How to Soothe Painful Sunburned Lips (And Prevent Further Damage) (2025)

By now, you know that applying sunscreen is important. And yet, you're not immune to a sunburn. Whether yours is the result of falling asleep at the beach unexpectedly or your moisturizer with SPF just not cutting it, the damage is real. While you may be vigilant about applying sunscreen to your face, it's not the only area of your body that you should be protecting. Interestingly, one area that often goes neglected—on the face—is your lips. Regardless of how you got your sunburned lips, the result can be painful and is best avoided. Fortunately, there are ways to treat the common condition that don't require much.

To find out more, InStyle turned to dermatologists Jeannette Graf, M.D., and Michael I. Jacobs, M.D. Not only did the experts share how you can heal sunburnt lips, but they also provided tips for preventing them in the first place. Keep reading to learn what they had to say.

Why Lips Are Prone to Sunburn

Before diving into how to treat your sunburned lips, you have to understand how sunburn can happen there in the first place. According to Dr. Graf, the skin on our lips is more delicate than on other parts of the body, making it very sensitive to sun damage. Dr. Jacobs agrees and adds that our lips also have less melanin than other parts of our bodies, which adds to our susceptibility to burn.

Another reason our lips get sunburned is that people often forget that they too need SPF protection. "Many people also neglect to apply sun protection to their lips," says Dr. Graf. "In addition, the movement of the lips while speaking, drinking, eating, and licking our lips removes the SPF which has been applied. That makes constant reapplication of SPF lip balm very important."

How to Tell If Your Lips Are Sunburned

It's not that hard to tell whether your lips are sunburned or not. Dr. Graf explains that the symptoms of sunburned lips are very similar to ones of chapped lips. "You may experience flaking, dryness, and sensitivity," she says. "They may be blistered and red, which is an early sign that lips are sun-damaged." If your lips are severely sunburnt, they may swell, too.

When to See a Doctor

If your lips are severely swollen, itchy, developing a rash, or extra painful, reach out to your doctor. These are all signs that whatever your experiencing is more serious than a sunburn.

Protecting Lips Against the Sun

While it may be tempting to just use your daily face SPF (or even your body one), both experts discourage it. "I wouldn’t recommend using body or face SPF on your lips as there may be ingredients that are harmful for ingestion, which can happen when products are applied to the lips," says Dr. Graf. "Due to the type of skin on lips and ease of rubbing product off, a lip balm [with SPF] is preferable."

If you're looking for a good SPF-infused lip balm, try the Vacation After Dinner Mint lip balm or the Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Sunscreen Lip Balm.

How to Treat Sunburned Lips

The best way to treat sunburned lips is to use products that will hydrate and keep inflammation down. Dr. Graf says to look for products that replenish moisture in the lips, such as shea butter and aloe vera, or take an anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen to reduce any swelling and provide relief.

She also recommends taking vitamins. Studies have shown that vitamin D3 taken one hour after sunburn can help reduce its symptoms. Other things you can do, says Dr. Jacobs, include applying cool compresses of water, milk, or aloe vera for that hydration.

The Final Takeaway

While the lips are often neglected when it comes to sun protection, our experts advise paying close attention to this delicate area of skin. Not only is a lip sunburn painful, but it's super harmful because the skin on the lips is thinner and lacks melanin to protect it from the sun. To protect the lips adequately, find a good SPF-infused lip balm formula and reapply it constantly. Talking, eating, and drinking mean SPF around the lip area will wear off quickly, so it needs to be reapplied to stay protected. If you've already found yourself with sunburnt lips, reach for products that will soothe the inflammation, like aloe vera or shea butter. An anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen can also help with the lingering discomfort.