Definition

• Red or blistered skin from too much sun
• The redness, pain and swelling starts at 4 hours
• It peaks at 24 hours, and starts to get better after 48 hours

Symptoms

• Sunburns are sneaky. Many parents are surprised when their child gets a sunburn. Reason: There are no warning signs while the burn is occurring.
• Redness (sunburn) often is not seen until 4 hours after being in the sun. The pain and redness keep getting worse. They don't peak for 24 to 36 hours.
• Pain and swelling start to get better after 3 days
• Then the sunburn often becomes itchy

Severity of Sunburn

• Most sunburn is a first-degree burn that turns the skin pink or red.
• Prolonged sun exposure can cause blistering and a second-degree burn.
• Sunburn never causes a third-degree burn or scarring.

Causes

• Direct sun exposure. Clouds don't help. 70% of UV light still gets through on cloudy days.
• Reflected sun rays. From snow 80% is reflected, from sand 20%, from water only 5%.
• Tanning beds. A common cause in teens.

Prevention of Recurrent Sunburn

1. Sunscreens:

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Fair-skinned children need a sunscreen with an SPF of 30. This is especially true if your child has red or blond hair.
• Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before exposure to the sun. This gives it time to get down into the skin. Give special attention to the areas most likely to become sunburned. Examples are the nose, ears, cheeks, and shoulders.
• Put sunscreen back on every 3 to 4 hours. Apply often while swimming or if sweating a lot. A "waterproof" sunscreen stays on for about 30 minutes in water.
• Most people use too little sunscreen. The average adult requires 1 ounce of sunscreen each time.
• The best way to prevent skin cancer is to prevent sunburns.

2. Infants and Sunscreens:

• The skin of infants is thinner than the skin of older children. It is more sensitive to the sun.
• Sun avoidance is best for children under 6 months. Stay in the shade.
• Sun avoidance or sun proof clothing is best for children 6 months to 3 years. That means clothes that fully cover the arms and legs. Also, have your child wear a hat with a brim.
• When a sunscreen is needed, infants can use adult sunscreens. The FDA hasn't approved their use under 6 months old. However, the AAP supports their use at this age. There are no reported harmful side effects from today's sunscreens.

3. Protect Lips, Nose and Eyes:

• To prevent sunburned lips, apply a lip coating that contains sunscreen.
• If the nose or some other area has been burned often, use zinc oxide or titanium oxide ointment.
• Protect your child's eyes with good sunglasses. Reason: Prevent future cataracts.

4. Time of Day:

• Avoid exposure to the sun during the hours of 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Reason: Sun's rays most intense.
• Caution: When overcast, over 70% of the sun's rays still get through the clouds.