Dr Phil Kieran: Does my daughter need medical help for a serious sunburn on her back?

The good news is sunburn (even with blisters) should heal fully in three to 10 days

Sunburn can be an incredibly sore, itchy and irritating experience and one that we should all try to avoid. Picture: iStock

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026 - 02:00

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Dr Phil Kieran is a full-time GP practising in Cork. He previously presented RTE's 'You Should Really See a Doctor' and 'How Long Will You Live?'.

My 15-year-old daughter went to an outdoor concert recently and got badly sunburnt on her back, which later blistered. She had to take a day off school to recover.

I got a lotion for sunburn at the chemist’s, which has helped reduce the pain. But her skin still looks very sore, and she can’t sleep on her back. Is it simply a matter of waiting for the sunburn to heal, or should we seek further medical attention?