Beaches, boat trips, waterfalls and long walks through the city: the Brazilian sun is part of the trip, and it is strong. If you have sunburn in Brazil, or you feel dizzy and drained after a day outdoors, this guide explains what genuinely helps, what to ask for at a Brazilian pharmacy, how to tell heat exhaustion from heatstroke, and how to be assessed by a doctor in English without leaving your hotel.
Quick answer: get out of the sun, cool your skin with a cool shower or a damp towel, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and keep the burned skin covered until it heals. Mild sunburn usually gets better within 7 days. Blisters, fever, chills, dizziness or vomiting after sun exposure deserve a medical assessment; if you are unsure, book an online consultation in English. Confusion, hot dry skin or fainting is an emergency: call 192.
Why sunburn in Brazil catches so many travelers
Brazil's federal cancer institute, INCA, points out that the tropical climate, the many beaches and the idea that a tan looks good all encourage excessive sun exposure, which is the main risk factor for skin cancer; in Brazil, non-melanoma skin cancer is the most frequent tumor in both men and women (INCA on sun exposure). INCA also explains that ultraviolet radiation reaches you in three ways: directly, scattered across an open sky and reflected from your surroundings. That is why a beach umbrella alone does not fully protect you.
A practical tool is the UV index, shown in many weather apps. According to the World Health Organization, the daily peak occurs in the four hours around solar noon. From a UV index of 3, protection is recommended; from 8 upward, the advice is to avoid being outside during the midday hours.
Symptoms of sunburn
According to the NHS, sunburned skin may:
- feel hot to the touch;
- feel sore or painful;
- flake or peel, usually a few days later;
- blister, when the sunburn is severe.
On white skin it usually looks red or pink. On black or brown skin the color change may not be noticeable, so pay attention to heat, pain and tenderness.
What to do for sunburn in Brazil
What helps
- get out of the sun as soon as possible;
- cool the skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towel (take care not to let a baby or young child get too cold);
- apply an after-sun product or an unperfumed moisturizer;
- drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, to cool down and prevent dehydration;
- keep the sunburned skin covered from direct sunlight until it has fully healed.
What to avoid
- petroleum jelly on sunburned skin;
- ice or ice packs directly on the skin;
- popping blisters, scratching or pulling off peeling skin;
- tight clothes over the burned area.
Source: NHS guidance on sunburn. If the pain is bothering you, ask the pharmacist which product is suitable for you, and mention your allergies, other medicines, pregnancy or chronic conditions. Do not take medicines recommended by friends without checking first.
Sunburn in Brazil: words to use at the pharmacy
- "Queimadura de sol" – sunburn;
- "Pós-sol" – after-sun;
- "Hidratante sem perfume" – unperfumed moisturizer;
- "Protetor solar" – sunscreen;
- "Precisa de receita?" – Does it need a prescription?
Need a pharmacy late at night? See how to find a 24-hour pharmacy in Brazil.
Heat exhaustion or heatstroke: know the difference
A long day in the sun can cause more than a burn. The NHS explains that heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency help if the person can cool down within 30 minutes, but heatstroke must be treated as an emergency.
Signs of heat exhaustion
- tiredness, dizziness or headache;
- nausea or vomiting;
- heavy sweating, with pale, clammy skin;
- cramps in the arms, legs or stomach;
- a high temperature, intense thirst or irritability.
Brazil's Ministry of Health lists similar warning signs during heat waves (heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, muscle cramps and diarrhea) and advises seeking a health service for assessment when they appear (heat-wave guidance).
How to cool someone down
- Move to a cool place.
- Remove unnecessary clothing.
- Drink plenty of water; oral rehydration salts ("sais de reidratação oral") mixed with water help replace the salt lost in sweat.
- Cool the skin: spray or sponge with cool water and fan; cold packs wrapped in a cloth under the armpits or on the neck also help.
The person should start to feel better within 30 minutes (NHS steps). If not, treat it as possible heatstroke.
Signs of heatstroke: an emergency
- still unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place, cooling down and drinking fluids;
- a very high temperature, with hot skin that is not sweating;
- a fast heartbeat, or fast breathing or shortness of breath;
- confusion or lack of coordination;
- a seizure or loss of consciousness.
Call 192 (SAMU), the public emergency ambulance service. While you wait, wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet, or fan them and sponge them with cold water. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
When to see a doctor
The NHS advises urgent medical advice when, after time in the sun:
- the skin is blistered or swollen;
- the temperature is very high, or the person feels hot, cold or shivery;
- there is intense tiredness, dizziness or nausea;
- there is a headache or muscle cramps;
- a baby or young child has sunburn.
Severe sunburn can lead to heat exhaustion and heatstroke (NHS). Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with heart, kidney, respiratory or circulatory conditions or diabetes are more vulnerable to heat (Ministry of Health).
How an online consultation with PresençaMed International works
- Book and pay on the website: choose a time on the booking page. One price per consultation: US$ 50, by card (international cards accepted) or Pix. No CPF needed; your passport details are enough.
- At the time you chose, the doctor contacts you on WhatsApp and starts the video call.
- The consultation is in English or Spanish, every day from 8am to 10pm Brazil time (GMT-3), with a physician registered with the CRM.
- If the doctor considers it appropriate, prescriptions and documents are sent by e-mail. Most prescriptions are digital, including Brazil's blue (B1) and yellow (A) forms — PresençaMed already issues them digitally. B2 prescriptions are not issued.
A prescription is never guaranteed in advance: it always depends on the doctor's assessment, and sometimes the right recommendation is an in-person examination. Questions before booking? Use the form on our frequently asked questions page (please do not include clinical details there; health data is shared only in the consultation, under medical confidentiality and Brazil's data protection law).
Telehealth is authorized throughout Brazil, and the physician may always decide that in-person care is needed (Brazilian telehealth law). See also what to do in a medical emergency in Brazil and what to pack for health peace of mind on a trip to Brazil.
Preventing sunburn in Brazil for the rest of your trip
- check the UV index each morning and plan beach time and hikes for the early morning or late afternoon, as Brazil's Ministry of Health recommends in hot weather;
- at a UV index of 3 or more, seek shade at midday and use a shirt, sunscreen and a hat; at 8 or more, avoid being outside during the midday hours (WHO);
- wear light-colored, loose clothing and drink water regularly, even before you feel thirsty;
- limit alcohol and avoid extreme exercise in the heat (NHS);
- take extra care with children: INCA notes that childhood is a particularly vulnerable phase for the harmful effects of the sun.
Frequently asked questions about sunburn in Brazil
How long does sunburn take to heal?
Mild sunburn usually gets better within 7 days. Peeling often starts a few days after the burn.
Can I go back to the beach with sunburn?
The NHS advises keeping sunburned skin covered from direct sunlight until it has fully healed.
Should I pop the blisters?
No. Do not pop blisters or pull off peeling skin. Blistered or swollen skin is a reason to seek medical advice.
Does sunburn increase the risk of skin cancer?
Yes. Getting sunburned can increase the risk of skin cancer, and INCA identifies excessive sun exposure as its main risk factor.
Can an online consultation help?
Often, when there are no emergency signs. The doctor assesses you by video, can look at the affected skin on camera and decides whether online care is enough or you should be examined in person.
Sunburn or heat spoiling your plans? Book an online consultation
Book your online consultation with a physician registered with the CRM, in English or Spanish, by video, every day from 8am to 10pm Brazil time. US$ 50 per consultation. Any prescription, certificate or report depends on the doctor's assessment.
Medical review: Dr. Marcelo R. Luján, Physician, CRM-SC 42.900, postgraduate in Family and Community Medicine (UNIFESP). Technical director of PresençaMed (Lujan e Perazolo Pera Serviços Médicos LTDA, CRM-SC PJ 14623). This content is general information and does not replace an individual consultation. Intense symptoms, or symptoms that worsen quickly, require in-person care or an emergency service (call 192, SAMU).