Our first episode of the ‘Mother Doctor Nurse’ podcast has dropped, and boy did we have some great questions from you all!
One question we received was about treating mild baby sunburn, and how to know when you need to seek medical help. Of course, it goes without saying that prevention is better than cure, but it started a really interesting conversation about what to avoid when treating sunburn at home.
What to avoid
“I read something this morning that said, if your sunburn is blistered, make sure that you put lots of coconut oil and honey on it.”
Sarah goes on; “Now, oh, please don’t do that, particularly because things like that are going to trap heat. The sunburn is going to keep burning for quite a while.”
“It’s not like something like another burn where you can call it for 20 minutes and we’re stopping that process. It is a radiation burn. It’s going to keep getting worse for a while.”
Sarah touches on the different home first aid she has seen parents and carers try during her time as a paediatric nurse, that are not advised. These include;
- Egg whites
- Toothpaste
- Petroleum-based lotion/creams
- Coconut oil
- Honey or Jam
These home remedies should always be avoided.
So what can you try?
The best treatment for mild sunburn;
- Avoid the sun to prevent further skin damage
- Use non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to decrease pain (such as ibuprofen – always follow the directions on the label)
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (for little ones under 6 months old, offer breast or bottle – and know the signs of dehydration)
- Apply topical creams such as aloe vera or hydrocortisone (steroid) cream (steroid creams should only be applied in consultation with your doctor) while avoiding local anaesthetic creams. (As Dr. Deb mentions in the podcast she is a big fan of using aloe vera gel and she always keeps some in the fridge just in case!)
Remember – when it comes to sunburn in babies anything that is more than VERY MILD, needs medical attention. As Sarah outlines in the episode – “anything that is worse than a very minor burn – off to the doctor with the kids.”
Also – sunburn is always better prevented than treated. Listen to the full episode here where we discuss the best ways to prevent sunburn in little ones, everything you need to know about sunscreen and babies, the signs of dehydration, and more!
Episode 2 of ‘Mother Doctor Nurse’ will answer your questions on the common illnesses in children. Make sure you let us know your questions here, and tune in (wherever you listen) on February 13 when the episode drops.
References
Guerra KC, Crane JS. Sunburn. [Updated 2022 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534837/
The Australian College of Dermatologists: Sun protection and Sunscreens
https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/sun-protection-sunscreens/
Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne: Sun Protection
