Main Symptoms

• Most sunburn is a first-degree burn that 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 less than ½ inch size).
• Unable to look at lights because of eye pain.  
• Extremely painful sunburn.  
• Looks infected (e.g., 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

• Mild sunburn and you don't think your child needs to be seen.

Home Care Advice for the Pain of Sunburn

1. Ibuprofen:  Start ibuprofen for pain relief ASAP if age older than 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).
   
   
2. Steroid Cream:  Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream ASAP. If used early and 3 times/day for 2 days, it may reduce swelling and pain.  Use a moisturizing cream until you can get some.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. Extra Fluids:  Offer extra water on the first day to replace the fluids lost into the sunburn and to prevent dehydration and dizziness.
   
   
5. 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.

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright © 2000. Barton D. Schmitt, MD, FAAP