How Do I Prevent Sunburn Blisters?

You can prevent sunburn blisters by not getting severe sunburns. Wearing the appropriate amount of sun screen with a high sun protection factor (SPF), applying the product as instructed, and staying indoors during the brightest parts of the day can also help. Most people fail to use enough sunscreen or do not wait for the product to form a protective layer on their skin before going outdoors. In addition, being around reflective surfaces can increase the severity of a sunburn, so try to limit time spent swimming or walking on beaches. It is safest to spend time outdoors when the sky is cloudy and you have adequate shade from trees, an umbrella, or other overhead object.

Wear sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30, and apply it liberally to all exposed body parts. Most people use as little as 25 percent of the sunscreen needed to give maximum protection. A good rule of thumb is to fill your palm or a shot glass with sunscreen, then apply that amount to the bare skin of one adult. Anything less is likely too little, especially if you are wearing a swimsuit or other garment that does not cover much skin.

To best prevent sunburns and, therefore, sunburn blisters, you need to follow the instructions on the sunscreen bottle. Wait 15 to 20 minutes after applying sunscreen to go outdoors. This gives the product enough time to bond with your skin to reduce the odds of it being wiped or washed off. You are still protected if you go outdoors immediately after, but to lessen the odds of developing sunburn blisters, wait at least 15 minutes.

If possible, stay indoors during the brightest hours of the day, which are usually from 10 in the morning to four in the afternoon. At the least, eliminate long periods of time outdoors or find shade during the latest parts of those hours. The sun is highest in the sky and most damaging to your skin at these times, leading to sunburn blisters if you are exposed for too long.

Sunburn blisters are a sign of severe sunburn which is more likely to occur during the brightest times of the day. They are even more likely to occur when intense sun rays reflect off the water of a swimming pool, sand, or glacier. Wearing sunscreen while swimming, playing on a beach, or touring a glacier is crucial to avoid second-degree sunburn. You are less likely to get sunburn blisters when participating in these activities on a cloudy day, but even then, sunburn is still a possibility.