What’s the best way to treat my child’s sunburn?
What’s the best way to treat my child’s sunburn?
Give your child plenty of fluids to help him heal and to replace fluids lost by being out in the sun. To soothe the sunburned area, soak a clean, soft washcloth in cool water, wring it out, and gently place it on his skin for ten to 15 minutes a few times a day, making sure your child doesn’t get chilled.
Your child might also appreciate a cool bath. To make it more soothing, add baking soda or an oatmeal-based bath treatment (found in drugstores). Pat your child’s skin dry (don’t rub!) and apply a water-based (nonalcohol) moisturizing lotion or an aloe vera gel to relieve itching, which can get worse if the burn starts to peel.
If your child’s hurting, you can give him the correct dose of children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the pain. (Never give your child aspirin, which can put him at risk for Reye’s syndrome.)
Dress your child in loose clothing that won’t irritate his burned skin, and make sure you keep him out of the sun until the burn has completely healed, because it will be very easy for him to get a second burn now.
A few don’ts:
- Don’t put petroleum-based products like petroleum jelly on your child’s skin. These prevent heat and sweat from escaping and can worsen a burn. The same goes for butter and oils.
- Don’t use first-aid sprays or ointments that contain benzocaine, which can irritate your child’s skin or cause an allergic reaction.
- Don’t put ice or ice water on your child’s skin.
- Don’t pop any blisters. These have formed to protect your child’s underlying skin, and breaking them open can lead to infection. If they do break, gently trim off the dead skin and apply an antibiotic ointment.
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