How does sunburn affect children? Your child’s skin is beautiful. It smells good. It is soft to touch. And, it is prone to irritations. Fortunately, younger skin heals faster that older adult skin. Irritations like a diaper rash heal quickly with the correct treatment. Sunburns and other irritations will also heal quickly when correctly treated, however they will have lifelong lasting effects that can lead to skin cancer.
Experts suggest that babies younger than six months should never be exposed to the sun’s harmful rays, and parents should not put sunscreen on them either.1 As children get older they will spend more time outdoors. In fact, we encourage children to get outdoors and get active by engaging in physical activity.
As your children head outdoors are your protecting them from the sun?
Increased Risk Comes at Early Age
One of the most astounding facts concerning sunburn and children is the latest information concerning the rising risk of developing skin cancer in adults who experienced sunburns as children. It is now thought that if a child experiences just one severe sunburn during his or her childhood the risk of developing skin cancer, (melanoma), goes up dramatically.2
Tanning Beds
Teenage girls are big customers for tanning salons. Tanning beds emit high levels of UVA and UVB rays. These can result in DNA damage. Hence, the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that UVR that originate from artificial sources such as a tanning bed are a human carcinogen.3
Should You call a Doctor?
How do you know if a sunburn is severe enough to call your family doctor? Keeping in mind that all sunburns are unhealthy and should be avoided, not every sunburn is serious enough to warrant a call to your family doctor.
You should call your doctor immediately if your child appears very sick, has a high fever above 104 degrees, cannot focus on lights because of pain, experiences extreme pain due to the sunburn, and the sunburn looks infected.4 (Infection can include draining pus, red streaks that emerge outward from the sunburn, or tenderness that does not go away).
Call your Doctor within 24 hours:5
- Large blisters or numerous small blisters
- Swollen hands or feet
- Blisters on the cheeks, nose, or forehead
- You feel your child needs to be seen by your family doctor
You can care for your child at home for minor sunburn.
Treating Sunburn
There are several ways to approach the treatment of sunburns. Steroid creams help reduce swelling and pain. Analgesics offer pain relief and help with inflammation relief. Homeopathic measures such as cool baths and cool compresses also help ease the pain and the burning. You can add baking soda to the bath water help soothe the skin.
You will want to give your child extra fluids. Sunburns deplete the body of fluids and can result in dizziness and dehydration. Water is the best source of replenishment, followed by sports drinks.
Use antibiotic ointment on open blisters.6 This ointment will help keep infection from setting in. Take further protective measures by leaving closed blisters alone until they open on their own.
The Facts
Recent medical research reveals some eye-opening facts about sunburn and children. Just one severe sunburn may double your child’s chance of getting skin cancer. Sixty to eighty percent of a person’s sun exposure occurs during childhood.
Because exposure rates are so high during childhood it is imperative that children are protected when they go outdoors. As a parent you should ensure that your child has all exposed skin covered with sunscreen and is wearing protective clothing when appropriate.
The experts think that two-thirds of our children are not getting adequate sun protection.7 Could this be the reason for the huge rise in the number of skin cancers? When your children are young it is up to you to help them make the right choices. You are their role model and can teach them about safety in the sun.
Sunscreen Smarts
The Children’s Hospital in St. Louis gives us information on using sunscreen the smart way.8
- Use sunscreen that has an SPF of 30
- Apply sunscreen thirty minutes before your child goes outside
- Use one full ounce of sunscreen, (this equals one shot glass)
- Make sure to cover the ears, nose, face, trunk, arms, and other commonly exposed areas
- Reapply sunscreen every two or three hours whether or not it is waterproof
- Use a sunscreen that offers UVA and UVB protection
- Purchase fresh sunscreen each season for maximum effectiveness
- Always keep sunscreen on hand
How does sunburn effect children? We now know sunburn is very dangerous to our children. It is vital that we protect them each time they leave the house.
References
1 Sun Safety. (2011). Kids Health. Retrieved from: kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/outdoor/sun_safety.html#
2 The Kids Doctor Staff. (2011). Sunburn Warnings for Kids and Teens. The Kids Doctor: www.kidsdr.com/your-teen/sunburn-warnings-for-kids-and-teens
3 Ibid
4 Sunburn (2011)Children’s Hospital. Retrieved from: www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-conditions/symptom-index/sunburn/
5 Ibid
6 Ibid
7 Ibid
8 Get Sun Savvy and Prevent Sunburn. (2011). Children’s Hospital St. Louis: www.stlouischildrens.org/content/healthinfo/GetSunSavvyandPreventSunburn.htm
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