Summer is quickly approaching, and on top of mind for every mom is sun safety for kids. According to a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, over the past 25 years the reported incidence rate of melanoma has increased. Some of this can be attributed to global warming and more harsh UV exposure. The concern is real, so what can you do as a mom to help protect your child from harmful sun exposure?
We’ve consulted with experts and compiled a list of sun safety rules.
How to prevent sunburn
Best way to treat sunburn
Even the most protective parents can’t always prevent a sunburn from happening. If you or your child have a sunburn, you want to get relief from the burning, itchy skin while also doing everything that you can to limit the damage happening to the skin. The Mayo Clinic says that it can take up to two days for the severity of the burn to become evident and several more days to start the healing process.
Here’s what the Mayo Clinic recommends to do for your sunburn:
- Cool the skin: A cool bath with baking soda can soothe the skin. You can also apply a cool, wet towel to the affected area several times a day.
- Use moisturizing lotions or gels: Aloe vera or calamine lotion are commonly applied to help ease the burn and moisturize the skin.
- Stay hydrated: Your body is releasing heat with the burn. Stay hydrated to help heal.
- Don’t break intact blisters: Popping blisters can lead to infection. If a blister breaks, clean it and apply antibiotic ointment, covering it with a nonstick bandage.
- Protect the skin from further damage: Limit sun exposure until the skin is healed.
- Take an anti-itch medication: Oral antihistamines help ease the itch you will feel as the burn begins to peel and heal.
- Use a corticosteroid cream on minor burns: This will help the area heal faster. Don’t apply cream to blisters or severe burns.
