• An inflammatory reaction from ultraviolet radiation characterized by transient redness, tenderness and occasional blistering.
  NCI
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• An injury to the skin causing erythema, tenderness, and sometimes blistering and resulting from excessive exposure to the sun. The reaction is produced by the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight.
  NLM Medical Subject Headings
  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
• Injury to the skin, with erythema, tenderness, and in some extreme cases blistering, following excessive exposure to sunlight; produced by ultraviolet rays not filtered out by clouds or water.
  CRISP Thesaurus
  National Institutes of Health, 2006
• Sunburn is characterized by erythema and sometimes pain and blisters caused by overexposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. Treatment is similar to that for thermal burns, including cool compresses, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and, for severe cases, sterile dressings and topical antimicrobials. Prevention by sun avoidance and...
  Merck Manuals
  Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
• Sunburn is an acute cutaneous inflammatory reaction that follows excessive exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). UVR exposure can come from a variety of sources, including sun, tanning beds, phototherapy lamps, and arc lamps.
  Medscape
  WebMD, 2025
• Sunburn is red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. It usually appears within a few hours after too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from sunshine or artificial sources, such as sunlamps. Home remedies can usually provide sunburn relief, but sunburn may take days to fade.
  Mayo Clinic
  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2025
• Sunburn is an acute inflammatory reaction of the skin induced by overexposure to UV radiation. Skin findings include erythema and edema, with or without vesiculation, followed by desquamation. Symptoms include pain and/or pruritus. Acute sunburn is a self-limited condition and typically requires only supportive care. However, primary...
  Epocrates
  Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
• Sunburn, acute cutaneous inflammation caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the so-called UVB wavelength band (290-320 nanometre; a nanometre is 10-9 metre), which originates from sunlight or artificial sources. Reactions to overexposure range in severity from mild redness and...
  Encyclopedia Britannica
  Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025