Sunburn In Children

Key points about managing sunburn in children

• sunburn is a burn to the skin from exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• sunscreen, shade, hats and sunglasses can help protect tamariki from the sun 
• you can manage your child’s mild sunburn at home
• bad sunburn can make tamariki unwell 
• if your child has bad sunburn, is unwell or is under 12 months of age - take them to see a health professional

What is sunburn?

Sunburn is a burn to the skin from exposure to the sun’s UV radiation. It can cause a painful skin reaction. Sunburn can vary from mild to severe. It can cause blistering, swelling and pain.

Tamariki can get sunburned anytime they are outside during the day. Sunburn not only happens when it is a sunny hot day - it is common to get sunburned on cool overcast days too. Tamariki can also get sunburned when the sun reflects off water, sand, snow or concrete. 

Anyone can get sunburned if their skin isn’t protected from the sun. Fair-skinned tamariki are more sensitive to sunburn, but darker-skinned tamariki can also burn.

Symptoms of sunburn

Sunburn symptoms can vary from mild to severe.

Symptoms of mild sunburn include:

• pinkness or redness on the skin
• a sore achy feeling over the skin
• itching and peeling of the skin 3 to 7 days after the burn

Symptoms of more severe sunburn include: 

• blistering of the skin
• severe pain
• swelling 
• fever (body temperature over 38 degrees Celsius) or a low body temperature 

Some tamariki with severe sunburn may also develop:

• nausea
• vomiting
• headache
• dizziness
• sleepiness 

When to get medical help for sunburn

Tamariki with mild sunburn can normally be managed at home. See below for some tips on how to manage your child’s mild sunburn.

Pēpi under the age of 12 months who are sunburned should be checked by a health professional. 

Take your child to see a health professional urgently if they have sunburn with any of the following symptoms:

• severe pain
• extensive blistering
• headache
• nausea or vomiting 
• fever (body temperature of over 38 degrees Celsius) 
• dizziness, sleepiness or feeling ‘out of it’

Managing sunburn at home

If your child has mild sunburn and doesn’t have any of the severe symptoms listed above, you can manage them at home.

Steps for managing mild sunburn include:

• get your child out of the sun and get them inside or under cover
• put your child in a cool bath or put cool towels on their sunburn
• don’t use cold water and don’t let them get too cold - tamariki are more likely to get hypothermia than adults  
• if they have mild discomfort, you could use paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief - follow the dosage instructions on the bottle
• apply a simple moisturising cream to the sunburned area
• if you are using an aloe vera gel, test it on a small area of your child's skin first to make sure it doesn’t cause irritation 
• your local pharmacist can give you some options if you are not sure what cream to apply 
• encourage your child to drink extra water to prevent dehydration 

How severe sunburn is managed

If your child has severe sunburn, take them to a health professional urgently.

Your child's treatment might include:

• pain relief
• special dressings applied to the sunburned areas
• antibiotics to prevent infections 
• fluids to help prevent or treat dehydration

Preventing sunburn

Anytime your child is outside and exposed to the sun, it’s important to protect them from the sun’s harmful UV rays. 

To prevent your child from getting sunburnt, they need to slip, slop, slap and wrap.

Slip

Slip on clothing and slip into the shade.

Slip on clothing that covers as much of your child’s skin as possible such as:

• tops with long sleeves
• trousers
• fabrics with a tighter weave
• darker coloured fabrics

Slip into the shade of a building, shade sail or leafy tree. 

Slop

Slop on some sunscreen.

Use broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen that is at least SPF 30. Always check the expiry date before applying sunscreen to your child.

Slop on sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside. Reapply after 2 hours or after being in the water or sweating. 

Slap

Slap on a hat. 

Sunburn happens most commonly on the face and neck. Tamariki need to wear a wide-brimmed hat with flaps. It should cover their ears and neck. 

Wrap 

Wrap on some sunglasses. 

Wrap around sunglasses that fit closely proved the best protection for the eyes. Not all sunglasses protect against UV rays so check the label for their sun protection rating.

This video by Melanoma New Zealand has tips on how to best protect you and your child from getting sunburned.

Sun safety for young babies

Pēpi (babies) have sensitive skin so it is especially important to to keep them out of direct sunlight. Pēpi should be protected by shade, broad-brimmed hats and clothing.

Because pēpi have sensitive skin, they may react to sunscreen. Using sunscreen on pēpi under 6 months is not recommended. They should be kept in the shade as much as possible. When using sunscreen on young tamariki, use one that is labelled for sensitive skin, or that is suitable for young tamariki. 

You can ‘patch test’ the sunscreen by putting a small amount on your baby's wrist a few days before and checking that their skin doesn’t react, before using it on the rest of their body.  If your baby's skin reacts to sunscreen with redness, itching or swelling - stop using the sunscreen and see a health professional.