Summer vacations are on and there is no stopping your kids! They are running and playing round the clock and nothing keeps them stay put. While it is their time to enjoy, heat waves and harsh sun rays hinder their playtime with sunburn scare. The worst part? Sunburn can affect your children within 10 to 15 minutes of being outside. While the sunburn is quick, the discomfort and burning effect can linger for a longer time.
Unprotected sun exposure is quite dangerous for kids with a history of skin cancer, freckles, moles, or very fair skin. And even when your kid is sunscreen protected, sunburns can still happen. Repeated sunburn incidents significantly increase the risks of melanoma.
Here are some tips for treating sunburn
- Act fast
As soon as you notice the sunburn signs (itchiness, warm, red skin, slight pain) get your child away from the sun immediately. First things first, use a cold compress to cool the burns. Avoid using the ice directly on the skin. Right after cold compress, your kid must take a cold, but short, bath or shower. Avoid using soaps or shower gels as they might irritate the inflamed skin.
- Hydration is important
Right after the shower, apply a gentle moisturizer. Sunburns tend to make the skin dry from the surface and within. Dehydration is a common effect of sunburn. Make sure to keep the skin moisturized to provide hydration. Keep consuming fluids, especially water to stay hydrated from within. Apply aloe Vera gel regularly to soothe the sunburn wounds.
- Seek medical help
If you happen to notice blistering, swelling, chills, dizziness, fever, nausea, and headache in your child, make sure to consult a doctor immediately. Ask your kid not to pop or scratch the blisters as they could turn to infection.
How to prevent sunburns?
Although the tips work great, the damage has been done and it only goes worse from there. And the worst part, the burns, and their effects get noticed gradually. Repeated incidents lead to skin cancer. The tips mentioned above work like magic to help heal the skin. However, the best care would be to prevent it from happening altogether. Follow the tips to prevent sunburn-
- Make sure your child does not go outdoors between 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
- If they step outdoors, ensure they apply sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB protection with at least SPF 30.
- Teach them to reapply the sunscreen 20 minutes before stepping out and 30 minutes after continuous sun exposure. It should be reapplied anyway after sweating profusely or swimming.
- The ideal clothing should be long sleeve shirt, hats, and pants. Make sure they stay covered throughout.
- Introduce them to sunburn drink. It is an all-natural drink that is formulated with essential nutrients and power-packed with ingredients that heals the skin from within and protects it from outside. It is safe for kids to consume as well. It can be consumed both before and after sun exposure. Usually, topical ointments and medicines work on the skin’s surface. However, sunburn damages beyond the epidermis.
Sunburns are harsh and no matter what you do for your kids, they might get affected. You can, however, skip the blisters, redness, and other effects by getting the best for your kid. Instead of giving sugary, caffeine-laced energy drinks to your kids, invest in natural drinks that are good for your child’s skin and overall health. Sunburn drink is one such drink infused with essential vitamins and nutrients that works more effectively than other treatment agents.
