Does sunburn turn into tan?

Published: May 2023

Last Reviewed: February 2025

Sunburn is never pleasant, but some of us may assume a bright red glow will turn into a desirable tan. While a sunburn may turn into a tan this depends on a variety of factors and can come with a multitude of health concerns. It is always best to avoid sunburn by taking precautionary measures to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.

Sunburn is what occurs when your skin is overexposed to UV rays from the sun and cell damage is sustained. This causes the body to increase blood flow to these areas, resulting in a red glow that feels warm to touch.

The severity of burns can vary and can affect whether the sunburn will turn into a tan. For less severe burns the skin will be warm, will burn, itch and feel tight. More severe burns may see the skin blister and start to peel, which will not only be very painful but will most likely prohibit the sunburn turning into a tan. 

Find out more about the severity levels of sunburn and the treatments here.

Once the skin is damaged from sunburn, the body produces additional melanin, which is responsible for the colour of our eyes, hair and skin, to try and repel any further damage. Six to 48 hours after the sunburn, this will potentially darken the skin.

When the skin is damaged by the sun, the sunburn may tan, but with every burn the chance of developing non-melanoma skin cancer increases. Sunburn can also lead to hyperpigmentation (darker patches of skin) and photoageing (when the skin ages prematurely).

As explained earlier in this article, it is best to avoid sunburn at all costs, but sometimes accidents can happen.

To reduce the chances of sunburn peeling and minimise other side effects, there are a several steps you should take to soothe burned skin:

• Take a cold shower or bath, or use a cold compress
• Apply an after-sun product, like the Eucerin Sensitive Relief After Sun Cream Gel
• Drink plenty of water
• Use aloe vera gel to reduce discomfort and moisturise the skin
• Consider taking some ibuprofen or paracetamol
• Do not pick at any blisters or peeling skin

The Eucerin Sensitive Relief After Sun Cream Gel is an aftercare cream with an antioxidant defence system to support skin regeneration. Suitable for all body types and face, it immediately soothes sun-stressed skin and works to repair sun-induced skin damage, with ingredients like Licocalcone A and Glycyrrhetinic Acid.

Read our in-depth advice about treating sunburn here.

The Eucerin Sun Range contains ingredients like Licocalcone A, which neutralises free radicals caused by HEVIS and UV light, and Glycyrrhetinic Acid, which supports the skin’s own DNA repair mechanism.

It's important to understand the risks of not protecting your skin from the sun, as well as the ways in which you can tan safely without having sunburn. Here are some tips below: 

• Use sunscreens with an SPF of 30+, such as the Eucerin Sun Face Hydro Protect Ultra-Light Fluid SPF 50+. 
• Change positions frequently to avoid burning one part of your body. 
• Take frequent breaks and seek shade to give your skin a rest. 
• Exfoliate your skin at least once a week to make your skin more resilient to sun exposure. 

Your skin type is the most prevailing factor on whether the sunburn turns into a tan. Those with pale white and very fair skin are the most likely to burn.

Those with darker skin are far more likely to tan and less at risk from sunburn. However, this does not mean that people with darker skin are immune to sunburn. It is still best practice to ensure you are well-protected from sunburn and correctly apply sunscreen, especially as it is still possible to tan whilst wearing sunscreen.

Our faces are often one of the first parts of the body to show visible signs of sun-induced skin damage such as sunburn. All the face products in Eucerin’s superior sun protection range include our innovative Advanced Spectral Technology to protect you from UV rays and help prevent sun-induced damage.

Advanced Spectral Technology combines broadband and photostable UVA and UVB filters* for very high UV protection with Licochalcone A to neutralise free radicals caused by UV and HEVIS light. 
 
*Meeting the high standards for UVA and UVB protection defined by Cosmetics Europe.