Sun Protective Clothing

As adults we need to take protection from the harmful effects of the sun seriously. But as parents, we need to be even more diligent with our children. Because just one sunburn as a child increases the chances of developing skin cancer as an adult…

Here is what Kids Health recommends for treatment of your child’s sunburn:

• Keep your child in the shade until the sunburn is healed. Any additional sun exposure will only increase the severity of the burn and increase pain.
• Have your child take a cool (not cold) bath, or gently apply cool, wet compresses to the skin to help alleviate pain and heat.
• Apply pure aloe vera gel (available in most pharmacies or taken directly from within the leaves of the plant) to any sunburned areas. It’s excellent for relieving sunburn pain and helping skin heal quicker.
• Give your child a pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and spray on over-the-counter “after-sun” pain relievers. (Do not, however, give aspirin to children or teens.)
• Apply topical moisturizing cream to rehydrate the skin and help reduce swelling. For the most severely burned areas, apply a thin layer of 1% hydrocortisone cream. (Do not use petroleum-based products, because they prevent excess heat and sweat from escaping. Also, avoid first-aid products that contain benzocaine, which may cause skin irritation or allergy.)
• If the sunburn is severe and blisters develop, call your doctor.

Read more good advice on sun protection here:
Blog about sun block » Sun Protective Clothing

Click on pen to