# What happens in a sunburn?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-a-sunburn/317603>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 18, 2005, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-a-sunburn/317603 "2005-08-18T16:55:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-a-sunburn/317603/1 "2005-08-18T16:55:50Z")

</div>

Why does the skin turn red?

What is the physiological cause of the burning itch sensation?

Why does the skin peel 4-7 after exposure?

I got a doozy of one this past weekend, and it’s had me asking these questions ever since…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-a-sunburn/317603/2 "2005-08-18T19:32:01Z")

</div>

> [@VunderBob](#):
>
> Why does the skin peel 4-7 after exposure?

:smack: … 4-7 \*\*_days_ \*\* after exposure?