Summertime means extreme heat once again. Whether you plan to go to the beach with the family or simply run errands with the kids, you could suffer from sunburn if you fail to protect your skin well. The worst thing about it is you do not readily recognize that your skin is burning fast. Reality only hits once the pain and burnt skin are there. If you plan to go outside for a while, make sure that you and your kids implement preventive measures to avoid getting a bad sunburn.
This article will tell you what you need to know about sunburn and how you can protect your family from it.
What Is Sunburn?
Sunburn is what you call the inflammation, blistering, and peeling of the skin that got overexposed to the ultraviolet rays. It usually appears hours after exposure to the sun and other artificial light sources, such as sunlamps, black lights, tanning booths, etc.
You would know that you are suffering from sunburn if you notice the following symptoms:
- Your skin becomes red and painful to touch
- You notice some blisters or rashes appearing on it
- You feel nauseous
- You experience a slight fever and chills
- Your skin starts to peel
How to Prevent a Sunburn
There are simple ways you can do to prevent suffering from bad sunburn:
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- Stay Indoors During the Hottest Time of the Day: The sun is at its hottest and strongest between 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. As much as possible, try to avoid going outside during these hours to avoid getting your skin burnt.
- Cover Up: If you plan to go outside, make sure that you and your kids fully cover yourselves. Wear light clothing with long sleeves and pants to keep your arms and legs protected from the direct sunlight. Wear a hat to cover your face and sunglasses to protect your eyes. You would also find clothes online specifically with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) to keep your skin safe from any UV harm.
- Use Sunscreen and Reapply Regularly: Sunscreen helps protect your skin against skin damage and skin cancer. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and follow the instructions of the manufacturer. Make sure to reapply it frequently.
- Beware of the Medications You Give the Family: Certain drugs could increase a person’s sensitivity to the sun. Some of these are ibuprofen, antihistamines, antidepressants, some antibiotics, etc. Be extra careful when you need to take any of these medications.
Follow these tips even after summer. Remember that the sun is still present and releasing UV rays even if it is not visible to your eyes.
How to Treat Sunburn
If you still get sunburn despite following the prevention steps, here is how you can treat your skin to help it heal faster.
Method 1: Cool Bath
- Get out of the sun immediately.
- Take a cool shower or bath. While in the process, get a damp cloth to cover the burned area.
- After the bath, let the skin air dry and put on moisturizer.
- Repeat throughout the day, as often as needed.
Method 2: Keep Yourself Hydrated
- Your burnt area tries to recover by sucking in the fluid in your body. You can help it speed up the process by drinking more water.
- Apply moisturizing lotion on the affected area. A moisturizer that contains soy or aloe vera would do a better job in healing your burn fast. Avoid products like petroleum, benzocaine, and lidocaine as they can trap the heat inside your body instead of letting it out.
Conclusion
The family deals with the sun every day, making it something they take for granted. However, caring for oneself and skin should always be a top priority, especially if you have kids who are not aware of its consequences. They might also find it hard to tolerate the pain of sunburn. As a parent, it is your responsibility to inform and educate your kids about the harmful effects of too much sun exposure. You can start by sharing with them the information you read here.
In case your kids suffer from intense sunburn, bring them immediately to Your Kid’s Urgent Care. We offer superior and convenient urgent care pediatric services to all children to ensure the damage does not get worse than it is. We also provide free COVID-19 testing in our Orlando, FL clinic. Call us at 407-751-2297 to set your appointment.
