Nothing can ruin your summer like sunburn. People suffer from sunburn because of overexposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. You might think that a little sunburn is okay, but it can cause long lasting damage to your skin. Children especially should be careful in the sun because sunburn on a child more than doubles their chances of developing melanoma later in life. Follow these tips to protect your skin from further damage if you should get burned this summer.
Babies under six months of age should not be exposed to the sun. If your child does get sunburned, follow these tips:
• For a baby under one year old, sunburn should be treated as an emergency. Call your doctor immediately.
• For a child older than one year, call your doctor if the sunburn is causing them severe pain, blistering, or a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Sunburn can cause dehydration, so make sure to give your child plenty of water.
• Giving your child a bath in clear, tepid water may cool the skin.
• Light moisturizing lotion may sooth the skin, but don’t rub it in. If their skin is painful to the touch, don’t use any lotion.
• Do not apply alcohol, it can overcool the skin.
• Do not use any medicated cream unless instructed by your baby’s doctor.
Adults should always wear sunscreen. However if you do get sunscreen, follow these treatment tips:
• Act quickly, if you feel your skin in the beginning stages of a burn get out of the sun immediately and start treatment.
• Moisturize your body after a cool shower or bath. A cream or lotion will help soothe your skin.
• Stay hydrated by drinking fluids. Burns draw fluid to the skin surface and away from the body, so be sure to drink lots of water for a few days.
• Don’t wait to medicate. Take a dose of ibuprofen as soon as you see signs of sunburn and keep it up for the next 48 hours.