Question

What actually happens to your skin cells when you get a sunburn?​

Answer 1

Answer:

But if the skin cells get more UV exposure than they can handle, the damage may be beyond repair, and the cells die off. Blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow and bring immune cells to the skin to help clean up the mess. All this causes the redness, swelling and inflammation we associate with a sunburn

The process peaks 24 to 48 hours later, which is why the redness and painfulness of a sunburn can keep developing for a couple of days. Some of the immune cells start cleaning up skin cells in self-destruct mode, while others release chemicals that further damage weakened cells.