Sunburn
If you’re planning to take your baby outdoors in sunny weather you need to take steps to protect her skin.
Babies’ skin is very delicate and even weak sunlight can cause some skin damage. Even a small amount of sunburn can be very painful for babies and children so it should be avoided at all costs.
Evidence shows that severe sunburn during childhood increases the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of cancer, as your child gets older. Fair skinned children or children with red or blond hair, freckles or excessive moles need to take extra care in the sun, but dark-skinned children can also burn, so always make sure your child has adequate sun protection.
Sun safety
- Babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight and older children should stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day (10am-4pm).
- If you do have to be out in the sun during the hottest times, make sure your child is wearing light loose-fitting clothes with long sleeves and or trousers to protect his skin, and a sunhat. You can also buy sun protection suits which look like wetsuits – they’re especially good if you’re at the beach and your child is in and out of the water.
- Apply sunscreen to your child’s skin 30 minutes before going out in the sun and use SPF 30 for maximum protection (although some baby sunscreens are SPF 45 or 50, these don’t provide much more protection than SPF 30). Reapply sunscreen after your child has swum or has dried himself with a towel.
- Don’t let overcast days give you a false sense of security – 80 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate through the clouds.
- If you’re by the sea, sand or snow keep in mind that the sun can reflect off bright surfaces and speed up the burning process, so make sure your child is well protected.
- Eyes, noses and lips can burn too, so invest in some children’s sunglasses, or special lip salve containing SPF.
If your baby gets sunburn
The symptoms of sunburn don’t normally appear till a few hours after the damage has been done. Your child’s skin will look red and blotchy and be hot to touch. After a while the blotches will become itchy and eventually the skin will blister and peel off.
- Take your child out of the sun immediately if he has been burnt and give him plenty of fluids to replace any he has lost while in the sun.
- Dab calamine lotion or cooling aloe vera gel to the burnt areas. Cool compresses can also help – mix one part skim milk with four parts water and apply with compresses, as milk proteins are very soothing for burns. Avoid sunburn sprays that contain benzocaine, and any oil-based creams or lotions as these can seal in the heat.
- Avoid covering the burnt areas with clothing – leave them to be exposed to the air (but not the sun).
- A tepid bath may further soothe overheated skin – add a cup of apple cider vinegar for natural relief.
If your child develops a fever that rises over 100.3 degrees it’s possible he may have heatstroke. Other symptoms include hot, dry skin, no evidence of sweating, lethargy, headache, dizziness, confusion and vomiting. This is a medical emergency so call 911 and then take steps to cool your child by undressing him down to his diaper or underwear and sponging his body with tepid water. Don’t offer him anything to drink.
The information on this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.