Sunburn
Main Symptoms
- Most sunburn is a first-degree burn which turns the skin pink or red
- Prolonged sun exposure can cause blistering and a second-degree burn
- Sunburn never causes a third-degree burn or scarring
- The pain and swelling starts at 4 hours, peaks at 24 hours, and improves after 48 hours
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- Passed out or too weak to stand
- Blister is present (EXCEPTION: small closed blister)
- Unable to look at lights because of eye pain
- Extremely painful sunburn
- Looks infected (eg. draining pus, red streaks, increasing tenderness after day 2)
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Several blisters on the face
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
- You have other questions or concerns
Parent Care at Home If
- Mild sunburn and you don’t think your child needs to be seen
Home Care Advice for the Pain of Sunburn
- Ibuprofen: Start ibuprofen for pain relief ASAP if age > 6 months. (Reason: If this anti-inflammatory agent is begun within 6 hours of sun exposure and continued for 2 days, it can reduce the swelling and discomfort experienced)
- Steroid Cream: Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream ASAP. If used early and 3 times a day for 2 days, it may reduce swelling and pain. Use a moisturizing cream until you can get some
- Cool Baths: Apply cool compresses to the burned area several times a day to reduce pain and burning. For larger sunburns, give cool baths for 10 minutes. (Caution: avoid any chill) Add 2 oz. baking soda per tub. Avoid soap on the sunburn
- Extra Fluids: Offer extra water on the first day to replace the fluids lost into the sunburn and to prevent dehydration and dizziness
- Expected Course: Pain usually stops after 2 or 3 days. Peeling usually occurs day 5-7
- Call Your Doctor If
- Pain becomes severe
- Sunburn looks infected
- Your child becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms