Sunburn treatment in Patong
Patong sits close to the equator, and the sun here is far stronger than most visitors expect. People who tan easily at home get badly burned on day one, often on a cloudy day, because cloud cover does very little to reduce UV. Sunburn treatment in Patong is available at our clinic 24 hours a day, and severe sunburn is a burn injury rather than an inconvenience.
When sunburn needs a doctor
Come in if you have blistering over a large area, if the burn covers most of your back, chest or legs, if you have a fever or chills, if you feel dizzy, sick or confused, if the skin is very swollen, or if a child or older person is badly burned.
Those symptoms point to more than sore skin. Fever, nausea and confusion with sunburn suggest sun poisoning or heat illness, which needs treating properly and quickly.
What to do right away
Get out of the sun completely, not into partial shade. Cool the skin with cool showers or damp cloths, but not ice. Drink considerably more water than usual, because burned skin loses fluid rapidly and dehydration follows quietly.
Apply plain moisturiser or pure aloe vera to intact skin. Avoid products containing lidocaine or benzocaine, which sound helpful and often cause reactions on damaged skin. Do not use oil or butter, which trap heat.
Blisters
Blistering means a partial thickness burn, which is deeper than simple redness. Leave blisters intact wherever possible, because the skin over the top acts as a natural sterile dressing and protects against infection.
Where blisters are very large, or where they have already burst and loose skin is catching on clothing, we manage them properly, trim what needs trimming under sterile conditions and dress the area. That is much safer than picking at them in a hotel bathroom.
How we treat severe sunburn
We treat the pain, which is often underestimated. Anti-inflammatory medicine helps in the first day or two, and we give stronger relief where needed. Steroid cream settles severe inflammation on unbroken skin.
If you are dehydrated, we rehydrate you, sometimes with an IV drip if you have been vomiting or cannot drink enough. We dress blistered areas, watch for infection, and give clear instructions for the following days.
Sun poisoning and heat illness
Severe sunburn frequently arrives together with heat exhaustion, because the same afternoon caused both. If you have headache, nausea, dizziness, a rapid pulse or feel faint alongside the burn, tell us. Treating the skin while ignoring the dehydration underneath is only half the job.
Infection risk afterwards
Burned, peeling skin is broken skin, and in this climate it can become infected. Watch for increasing pain after day two, spreading redness beyond the burn, discharge, or fever. Keep the area clean, avoid the sea and pools while it is raw, and cover it properly.
Protecting yourself for the rest of the trip
The sun here is strongest between 10am and 4pm, which is exactly when most people are on the beach. Use factor 50, apply it thickly, and reapply every two hours and after every swim. Water and sand reflect UV upward, so shade under an umbrella is not full protection. Once burned, the skin stays sensitive for weeks and needs covering rather than more sunscreen.
Common questions about sunburn treatment in Patong
Should I pop sunburn blisters?
No. Leave them intact. If they are large or already broken, let us manage them sterilely.
How long does severe sunburn take to heal?
Redness settles in three to five days. Blistered burns take one to two weeks and peel afterwards.
Can I go back in the sea?
Not while skin is blistered or broken. Salt water stings badly and adds infection risk.
How much does treatment cost?
It depends on severity and whether you need dressings or fluids. Message us for a quote.
Can a doctor come to my hotel?
Yes, which many people prefer when moving hurts and clothing is unbearable.