How to treat Sunburn in babies & Toddlers
Infants have a much thinner stratum corneum, the dead outermost skin layer, compared to adults’.
As a result, their skin barrier is not able to protect them against external agents such as bacteria, UV rays or chemicals in sunscreen.
No wonder their skin gets so easily burned. Not only is it painful, but also it may increase the risk for melanoma in the future.
Accidents do happen, and your precious one gets sunburned; worry not!
How to treat Sunburn, as soon as it happens:
Sunburn in infants may occur in as little as 15 minutes if left under the sun without adequate protection. The average time is about 30 minutes though, especially if the exposure takes place between 10 a.m and 4 p.m., when sun is at its strongest.
It may also take 6 to 12 hours for the burn to become apparent. However, the maximum of discomfort may take about 24 hours to fully unravel itself.
Use a cool compress:
Get a soft washcloth, rinse and wring it out well before using it. Then, apply it on your baby’s burned areas gently and often during the day to relieve their pain.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is well known for its sunburn soothing properties. Slather on generously on your little child!
Moisturize regularly.
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Moisturizing your baby is a good way to enhance their skin barrier, as they tend to contain ingredients that reinforce the protective outer layer of the skin. Try one with Chamomile, known for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
If the sunburn is somewhat intense you may want to try a more specialized cream with skin regenerating properties.
Avoid using petroleum jelly (our beloved Vaseline) as it traps the heat in the skin, aggravating the burning sensation.
Cover sunburnt skin
For as long as the skin looks reddish or inflamed, it should be completely covered and have zero exposure to the sun.
Furthermore, is your toddler’s skin starting to peel off and you’re tempted to pull it off? Don’t!
Allow it to slough off the body on its own.
They say, that prevention is the best cure, so next time take all precautions to protect your baby from the sun!
