Sunburn is known to occur throughout the year, even during the winter season as the sun reflects off the snow. It is important to note that children are at risk for sunburn and depends on the protection that they are given. Remember that this is true for toddlers who are not old enough to understand the dangers of the sun. Knowing how to protect the toddler from sunburn as well as what to do when the child develops one is vital for long-term health of the skin.
Potential causes of sunburn
It is important to note that sunburn develops when the toddler spends a lot of time under the sun with unprotected skin. The sun produces UV radiation which has an invisible wavelength that strikes and enters the skin, resulting to increased production of melanin.
Melanin is the pigment that provides the skin its color which is why spending extended periods under the sun causes it to darken. The increase in the production of melanin is meant to protect the skin of the toddler against UV radiation. On the other hand, prolonged exposure which varies on the skin type of the toddler can disrupt with the ability of the skin to protect itself.
What are the risks?
Sunburn can trigger various effects. The most common effect is the burning pain that both children and adults experience. If the sunburn is severe, more pain is experienced by the toddler. Severe cases of sunburn can cause blisters to develop on the skin that might be scratched or popped open. This puts the toddler at risk for developing infection.
If the toddler repeatedly gets sunburn, there is higher risk for the sun to damage the DNA in the skin cells. This increases the chances of developing skin cancer later in life, especially if the toddler goes through his/her adolescent and adult years without using sun protection as well.
Prevention
You can easily prevent sunburn from developing. Children over 6 months old should be applied with sunscreen before going out under the sun. Every part of exposed skin must be covered including the neck, face, arms, legs, feet, hands and even the ears that are often overlooked.
The sunscreen used should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 or 30 for children with fair skin such as those who have red or blonde hair. The child should wear a hat if possible to protect the scalp from getting burned as well as providing shade to the face. Sunglasses with UV protection are also vital in preventing the eyes from getting burned.
Treatment
Once the child develops sunburn, there are a number of treatment options to use, depending on the severity of the sunburn. The toddler should be given the right dosage of ibuprofen within the initial 6 hours of developing sunburn. Take note that ibuprofen minimizes the swelling and also reduce the discomfort felt by the child.
A cool bath is also beneficial since it cools down the skin and minimizes the pain. Make sure that the child is provided with adequate fluids to replace those that were lost by the sunburn. If the sunburn is severe, developed blisters or becomes infected, a doctor should be consulted right away for proper treatment.