Love getting a summer tan? Dermatologists reveal why severe sunburns should never be ignored

A summer afternoon spent chasing the perfect tan can have an unpleasant ending: bright-red skin, painful showers and several days when even putting on a T-shirt hurts. Eventually, the redness fades and the skin heals or at least appears to. But severe sunburn may leave a much longer mark. A large analysis published in JAMA Dermatology has found that people with a history of painful, blistering or severe sunburns had higher odds of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), one of the most common types of skin cancer.

What Did The Study Find on Sunburns?

The meta-analysis, led by dermatologist Isaac Weber and colleagues at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, combined findings from 17 studies involving more than 321,000 people. Researchers found that people reporting a medium frequency of severe sunburns over their lifetime had 51 per cent higher odds of developing cSCC compared with those reporting none. For those with a high frequency of severe burns, the figure rose to 69 per cent.

The association was particularly concerning when researchers looked at childhood. Frequent severe sunburns during childhood were associated with up to three times higher odds of cSCC later in life. The researchers were careful not to suggest that every bad sunburn will eventually cause cancer. They noted that the certainty of the available evidence remained low and that it can be difficult to separate the effects of individual burns from years of overall exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Another limitation is that many studies depend on people remembering sunburns that happened years or even decades earlier.

Why a Sunburn Isn't Just Temporary

The pain of sunburn might disappear quickly, but the biological damage behind it is more complicated. Ultraviolet radiation can damage DNA inside skin cells. Dr Adrienne Victor, an oncologist at the University of Rochester's Wilmot Cancer Institute, has explained that when the body tries to repair this damage, errors can sometimes occur. Over time, accumulated mutations can contribute to the development of skin cancer. The latest research adds to earlier evidence linking severe childhood sunburn with other skin cancers, including melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. In other words, peeling skin isn't the only consequence worth worrying about.

Sunscreen Myths Continue to Spread

Despite what researchers know about UV radiation, sunscreen isn't always used consistently. CivicScience data from 2026 found that 75 per cent of Americans surveyed said they used sunscreen at least occasionally, while 40 per cent said they did not reapply it. The research company also found that nearly one-quarter believed sunscreen itself was toxic. That concern isn't supported by evidence showing sunscreen causes skin cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration also recommends using sun-protective measures such as clothing, sunglasses and shade alongside broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, while the American Academy of Dermatology recommends broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher.

Childhood Sunburn Deserves Particular Attention

Children cannot always judge when they have spent too long in the sun, making adults responsible for much of their protection. Simple habits can make a difference: applying sunscreen before going outdoors, remembering to reapply it, seeking shade and covering exposed skin during prolonged periods outside. Those measures aren't only about avoiding a painful evening after a day at the beach.

The Burns in the Past Are Done

Nobody can travel back and put sunscreen on their childhood self. Having experienced severe sunburn also doesn't mean skin cancer is inevitable. What can change is the next exposure. A tan fades, so does the redness from a burn. But research continues to show why repeatedly damaging skin with ultraviolet radiation shouldn't be dismissed as an uncomfortable but harmless part of summer. The sunburns already suffered cannot be undone. The ones that haven't happened yet can still be prevented.