What are sunburns?

Sunburns are when your skin gets too hot from the sun and starts to feel sore or red.

Imagine you're playing outside on a really hot day, and you forget to wear sunscreen. The sun is like a big, bright light that shines down on you, and it has tiny particles called ultraviolet rays that can make your skin feel like it's getting a little too warm, kind of like when you sit in the sun for too long and your face feels all toasty.

Your skin is like a blanket that covers your body, and sometimes it needs help blocking the heat from the sun. When there’s no sunscreen or shade to help out, those ultraviolet rays can go straight through your skin and make it feel hot and angry, which is why you get red, sore patches.

It's like when you leave your favorite toy in the sun for too long, and it gets all warm and maybe even a little crispy. Your skin feels that way too, but instead of being crispy, it feels like it’s been hugged by a big, hot blanket.