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2 AnswersA
Dr. Tanya R. Altmann, MD , Pediatrics, answeredSee All 2 AnswersIt's best to try to prevent sunburn, but sometimes kids will get burned anyway. In this video Tanya Altmann, MD, pediatrician, discusses the best ways to ease pain from sunburn and what symptoms mean you need to call a doctor.
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2 AnswersA
See All 2 AnswersCall your child’s doctor:
- For any child under 1 year of age with a sunburn
- For temperature above 100.4°F
- For signs of dehydration (drying out):
- No urine in six to eight hours in an infant younger than 1 year old
- No urine in more than eight hours in a child older than 1 year old
- No tears when crying
- Sunken eyes
- Dry lips and mouth
- For large or multiple areas of blistering
- For signs of infection:
-Increase in swelling, redness and pain (NOTE: Sunburn redness will
increase for the first 24 hours; this is normal. Increasing redness,
especially around an area of blistering, after 24 hours is not
normal.)
- Drainage
- Bad smell from damaged skin
- Fever
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1 AnswerA
In general, those people who are exposed to intermittent high-intensity sun exposure are more at risk for developing melanoma than those people who have chronic lower level sun exposure. Therefore, if you go out a few times a year -- either on vacation or the first nice day in May -- and burn, you are at a higher risk than those people who do not. The fact that you burn tells me that you are probably fair-skinned and therefore even more at risk. Remember that burning (and the tanning that follows) is your skin's way of saying it was injured by the sun, and it is trying to protect itself by creating a tan. However, a tan is really a low level of sun protection and should not reassure you that you can go out in the sun without protection. Therefore, it's never a good idea to go to a tanning salon before a trip to get a good "base tan" because this will give you a false sense of protection. -
1 AnswerA
Regional Medical Center answeredThe UV rays that cause a sunburn don't just affect the top layer of your skin. They may sink into your skin cells and alter the DNA of the cell. This can lead to skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma years after the sunburn took place. In fact, a really bad sunburn early in life can mean that you have twice the risk of getting melanoma later. And just six sunburns in a lifetime, regardless of severity or age, also puts you at twice the risk. -
1 AnswerA
Regional Medical Center answered
A sunburn can have both immediate and lasting effects on your skin. Sunburn is the visible result of the damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Depending on how severe the sunburn is, you may have red areas of skin, pain, blisters, fever, and chills. You may also feel tired and weak. As your skin heals, it may become itchy, and layers of dead skin cells may peel off. To treat these symptoms, you may want to try cold compresses, moisturizers, painkillers, and other over-the-counter ointments or lotions. After you get a sunburn, your skin is extremely sensitive so you should take extra precautions when exposed to the sun for the next several weeks after a burn. To avoid sunburn, you should always wear sunscreen with a strong sun protection factor (SPF) and protective clothing when you're in the sun.
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1 AnswerA
Regional Medical Center answeredPeople who tan or sunburn regularly may also be at risk for actinic keratosis. Actinic keratosis is a white, pink, or brown spot or patch on a part of your skin that is often not protected well enough from ultraviolet (UV) light. It may be described as rough or crusty in texture, and you will probably have more than one in the area. It may be small at first, but could grow in time. Actinic keratosis should be taken seriously since they may become cancerous.
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1 AnswerA
Regional Medical Center answeredThey sure can. Sunburns and a lifetime of tanning can age your skin. The UV radiation from the sun damages collagen and elastin, fibers that give the skin its firmness and elasticity. Instead of a firm look, the skin begins to droop and cause obvious wrinkles.
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See All 2 AnswersMost doctors believe that a sunburn during childhood increases the risk for developing skin cancer later in life. The more severe the sunburn (severe sunburns cause blisters, the less severe ones cause redness), the higher the risk. The higher the frequency of sunburns (the number of times you get sunburned) also increases the risk. -
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Regional Medical Center answeredRarely, onycholysis can be caused by sunburn. Some medications like tetracycline and naproxen make you more susceptible to the sun, so much so that the sun can penetrate your fingernails and burn the skin beneath them. That skin can become swollen and blistered, forcing off the nail above it.
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5 AnswersA
Ben Kaminsky , Dermatology, answeredSee All 5 Answers
If you do get mild sunburn, it is important to take healing measures immediately. Even though over-the-counter products containing topical anesthetics such as benzocaine are touted as being effective for sunburn, there is little scientific evidence on their effectiveness.
To treat the painful symptoms, use cold compresses, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, antihistamines, and low-potency topical corticosteroids. Moisturize to limit inflammation and peeling.
Even if there is a sunburn, continue to follow the sun preventive strategies by wearing sunscreen daily, avoiding UV exposure, wearing wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and loose fitting clothes with long sleeves and long pants.
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