Ultraviolet rays (UV), UV-A and UV-B in sunlight cause skin burns when exposed to the sun for a long time. Recurrent skin burns also cause skin cancers. Normally, the atmosphere and ozone layer reduce the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth. However, with the thinning of the ozone layer, the amount of UV rays reaching the earth has increased. Since 1973, the frequency of "melanoma", the most serious skin cancer, has increased by 150%, and the number of deaths due to "melanoma" has increased by 44% in the same period. More than half of the UV rays a person receives throughout his life are received in childhood, because the time spent outdoors is at its maximum during this period. A person who has blistered or sunburned once in their life has twice the risk of developing melanoma compared to those who have not had a burn. This risk doubles with each burn. The best way to protect from skin cancer is to prevent skin burns.
How do sunburns happen?
When exposed to the sun for a long time, UV rays first cause redness on the skin and, in longer-term damage, water-filled bubbles. Redness, pain and swelling begin 2-4 hours after sun exposure and reach a maximum in 24 hours. This is a first degree burn. When there are blisters filled with water, it means that the burn is now second degree. Crusts occur in third-degree burns, the sun does not cause third-degree burns.
What should you do when you get a sunburn?
Pain and warmth last for 48 hours. If ibuprofen is started early and used for 2 days, it greatly reduces discomfort. Moisturizing creams also provide comfort if applied three times a day. These creams should be continued for two days. Very thick, oily ointments should not be used, this keeps the child warmer and prevents sweating.
Taking a cold bath or placing clothes soaked in cold water on the burn site several times a day reduces the pain, showering can be very painful. When there are burns, you should make your child drink more water, this prevents dehydration and feeling sick. Peeling begins within a week, and moisturizing creams must be applied to the skin.
If your child's skin blisters and bursts, it is necessary to remove the dead skin on it with clean, small scissors. Then an antibiotic cream should be applied (e.g. Bactr oban). It is necessary to wash the ointment three times a day and reapply it.
One of the common mistakes made in sunburns is to apply toothpaste, yoghurt or thick ointments to the burn area. These are both useless and difficult to clean. Another mistake is to mix sunscreen lotions with tanning lotions or oils, and use bronzer instead of sunscreen.
How can sunburns be prevented?
The way to prevent skin cancer is to prevent sunburns. Although skin cancer can occur at a later age, the cause is sunburns in childhood. To protect your child from skin cancer, prevent him from getting sunburned.
- If your child will be outside for more than 30 minutes a day, use sunscreen lotion.
- Since the skin of infants is thinner, they are more sensitive to the sun. For this reason, children under 6 months of age should not be exposed to direct sun, they should be kept in the shade as much as possible. If going out in the sun, protective lotion, long clothes and a brimmed hat should be used.
Adolescents who want to tan should also use protective lotion and get used to the sun. On the first day, they should stay in the sun for 15-20 minutes, then this time should be increased by 5 minutes a day.
- Do not take children out in the sun between 10:00 and 15:00, which are the hours when the sun rays are most intense. Don't be fooled by cloudy weather, 70% of the sun's rays pass through clouds. Additionally, 30% of the sun's rays pass through sparsely woven clothes to the skin.
- Remember that sand and water reflect the sun's rays. Skin burns can occur even in the shade. A hat or umbrella cannot protect your child from reflected rays.
- Protect your child's eyes from the sun, too. Exposure to UV rays for years increases the risk of cataracts. Buy your child sunglasses with UV protection. Since cheeks, nose and shoulders burn most in the sun, protect these areas intensively with protective lotions.
Which group is at risk for sunburns?
15% of children have skin that never tans, but burns. Especially fair-skinned children have to be careful about the sun throughout their lives. If your child has light skin, If a person has blonde or red hair, freckles, blue or green eyes, or has many moles, they are more susceptible to sunburns and are therefore in the risk group for skin cancer. If these children go out in the sun even for a short time in the summer, they have to use protective lotion.
Sunscreen lotions
- There are many sunscreen products on the market. In particular, a product that protects against both UV-A and UV-B should be preferred.
- SPF (Sun Protection Factor) or filter power determines how much of the UV ray the sunscreen product transmits to the skin. shows. For example; A product with a factor of 15 transmits 1/15 of the beam, that is, 7%. Thus, it increases the safe time to spend under the sun from 20 minutes to 5 hours. Products with a protection factor higher than 15 protect for more than 5 hours. A protection factor of 15 is sufficient for the hours between 10:00 and 15:00, which are dangerous hours for sunburns. But for fair-skinned children, a protection factor of 30 is required. To put it briefly, it is necessary to use products with a protection factor of 15 and above for all children.
- It is necessary to apply protective products 30 minutes before sun exposure. The nose, cheeks, ears and shoulders should be especially well protected.
- Most products should be reapplied every 3-4 hours, and if they have sweated or been in water, they should be reapplied immediately. Water-resistant products last 30 minutes in water.
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