More than 160 Kiwis and Aussies have been admitted to burns units after being badly sun burnt

Australian researchers looked at the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand to determine how many patients had been admitted for sunburn between 2010 and 2019.

While most sunburn was treated at home, 167 people had been out in the sun so long their burns required treatment by specialist burns services.

The data shows 32 of those needed a surgical procedure and six were so unwell they were admitted to the intensive care unit.