Sunburn duration depends on the severity of the burn:

• Mild sunburns usually cause redness and some pain and typically last about 3 to 5 days

• Moderate sunburns can cause redness, swelling, and heat to the touch, often peeling skin, and generally take about a week to heal fully

. Peeling may start around 3 days after the burn and can last up to two weeks depending on severity

• Severe sunburns involve painful blistering, intense redness, and symptoms like nausea or fever. These can take up to 2 weeks or sometimes longer (even 2 to 3 weeks) to fully recover and may require medical attention

Sunburn redness typically develops within a few hours after sun exposure, peaks around 24 hours, and then fades over several days, but more severe burns may have prolonged redness and pain

. Swelling from sunburn can last up to two days

. Overall, most sunburns heal within 3 to 7 days, but severe cases can take up to two weeks or more

. Despite symptom resolution, the skin damage and increased risk of skin cancer can be long-lasting. If symptoms such as severe pain, blistering, fever, dehydration, or extensive coverage occur, medical advice should be sought

. In summary, sunburns last:

• Mild: 3–5 days
• Moderate: About 1 week (with peeling possibly lasting longer)
• Severe: Up to 2 weeks or more

Pain and redness usually peak within 24 hours and then gradually improve