Summer is a time when many Americans will celebrate outdoors at beaches, pools and cookouts, but without proper sun protection, they put themselves and their children at risk of getting sunburned, which increases the chances of developing skin cancer.

A recent American Academy of Dermatology survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults revealed that one-third of American parents reported having a child who was sunburned in 2022. Sunburn, which is the result of skin receiving too much exposure from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, can cause long-lasting damage to the skin.

People can avoid sunburn by seeking shade, remembering that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.. Additionally, people should wear a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection, when possible.

The third component of sun protection is applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing and reapplying every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

If you get a sunburn, it is important to begin treating it as soon as possible, so the best thing to do is get out of the sun and go indoors.

The AAD recommend the following tips to help relieve discomfort from a sunburn:

• Take frequent cool baths or showers to help relieve the pain. As soon as you get out of the bathtub or shower, gently pat yourself dry, but leave a little water on your skin. Then, apply a moisturizer to help trap the water in your skin. This can help ease the dryness.

• Use a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe sunburned skin. If a particular area feels especially uncomfortable, you may want to apply a hydrocortisone cream that you can buy without a prescription. Do not treat sunburn with “-caine” products (such as benzocaine), as these may irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction.

• Consider taking aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce any swelling, redness and discomfort.

• Drink extra water. A sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface and away from the rest of the body. Drinking extra water when you are sunburned helps prevent dehydration.

• If your skin blisters, allow the blisters to heal. Blistering skin means you have a second-degree sunburn. You should not pop the blisters, as blisters form to help your skin heal and protect you from infection.

• Take extra care to protect sunburned skin while it heals. Wear clothing that covers your skin when outdoors. Tightly-woven fabrics work best. When you hold the fabric up to a bright light, you shouldn’t see any light coming through.

If your skin starts to blister and you feel unwell from the blisters or heat exhaustion, then you should seek care from an emergency room. Similarly, if the blisters are very large, you’ll want to seek medical care. If you have any questions about ways to properly protect yourself and your family from the sun, send us an email at info@dralillianaramarez.com.