How to Prepare for a Telemedicine Visit About Sunburn

Audience: adult

Sunburn is a common skin injury caused by too much sun exposure. It can cause redness, pain, and sometimes blisters. Many mild to moderate sunburns can be managed with home care and advice from a healthcare provider through telemedicine. Preparing well for your telemedicine visit can help you get the best care possible. This includes having clear photos of the affected skin, knowing your symptoms, and understanding when to seek urgent in-person care. Telemedicine can guide you on how to relieve pain, prevent infection, and care for your skin as it heals. However, severe sunburns, signs of infection, or symptoms like fever and confusion usually need in-person medical attention. This guide will help you prepare for your telemedicine visit about sunburn, understand what telemedicine can and cannot do, and know the red flags that require urgent care.

Red flags — go in person / ER

• Sunburn with large, painful blisters covering a wide area — seek urgent in-person care.
• Signs of infection such as increasing redness, warmth, pus, or red streaks near the sunburn — get medical evaluation immediately.
• High fever (above 38°C or 100.4°F), chills, confusion, dizziness, or fainting — call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department.

What telemedicine can do

• Assessing mild to moderate sunburn severity via visual inspection and symptom discussion.
• Providing advice on home care, pain relief, and hydration.
• Guidance on preventing infection and skin care during healing.
• Determining if in-person care is needed based on symptoms and risks.

What telemedicine cannot do

• Performing physical examinations or procedures such as wound cleaning or dressing changes.
• Diagnosing or treating severe sunburn complications like infections requiring antibiotics.
• Managing systemic symptoms like high fever or dehydration that require emergency care.
• Ordering or interpreting laboratory tests or imaging studies.

What to Expect During Your Telemedicine Visit

During your telemedicine visit, a healthcare provider will ask about your sunburn symptoms, such as pain, redness, swelling, and any blisters. They may ask about your medical history and any medications you are taking. You will likely be asked to show clear images of your sunburned skin using your device's camera. This helps the provider assess the severity of your sunburn and recommend the best care. They may advise on pain relief, skin care, and hydration. The provider can also help you decide if you need to see a healthcare professional in person.

How to Prepare for Your Telemedicine Visit

Before your visit, gather important information and materials:

When to Seek In-Person Care

Some sunburns need urgent medical attention. Seek in-person care if you notice:

How to Care for Sunburn at Home

For mild to moderate sunburns, you can often manage symptoms at home with guidance from your telemedicine provider:

Limitations of Telemedicine for Sunburn

Telemedicine can provide valuable advice and support for many sunburn cases. However, it cannot replace hands-on medical care when needed. Telemedicine cannot perform physical treatments, laboratory tests, or emergency interventions. If your sunburn is severe or if complications develop, your provider will recommend that you seek in-person care promptly.

How to prepare for your tele-visit

• Take clear photos of the sunburned skin in good lighting.
• Write down when the sunburn happened and how symptoms have changed.
• List your current symptoms including pain level, blistering, or fever.
• Prepare a list of medications and skin products you are using.
• Find a quiet, well-lit place with a stable internet connection for your visit.
• Have water nearby to stay hydrated during the consultation.

After your tele-visit

• Follow the healthcare provider’s advice on skin care and pain management.
• Use recommended moisturizers or aloe vera to soothe the skin.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed if needed.
• Avoid sun exposure until the skin has healed.
• Watch for worsening symptoms or signs of infection and seek in-person care if they occur.
• Stay hydrated and rest as needed for recovery.

FAQs

Can telemedicine help me if my sunburn has blisters?

Telemedicine can help assess the severity of blisters through video or photos and provide advice on how to care for them at home. However, if blisters are large, painful, or show signs of infection, you may need to see a healthcare provider in person.

What should I do if my sunburn is very painful?

You can often manage pain with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Applying cool compresses and moisturizing lotions may also help. If pain is severe or does not improve, contact your healthcare provider for further advice.

Is it safe to use aloe vera or lotions on sunburned skin?

Yes, applying aloe vera or gentle moisturizing lotions can soothe sunburned skin and help with healing. Avoid lotions with fragrances or alcohol, which may irritate the skin.

When should I go to the emergency room for sunburn?

Seek emergency care if you have large blisters covering a wide area, signs of infection, high fever, confusion, dizziness, or fainting. These symptoms may indicate serious complications requiring immediate treatment.

Can telemedicine prescribe medications for sunburn?

Telemedicine providers can often recommend or prescribe medications such as pain relievers or topical treatments if appropriate. However, prescriptions depend on your symptoms and local regulations.

Sources

1. Sunburn - MedlinePlus — U.S. National Library of Medicine / National Institutes of Health.
2. Sunburn: First Aid - Mayo Clinic — Mayo Clinic.
3. Sunburn - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
4. Sunburn - Merck Manuals Consumer Version — Merck & Co., Inc..

This telemedicine guidance is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional in-person medical care. If you have severe symptoms, signs of infection, or urgent health concerns, seek immediate medical attention.