Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (610 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
An injury to the skin causing erythema, tenderness, and sometimes blistering and resulting from excessive exposure to the sun. The reaction is produced by the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Sunburns.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Photosensitivity Disorders; Burns
- See also
- Sunscreening Agents; Sunstroke
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 3,288 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Sunburn” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 456 of them (13.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 1,107 records.
Reviews account for 378 records (11.5%) and meta-analyses for 15. Randomized controlled trials number 185 (5.6%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 1,107 |
| 2000-2009 | 815 |
| 2010-2019 | 910 |
| 2020 onward | 456 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 378 | 11.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 15 | 0.5% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 185 | 5.6% |
Method: PubMed query "Sunburn"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in bones, joints, muscles and skin
Joint, bone, muscle and skin conditions are often judged by pain scores, function questionnaires, imaging or photographs, and symptoms can fluctuate, so placebo response and natural improvement matter. Imaging changes are common in people without symptoms. Nothing on this page is advice about treatment. Check how outcomes were measured, whether the comparison group received a placebo or usual care, and how long the benefit lasted.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-Induced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial | 2018 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 87 | cc by PMID 29941810 · DOI · PMC6073124 |
| Genome-wide association study in 176,678 Europeans reveals genetic loci for tanning response to sun exposure | 2018 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 82 | cc by PMID 29739929 · DOI · PMC5940788 |
| Polyphenols and Sunburn | 2016 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 35 | cc by PMID 27618035 · DOI · PMC5037798 |
| Impact of a Brief Educational Intervention on Parental Sun Safety Attitudes for Newborns | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42037452 · DOI · PMC13617174 |
The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-Induced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Skin is a major safeguard tissue in humans.
- Closing excerpt
- Astaxanthin seems protective against UV-induced skin deterioration and helps maintain healthy skin in healthy people.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (195 words)
Skin is a major safeguard tissue in humans. Because biological barrier function is deteriorated by several kinds of stresses including exposure to ultra-violet (UV) rays, the protection and treatment of skin conditions by dietary supplements are important. We therefore evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with an algal food-derived antioxidant, astaxanthin, on UV-induced skin deterioration. Twenty-three healthy Japanese participants were recruited to a 10-week double-blind placebo-controlled study. They were assigned to the astaxanthin group supplemented with a capsule containing 4 mg of astaxanthin or the placebo group. To assess the protective role of astaxanthin for UV-induced skin deterioration, we determined the minimal erythema dose (MED) and analyzed UV-induced changes of moisture and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at baseline and after 9 weeks of supplementation. Subjective skin conditions were assessed by the visual analog scale. The astaxanthin group showed increased MED compared with placebo. In addition, the astaxanthin group had a reduced loss of skin moisture in the irradiated area compared with placebo. Subjective skin conditions for “improvement of rough skin” and “texture” in non-irradiated areas were significantly improved by astaxanthin. Astaxanthin seems protective against UV-induced skin deterioration and helps maintain healthy skin in healthy people.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29941810 · DOI · PMC6073124
Genome-wide association study in 176,678 Europeans reveals genetic loci for tanning response to sun exposure [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The skin's tendency to sunburn rather than tan is a major risk factor for skin cancer.
- Closing excerpt
- Our results also suggest that variants at the AHR/AGR3 locus, previously associated with cutaneous malignant melanoma the underlying mechanism of which is poorly understood, might act on disease risk through modulation of tanning ability.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (104 words)
The skin's tendency to sunburn rather than tan is a major risk factor for skin cancer. Here we report a large genome-wide association study of ease of skin tanning in 176,678 subjects of European ancestry. We identify significant association with tanning ability at 20 loci. We confirm previously identified associations at six of these loci, and report 14 novel loci, of which ten have never been associated with pigmentation-related phenotypes. Our results also suggest that variants at the AHR/AGR3 locus, previously associated with cutaneous malignant melanoma the underlying mechanism of which is poorly understood, might act on disease risk through modulation of tanning ability.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29739929 · DOI · PMC5940788
Polyphenols and Sunburn [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Polyphenols are antioxidant molecules found in many foods such as green tea, chocolate, grape seeds, and wine.
- Closing excerpt
- However, current studies are limited and further research is necessary to evaluate the efficacy, mechanism of action, and potential side effects of various forms and concentrations of polyphenols.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (225 words)
Polyphenols are antioxidant molecules found in many foods such as green tea, chocolate, grape seeds, and wine. Polyphenols have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic properties. Growing evidence suggests that polyphenols may be used for the prevention of sunburns as polyphenols decrease the damaging effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation on the skin. This review was conducted to examine the evidence for use of topically and orally ingested polyphenols in prevention of sunburns. The PubMed database was searched for studies that examined polyphenols and its effects on sunburns. Of the 27 studies found, 15 met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies were conducted on human subjects and eight on animals (mice and rats). Eleven studies evaluated the effects of topical polyphenols, two studies examined ingested polyphenols, and two studies examined both topical and ingested polyphenols. Polyphenol sources included the following plant origins: green tea, white tea, cocoa, Romanian propolis (RP), Calluna vulgaris (Cv), grape seeds, honeybush, and Lepidium meyenii (maca). Eight studies examined green tea. Overall, based on the studies, there is evidence that polyphenols in both oral and topical form may provide protection from UV damage and sunburn, and thus are beneficial to skin health. However, current studies are limited and further research is necessary to evaluate the efficacy, mechanism of action, and potential side effects of various forms and concentrations of polyphenols.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 27618035 · DOI · PMC5037798
Impact of a Brief Educational Intervention on Parental Sun Safety Attitudes for Newborns [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Early-life sun exposure accounts for a substantial portion of lifetime UV damage, with much of lifetime risk acquired before age 20 years.
- Closing excerpt
- A brief, targeted educational session significantly improved parental attitudes toward sun safety and increased their intention to adopt recommended photoprotective behaviors.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (86 words)
Early-life sun exposure accounts for a substantial portion of lifetime UV damage, with much of lifetime risk acquired before age 20 years. Despite clear pediatric and dermatology guidelines, many parents remain unsure of what optimal sun protection means, highlighting the need for accessible education and intervention. In our study, parents expressed strong interest in learning how to protect their newborns but lacked clear, actionable guidance. A brief, targeted educational session significantly improved parental attitudes toward sun safety and increased their intention to adopt recommended photoprotective behaviors.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42037452 · DOI · PMC13617174
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article The protective role of melanin against UV damage in human skin [5]
- Research article Sunscreens: are they beneficial for health? An overview of endocrine disrupting properties of UV-filters [6]
- Research article Sunburns and risk of cutaneous melanoma: does age matter? A comprehensive meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Prevalence of sunburn, sun protection, and indoor tanning behaviors among Americans: review from national surveys and case studies of 3 states [8]
- Research article Photoprotection [9]
- Research article Sun exposure and risk of melanoma [10]
References
- Ito N, Seki S, Ueda F. The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-Induced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. . 2018. PMID 29941810 · DOI · PMC6073124
- Visconti A, Duffy DL, Liu F, Zhu G, Wu W, Chen Y, et al.. Genome-wide association study in 176,678 Europeans reveals genetic loci for tanning response to sun exposure. . 2018. PMID 29739929 · DOI · PMC5940788
- Saric S, Sivamani RK. Polyphenols and Sunburn. . 2016. PMID 27618035 · DOI · PMC5037798
- Kothari A, Gwyn K, Khatib-Shahidi B, Shafau F, Buzney E. Impact of a Brief Educational Intervention on Parental Sun Safety Attitudes for Newborns. . 2026. PMID 42037452 · DOI · PMC13617174
- Brenner M, Hearing VJ. The protective role of melanin against UV damage in human skin. Photochem Photobiol. 2008. PMID 18435612 · DOI · PMC2671032
- Krause M, Klit A, Blomberg Jensen M, Søeborg T, Frederiksen H, Schlumpf M, et al.. Sunscreens: are they beneficial for health? An overview of endocrine disrupting properties of UV-filters. Int J Androl. 2012. PMID 22612478 · DOI
- Dennis LK, Vanbeek MJ, Beane Freeman LE, Smith BJ, Dawson DV, Coughlin JA. Sunburns and risk of cutaneous melanoma: does age matter? A comprehensive meta-analysis. Ann Epidemiol. 2008. PMID 18652979 · DOI · PMC2873840
- Buller DB, Cokkinides V, Hall HI, Hartman AM, Saraiya M, Miller E, et al.. Prevalence of sunburn, sun protection, and indoor tanning behaviors among Americans: review from national surveys and case studies of 3 states. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011. PMID 22018060 · DOI
- Kullavanijaya P, Lim HW. Photoprotection. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005. PMID 15928611 · DOI
- Oliveria SA, Saraiya M, Geller AC, Heneghan MK, Jorgensen C. Sun exposure and risk of melanoma. Arch Dis Child. 2006. PMID 16326797 · DOI · PMC2082713
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.