Sunburn is red, painful skin that happens from being in the sun too long. It can also happen from using a tanning bed. The redness might not be as easy to see on kids with darker skin. Sunburned skin also can be swollen or have blisters.

The symptoms of sunburn gradually fade, but getting sunburns can increase the risk of skin cancer and cause other problems. So it's important for kids and teens to protect their skin.

To help your child feel more comfortable while their sunburn heals: 

• Cool the skin by:
  • Putting cool wet compresses on the sunburned area several times a day
  • Having your child take a cool bath or shower a few times a day 
• Apply aloe vera gel (available at drugstores without a prescription) and any other lotions or creams as recommended by your health care provider.
• Give your child plenty of liquids to drink.
• If your child needs to go outside, cover the sunburned areas.
• Do not peel any loose skin or break or pop blisters.
• Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand) as needed for pain, if your health care provider says it's OK. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old. Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often.

Protect the skin from the sun:

• Use sunscreen: 
  • For kids 6 months of age and older: Apply sunscreen whenever they're outside (even when it's cloudy).
  • For babies under 6 months old: It's best to keep them in the shade or cover their skin with clothing. If needed, use sunscreen only on small areas of exposed skin that aren't covered by clothing or in the shade.
• Help your child avoid the strongest sun of the day when possible (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.).
• Keep your child in the shade when possible.
• Have your child wear light, protective clothing and a hat when out in the sun.
• Protect your child's eyes from the sun with child-sized sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection.
• Your child should not use tanning beds.

If your child takes medicine that makes them sensitive to the sun, talk to your health care provider about any special precautions to take. 

Your child:

• Has a sunburn that blisters, covers a large part of the body, or is very painful
• Is sunburned and starts to vomit, has shaking chills, or gets a fever

How do sunburns happen? The ultraviolent (UV) rays from the sun react with a chemical in the skin called melanin. A sunburn happens when the amount of UV exposure is greater than the protection of the skin's melanin. The longer someone stays in the sun and the stronger the sunlight is, the greater their risk of sunburn.

What other problems can the sun's UV rays cause? Besides sunburn, UV rays can cause skin cancer, cataracts, and early skin aging. Even on cloudy or cold days, the UV rays from the sun can cause harm. Sunscreen works by blocking UV rays.

Are kids with dark skin safe from sunburns? The lighter a child's natural skin color, the less melanin it has to absorb UV rays and protect itself. Kids with darker skin have more melanin. But no matter what their skin tone, all kids need protection from UV rays because any tanning or burning causes skin damage.