Sunburn Ways to Counter Risky Rays

Ways to Counter Risky Rays

You're probably well aware that too much sun can increase your child's skin cancer risk later in life--as well as make him pretty miserable now --so you probably take care to spread sunscreen on that vulnerable young skin before he goes outdoors.

But sometimes you miss a patch. Or a bike ride in the blazing sun causes your child to sweat away the first coating of sunscreen. Or the sunscreen washes off from constant dips in the neighbor's pool. Whatever the reason, your child comes home with a classic case of red-hot sunburn. And he's exquisitely uncomfortable.

Here's what you can do to help your sunburned child get through the healing process as comfortably as possible--and some tips on how to protect your child's skin from future sun damage.

Treatment

Soak in cool water. Put your child in a cool--but not icy cold--bath. That can help draw the heat out and give quite a bit of comfort to hot, burning skin, says Richard Wagner, Jr., M.D., professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Add oatmeal to the bath. Aveeno colloidal oatmeal, added to a bodytemperature bath, is very soothing to sunburned skin, says John E. Wolf, Jr., M.D., chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. You can find Aveeno at most drugstores, with directions for use on the box.

Or put on a wet wrap. If a cool bath isn't practical, just wrap a burned child in a wet shirt or wet towel, suggests Frances Storrs, M.D., professor of dermatology at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. This is a particularly helpful tactic if you're camping or at the beach, she notes.

Apply a moisturizer. ''After giving your child the Aveeno bath or wet towel wrap, apply a moisturizer to soften the skin and help trap some of the water,'' says Dr. Wolf. It's not a good idea to apply a moisturizer until you've cooled the skin off, however, as the moisturizer could trap heat.

Powder up. Calamine lotion can be comforting because the powder suspended in the lotion helps the skin lose heat, explains Dr. Storrs. ''Even plain talcum powder can be quite soothing,'' she says.

Give acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol) can provide pain relief to a cranky child with a painful burn, says Dr. Wolf. The pain is worst the first two days after exposure, and then subsides. Check the package directions for the correct dosage for your child's age and weight. If your child is under age two, consult a physician.

Try an antihistamine. Once the burn is not as painful, it may begin to itch unbearably. ''If your child can't stand the itching, you can give an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Benadryl,'' says Dr. Wolf. Be sure to read package directions to make certain the product is recommended for your child's age. For the correct dosage, follow package directions or consult your physician. Some doctors don't advise Benadryl cream or spray because it could cause a reaction.

Preventive Care

Apply sunscreen frequently. Apply the sunscreen about 30 minutes before you send your child outdoors, says Dr. Wagner. And remember, even waterproof sunscreens don't last forever, especially if your child is playing hard and sweating or swimming. ''It's important to reapply sunscreen periodically, and make sure you apply a uniform coat over your child's skin,'' he says. ''That usually requires quite a bit of the product.''

Think 15. ''For kids older than two, you should always use a sunscreen with an SPF [sun protection factor] of at least 15, regardless of skin type,'' says Dr. Wagner. ''Otherwise your child is simply not getting enough protection.''

Bring in the new. Sunscreens don't last forever. ''Throw away the sunscreens left over from a year ago,'' advises Dr. Wagner. ''The active ingredient becomes less effective as the sunscreen ages.''

Apply sunscreen under clothing. Yes, it's a good idea to put a protective T-shirt on your tyke playing in the water, but clothing doesn't completely protect against sunburn, says Dr. Wagner. ''Cotton shirts give about an SPF of 8, and when a shirt gets wet, the sun protection is even less. So you should apply sunscreen under your child's T-shirt, too. Thinner fabrics let in even more damaging rays,'' he says.

Take special care with infants. Babies have fragile, vulnerable skin, so limit their time in the sun. '' When you do go out, make sure your baby is covered with light clothing--or place a fabric screening over the carriage,'' suggests Dr. Wolf.

You should also use sunscreen on your infant, no matter how young the child is. ''There has been some concern about how much of the chemical in sunscreens was being absorbed into the baby's skin,'' says Dr. Storrs. ''But, in my view, as long as you use a sunscreen with an SPF between 8 and 15, there should be no hazard from the sunscreen for infants.''

Avoid peak burning hours. The time of greatest sun damage is usually from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., so it's best for your child to avoid being out on the playground, beach or playing field during those hours. But the peak hours can vary depending on where you live, says Dr. Wagner. ''In Texas, for example, studies have shown that there is substantial sun damage between 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. during the summer,'' he says. The solution? Avoid what seem to be the hottest parts of the day and take precautions at all times.

Provide a head covering. It doesn't take much convincing to get a young boy to wear a baseball cap--but try to get him to wear it with the bill in front, instead of backwards. Supply hats for all children, with sun bonnets for babies, says Dr. Wagner. ''Safari-type hats that have a drape over the neck are particularly good,'' he says. Longer hair styles give the ears some sun protection, too, adds Dr. Wagner--and ears are a common site for skin cancer.

Watch out for freckles. Freckles may be cute, but they're an early warning sign that your child is getting too much sun, says Dr. Wagner. If freckles appear, enforce the always-wear-a-hat rule and take special care with sunscreen.

Remember the winter sun. Many parents don't think about too many rays in the wintertime, but January sun can be just as harmful as August's. ''If your child likes winter sports or you're in a high-altitude region, the sun can be damaging even in the dead of winter,'' says Dr. Wagner. ''Be sure to apply sunscreen, especially when snow is involved, since snow reflects the sunlight.''

Feel free to use PABA. At one time, there was some concern that the active ingredient in many sunscreens--called para-aminobenzoic-acid (PABA)--could cause an allergic reaction in people, says Dr. Storrs. ''Allergy to sunscreens does occur but is extremely rare,'' she says. ''If your child is allergic to anything in the sunscreen, it is more likely to be the preservatives or perfumes, not the PABA.'' Look for brands labeled hypo-allergenic and fragrance-free.