Sunburn

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Sunburn?

Sunburn is better prevented than treated. Keep this in mind for next time.
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The full effect of the sunburn to your child's skin may not appear for a day or more. By the time the skin starts to become red, the damage has been done.

For example, blisters can develop hours to days later. Meanwhile, have the child stay away from the sun until you have taken care of this.

Before you see what is available over the counter for sunburn, it is important to rule out the need for emergency or urgent care.


Girl with sunburn on her back

So let's get started

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Sunburn

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How serious?

Does the child have fever or chills?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the pediatrician.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Worse than you are imagining.

Nearest Clinic

 

What about a headache in addition to the sunburn?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care if you think the sunburn is causing the headache.

 

Does he or she feel nauseated, dizzy?

Or faint?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the pediatrician.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Take this seriously.

Nearest Clinic

 

Any blisters covering a large part of the body?

And very painful?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the pediatrician.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Self care would be dangerous.

Nearest Clinic

 

Does he or she have red streaks along the arms or legs?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the pediatrician.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Probable infection.

Nearest Clinic

 

Are you seeing swelling of the skin and is the pain becoming unbearable?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Nearest ER

 

Is the child's skin red and tender?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?

 

Is the skin warm to touch and painful to touch?
Pharmacist

 

No?
May not be looking at a serious sunburn.
Pharmacist

Explain why.

 


The effect of the sunburn is still ongoing.
Pharmacist

If you think your child need to seek urgent care from the discussions so far, don't hesistate. The effect of the sunburn is going on.

Let's continue if you think it is a minor case and would like to see what a pharmacist recommend over the counter for sunburn in a child.

Urgent Care Continue

 

 

 

 

Sunburn

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What percentage of your child's body is sunburned?
Pharmacist


Pharmacist

Once sunburn occurs, there is little one can do to limit skin damage.

Now, make sure your child:

  • Drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration
  • Get a towel, dampen it with cool tap water and apply it to the affected areas.
  • Or have child take a cool bath or shower if he or she can.

The sunburned area will be peeling for some days after the sunburn.

Let's see what a pharmacist recommend over-the-counter.

 

Symptoms and signs appear in 1 to 24 hours and usually peak within 72 hours except in severe cases.

Skin is going to be peeling on sunburned areas for many days after the sunburn.

Let's see what a pharmacist recommend over-the-counter for sunburn in a child.

 

Pretty much all over?

Symptoms such as fever, chills, weakness and/or shock may develop if a large portion of the body surface is affected.

Have child seek urgent medical care.

Peeled skin may be extremely vulnerable to sunlight for several weeks. Further exposure should be avoided until sunburn has completely subsided

If the skin is not blistering, moisturizing cream may be applied to relieve discomfort.

Let's see what a pharmacist recommend over-the-counter for sunburn relief for now until you can take the child to an urgent care clinic.