- Sunburns. Protect your child’s tender skin with sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or greater. Reapply it every three hours (or every two hours if you’re in the water). Don’t overdo outdoor play during peak sunlight (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
- Poisonous plants. Watch out for plants like poison ivy that proliferate in warm weather. Use Tecnu® on skin to help wash away poison ivy’s resin, which remains on clothing and pet fur if not washed quickly in hot water and may cause a recurrence. If your child gets the itch, use Calamine® lotion and give Benadryl® orally.
- Bug bites. Keep insects away with skin repellants that contain
30 percent DEET (not recommended for children under 2 months) or picaridin (only found in Cutter’s Advanced®). Apply Permethrin® to clothing to repel insects.
- Simple scrapes. Clean gently with plain soap and water. (Hydrogen peroxide may delay healing and cause tissue damage.) Antibiotic ointments may be used, but avoid topical antibiotics containing neomycin, as it may cause contact dermatitis (allergic rash). A safe alternative is plain petroleum jelly, which has proven just as effective in preventing infections.
- Chemical changes. If the juice from certain fruits (like limes and mangos) touches skin in sunlight, it can cause a rash that may be mild to severe (pink to bright red), blistery and itchy. Wash skin with soap and warm water immediately. If rash occurs, use 1 percent over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. During healing, a brown streaky discolored area may take weeks or months to disappear.
These tips can be helpful to anyone—even adults. But if any of these conditions does not clear up quickly, contact your doctor immediately.
