Tips for Treating Your Child’s Sunburn

If you’ve ever had a sunburn, you know the pain and discomfort that it can cause. Unfortunately, even the most vigilant parents may sometimes forget the sunscreen, resulting in kids with sunburns. Luckily there are a few ways to soothe the pain your child may be feeling from a summer sunburn. 

Not only are sunburns uncomfortable, they can also be potentially harmful to your child’s health. Severe and frequent sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer. Because of this, it’s important to monitor the amount of time your kids spend in the sun and apply sunscreen liberally. 

Treating Sunburns 

Below are a few ways to treat your child’s sunburn and ease their discomfort: 

• Aloe Vera – Aloe vera is the most classic way of treating sunburns and easing pain. It provides almost immediate relief to the burn and can be applied as often as 5 or 6 times a day. 
• Milk – Apply cool milk to your child’s skin. This will create a film that eases the pain of the burn. Use a piece of sterile gauze or a cotton ball to soak up the milk and apply to the burned areas. 
• Cool Shower – After being burned, there’s nothing quite as soothing as a cool bath or shower. Avoid using bar soap on your child’s skin, as this can irritate the burned skin. 
• Cucumbers – Cucumbers hydrate and cool the skin, while providing analgesic properties and antioxidants. The best way to use cucumbers on a sunburn is to blend them in a blender and then apply the paste to the burn. 
• Oatmeal –Lastly, adding oatmeal to cool bathwater can provide your child with relief from pain. For best results, add one cup of oatmeal to the bathwater and let your child soak for around 20 minutes. 

Here at Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry, your child’s health and comfort are important to us. Please remember to stock up on sunscreen and stay burn-free this summer! To make an appointment for your kids to receive a dental checkup and a cleaning, please contact our Parker, Colorado pediatric dentist today.