CHILDREN’S HEALTH: SUNBURN
Sunburn is a heat bum, usually of the first degree. Babies and children who have fair complexions are particularly susceptible to sunburn, even on cloudy days or in shade. Occasionally, sunburn causes a skin rash which resembles hives. This condition is called sun poisoning.
Signs and symptoms
Sunburn causes the skin to become inflamed, blistered, and painful, and the diagnosis is usually immediately obvious. The rash caused by sun poisoning, however, may not appear for several days after exposure to the sun.
Home care
Apply cold water compresses, then commercial burn ointments, or a paste made of baking soda and tap water to the burned area. Do not break the blisters. Give the child aspirin or paracetamol to relieve pain and nonprescription antihistamines to reduce itching.
Precautions
• The most important aspect of home treatment is prevention. A child should begin exposure to the sun slowly and gradually increase the length of exposure.
• Apply sunscreens to filter out damaging rays of the sun, but remember that sunscreens offer only limited protection; the child who is out in the sun for too long can still get sunburned. For a child, select a sunscreen that contains para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), titanium dioxide, methyl anthranilate, or sulisobenzone.
• Remember that all sunscreens wash off when the child goes swimming or even perspires. Follow the instructions on the product’s package for reapplying the sunscreen.
• Sunscreens may cause a mild rash on some people. If a rash appears, switch to another product. • Infants and children may receive a severe bum from the sun coming through the windows especially in the car. Be sure children are protected by sunscreens.
• Medication applied to large areas of sunburn can be absorbed into the body and produce side effects. Use medication sparingly.
• Injury to the skin from overexposure to ultraviolet light from sunlamps is common among teenagers.
• Some medications (for example, tetracycline, chlorpromazine, griseofulvin, and coal tar ointments) increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunburn. If the child is taking one of these medications, be extra careful about protecting him or her from the sun.
• Take the child to a doctor if he or she has sunburn plus a fever or extreme fatigue and weakness.
Medical treatment
Your doctor will treat your child’s sun bum the same as any other type of bum. A child who has a severe bum will be hospitalized for treatment.
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