Sunshine is one of the pleasures of travelling, whether you’re on a road trip, heading out for a long walk or spending weeks living from a van or campervan. The downside is that sunburn can catch you out surprisingly quickly, even if you’ve got plenty of miles under your tyres. Most sunburn gets better within about seven days, but it can still make the next few days of a trip uncomfortable.
If you do get burnt, a few simple steps can make things more comfortable while your skin recovers. Van and campervan travellers may have fewer cooling options than they would at home, so it helps to know what is genuinely useful and what is better avoided.
Why Sunburn Matters on the Road
Sunburn is damage to the skin caused by too much sun. It can leave your skin hot, sore and painful, and a bad case can quickly take the enjoyment out of walking, sightseeing or a driving day.
Severe sunburn can also be associated with heat exhaustion and heatstroke, so feeling seriously unwell after spending time in the sun shouldn’t simply be put down to having had a bit too much sunshine.
Quick and Practical Tips for Immediate Sunburn Relief
Cool it Down
Your first move should be getting out of the sun and gently cooling the affected skin.
- Cool Compresses: Use a cool, damp towel on the burnt area. Avoid ice or ice packs directly on sunburnt skin.
- Cool Showers: A short, cool shower or bath can help soothe hot, uncomfortable skin.
Hydrate Your Body
Hot weather and long days outdoors can leave you short of fluids as well as sunburnt.
- Drink Plenty of Water: Keep your water bottle topped up and avoid alcohol while you’re recovering.
- After Heavy Sweating: If you’ve also been sweating heavily or dealing with dehydration, a suitable rehydration drink may be useful. Water should still be your starting point.
- Eat Hydrating Foods: Watermelon, cucumbers and oranges are easy options if you already have them in your food box.
Keep Sunburn Care Simple
You don’t need to raid the van kitchen for elaborate home remedies. Aftersun or an unperfumed moisturiser is the simpler option. Aloe vera aftersun can also feel soothing, particularly if you’ve kept it somewhere cool.
When to Get Medical Help
Get urgent medical advice if the sunburn is blistered or badly swollen, or if you develop a very high temperature, shivering, marked tiredness, dizziness, sickness, headache or muscle cramps. A baby or young child with sunburn should also receive urgent medical advice.
Essential Vanlife Sunburn Gear
A few basics are worth keeping within easy reach, whether they live permanently in the van or just come along for summer trips.
- Sunscreen: Choose at least SPF 30 with at least 4-star UVA protection. As a rough guide, an adult covering their whole body needs around 6 to 8 teaspoons.
- Wide-brimmed Hat and Sunglasses: Useful for protecting your face, neck and eyes during walks, days out and sunny drives.
- Lightweight Cover-ups: A loose, breathable shirt or similar layer gives your skin another line of defence when you’ve had enough sun.
- Aftersun or Unperfumed Moisturiser: Keep a straightforward option available rather than relying on improvised treatments once you’re already burnt.
One particularly useful road-trip habit is not leaving sunscreen baking in a hot vehicle. Extreme heat can damage it, so follow the storage instructions and keep it away from places such as a hot dashboard or direct sunlight.
Seasonal Advice and Safety Tips
- Summer Caution: In the UK, the sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm from March to October. If you’re travelling abroad, check the local UV index rather than assuming the same timings apply everywhere.
- Know Your Environment: Water, sand and snow can reflect UV, increasing your exposure even when conditions don’t feel especially fierce.
- Altitude Awareness: UV levels increase with altitude, something worth remembering on mountain walks and road trips through higher ground.
- Take Extra Care with Children: Babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight, while older children need the same combination of shade, suitable clothing and sunscreen as adults.
Handling Common Sunburn Challenges in Vanlife
- Sleeping Comfortably: Choose loose, breathable bedding and clothing that won’t rub sore skin. A portable fan can help with airflow when the van is warm.
- Limited Space: You don’t need a cupboard full of specialist products. Water, sunscreen, a hat, suitable cover-ups and a simple aftersun or moisturiser cover the basics without taking over your storage.
- Pain Management: Non-prescription painkillers such as ibuprofen can help with sunburn pain and inflammation. Follow the instructions that come with the medicine and only take it if it is suitable for you.
Useful Tips When You’re Away From Home
- Ask a Pharmacist: If you’re unsure what to use, a local pharmacist can advise on suitable sunburn treatments and whether you need further medical help.
- Cooling Towels: A damp cooling towel takes up little room and can be useful when you want something cool and comfortable against the skin.
- Check Your Medicines: Some medicines can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Read the patient information leaflet and ask a pharmacist or other healthcare professional if you’re unsure.
Sunburn Prevention for Next Time
- Reapply Sunscreen: Reapply it at least every two hours, as well as after swimming, towel drying, sweating or when it may have rubbed off.
- Monitor the UV Index: Check UV levels on a weather app or website before planning a long walk, beach day or other outdoor activity.
- Use Shade as Well as Sunscreen: Take regular shade breaks and use whatever practical shade you have available. For van and campervan travellers, that might include an awning or sunshade when appropriate.
- Cover Up: Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection. Hats, sunglasses and suitable clothing matter too, especially when you’re outdoors for hours at a time.
Final Thoughts
Sunburn can put a dampener on a trip, particularly when you’re living out of a vehicle and don’t have all the comforts of home close at hand. Fortunately, the basics are simple: get out of the sun, cool the skin gently, drink plenty of water and give yourself time to recover.
Better still, keep sunscreen, cover-ups and water easy to reach rather than buried at the back of the van. Even with the best intentions, the sun occasionally gets the better of us. A little preparation makes it much easier to deal with when it does.