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Sunburn and heat stroke are different problems that often happen on the same hot day. Most sunburn heals within a week with cooling, moisturiser and fluids. Heat exhaustion improves within 30 minutes of cooling down. Heatstroke does not: hot skin, confusion, a very high temperature or collapse is an emergency, so call 112.
Why Istanbul's sun catches visitors out
Istanbul summers are hot and often humid, and sightseeing keeps you outdoors for hours. A breezy ferry ride on the Bosphorus feels cool while the sun and the reflection off the water burn your skin. Rooftop terraces, open-air queues at major sights and island trips add more exposure than people expect.
Children, older travellers, people with fair skin and anyone taking medicines that increase sun sensitivity, including some antibiotics, need extra care.
Treating sunburn
Sunburn makes skin red or darker, hot, sore and sometimes blistered. NHS guidance suggests:
- Get out of the sun and cool your skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towel.
- Apply after-sun cream or aloe vera gel; a pharmacist (Eczane) can recommend one. "Güneş sonrası losyon" means after-sun lotion.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Ask a pharmacist about pain relief, and mention any conditions or medicines.
- Leave blisters alone and cover the area loosely.
- Keep the burned skin out of the sun until it has healed.
Most sunburn settles within about seven days.
When sunburn needs a doctor
See a doctor, at your accommodation or a clinic, if:
- Large areas are blistering or very swollen
- You have chills, a high temperature, or feel hot and shivery
- You feel dizzy, sick or have a headache, which can mean heat exhaustion
- A baby or young child is sunburned
- The skin looks infected: increasing redness, warmth, pus or red streaks
A doctor visit at your hotel avoids a trip through the heat when you feel unwell.
Heat exhaustion: cool down fast
Heat exhaustion is the body struggling to cope with heat. NHS guidance lists headache, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, heavy sweating with pale clammy skin, cramps in the arms, legs or stomach, fast breathing or pulse, a high temperature and intense thirst.
It is not usually serious if the person cools down within 30 minutes:
- Move them to a cool place, such as shade or an air-conditioned room.
- Lie them down and raise their feet slightly.
- Give plenty of water or a rehydration drink.
- Cool their skin with cold water and fan them; cool packs around the armpits or neck help.
Stay with them until they are better. Our guide to dehydration in Istanbul's summer heat explains how to prevent it.
Preventing sunburn and heat illness
Prevention is far easier than treatment, and a few habits protect a whole holiday:
- Plan around the midday sun. Between about 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in summer, choose museums, covered bazaars, mosques and long lunches in the shade.
- Use sunscreen properly. Apply a high-factor, broad-spectrum sunscreen generously before going out, and reapply after swimming, sweating and towelling. Most people use far less than they need.
- Cover up. A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and loose, light clothing protect better than sunscreen alone, especially on ferries.
- Drink before you are thirsty. Carry water and refill it; tea and alcohol do not replace it.
- Take the first days gently. Your body adjusts to heat over several days, so do not plan the longest walking day for the day you land.
- Check on others. Children, older relatives and anyone with heart, lung or kidney conditions can become unwell more quickly.
Useful words in the heat
- Güneş yanığı: sunburn
- Güneş kremi: sunscreen
- Sıcak çarpması: heatstroke
- Su: water
- Başım dönüyor: I feel dizzy
Medicines and the heat
Some regular medicines make heat illness more likely or the skin more sensitive to the sun, including water tablets, some blood pressure and heart medicines, some antibiotics and some acne treatments. If you take any of these, ask your doctor or pharmacist before the trip how to manage hot days, and never stop a regular medicine on your own. Keep medicines out of direct sun and hot cars, as heat can damage them.
Heatstroke is an emergency
If someone is still unwell after 30 minutes of cooling, or shows any of these signs, it may be heatstroke:
- Feeling unwell despite cooling and drinking
- A very high temperature
- Hot skin that is not sweating
- Fast breathing or shortness of breath
- Confusion, a lack of coordination or slurred speech
- A seizure
- Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
Related Services
- Hotel Doctor in Istanbul — an examination at your hotel, Airbnb or residence.
- Hydration Therapy — fluids by drip when a clinician decides drinking is not enough.
- Travel Health Essentials — travel basics delivered to your accommodation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I treat bad sunburn on holiday?
- Get out of the sun, cool the skin, apply after-sun or aloe vera, drink water and ask a pharmacist about pain relief. See a doctor for widespread blisters, fever or chills.
- What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
- Heat exhaustion improves within 30 minutes of cooling down and drinking. Heatstroke does not, and causes hot dry skin, confusion, seizures or collapse. Heatstroke is an emergency.
- When should I see a doctor for sunburn?
- If large areas blister or swell, you have a fever or chills, you feel dizzy or sick, the skin looks infected, or a baby or child is burned.
- How do I avoid sunburn in Istanbul?
- Use a high-factor sunscreen and reapply it, wear a hat and sunglasses, seek shade in the middle of the day and be careful on ferries and boat trips.
If sunburn or the heat has left you feeling unwell, send a WhatsApp message with your symptoms and where you are staying.