashes, according to Dr. Marmur and these blisters may leave scars.
How Do You Know If Your Lips Are Sunburned?
“It causes the lip to swell and become more sensitive, thus drying out,” says Dr. Markowitz. Dr. Marmur essentially confirms his thoughts, adding that a lip sunburn may start by acting similarly to any other sunburn on your body, but that, ultimately, your lips are just so much more sensitive. “Your lips may appear redder than a typical sunburn, dry, fissured, swollen or even blistering,” she says.
How to Treat Sunburned Lips
A mild sunburn will take about 48 hours to resolve, but a severe sunburn with blistering can take up to two weeks to heal. With deeper burns you also run the added risk of infection, Dr. Markowitz says. If you think your burn falls into the latter category, it’s important that you make an appointment with your dermatologist.
For less severe lip sunburns, Dr. Markowitz suggests a heaping of 1% hydrocortisone ointment, three times a day for two days. “You can even refrigerate your hydrocortisone for a cooling effect,” she says.
“Taking aspirin, anti-inflammatories and even multivitamins can help reduce any swelling or inflammation you may experience,” adds Dr. Marmur. “Topical ingredients such as aloe can be applied and help reduce inflammation and redness, too.
Ultimately, though, prevention remains the top treatment for sunburned lips, Dr. Marmur says. For specific questions about how to treat your sunburn, contact your dermatologist or healthcare provider.
What Should You Not Do If You Have a Lip Sunburn?
If you have a sunburn on your lips, avoid further sun exposure since the area now is very sensitive and susceptible to more damage. “Spicy or salty foods are also to be avoided, because they can cause further irritation and drying,” says Dr. Markowitz.
You’ll also want to be more considerate of the products you’re applying to your skin. “You should avoid any harsh or minty lip balms and ingredients,” says Dr. Marmur. “Also, if you are experiencing blistering, you should avoid popping them and definitely see your dermatologist.”
How Can You Prevent Lip Sunburns?
To begin with, the best ways to avoid sun damage to the lips are to apply SPF daily and reapply, along with other ways of protecting oneself from the sun.
“”Use a dedicated lip balm with SPF as part of your morning routine,” says Dr. Markowitz. And, of course, with that in mind, don’t forget to reapply your SPF lip balm throughout the day-five times more often than any other regular sunscreen-so it doesn’t wear off quite as quickly with all of that drinking and eating. For your lip area, try a hydrating sunscreen stick with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, like CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen Stick with SPF 50.
SPF isn’t the only line of defense for your lips against damaging sun rays. “Use multimodal protection such as SPF, makeup, wear a wide brimmed hat and zinc,” says Dr. Marmur. “Being on the snow or water is even worse because the UV rays reflect off the water like a mirror and hit your lips.” If you’re going to be in or around the water this summer-or you’re the type of person who likes to hit the slopes during winter-keep this in mind so you can increase your sun protection. Our Favorite Face Sunscreens and Lip Balms
CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
The ease of a sunscreen stick, like this CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50, provides an effortless and efficient layer of defense against UV damage around your face and lips.
100% mineral sun protection with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide protects your skin against sunburn and early signs of aging. It is among our favorite sunscreens to wear during summer-remaining water-resistant up to 40 minutes-so splash into the waves with abandon.