Sunburn can happen within 15 minutes. However you may not notice the redness and discomfort for a few hours. When a baby younger than 1 year old gets it, call the pediatrician right away. For older children, call the doctor if there is blisters , fever or pain.
Signs of sunburn
Mild signs include the following :
- skin redness and warmth
- pain
- itchiness
More severe signs include :
- skin redness and blistering
- swelling
- pain and tingling
- headache
- nausea
- fever and chills
- dizziness
How to soothe the discomfort of sunburn
- remove the child from the sun right away
- give the child water or 100% fruit juice to replenish lost fluids
- use cool water to help the child’s skin better
- give the child acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed if needed to relive pain
- use medicated lotion if the child’s doctor gives you the OK
- all sunburned areas should be fully covered when going outside to protect the skin from the sun until fully healed