Introduction
Sunburn is caused by increased UV radiation on the skin from the sun. Especially babies and toddlers should pay attention to sufficient sun protection, as they are more sensitive to sunburn and the resulting damage may still be noticeable in adulthood. Symptomatic of sunburn is usually an overheated, painful, sharply defined reddish rash. Babies in particular are particularly susceptible to thermal influences due to their high ratio of body surface to body mass.
Causes
The cause of sunburn is an increased exposure of the skin to UV radiation. This plays a role especially in summer and at noon, as the intensity of radiation is highest then. The radiation leads on the one hand to direct damage to the skin cells, followed by an inflammatory reaction, and on the other hand to a change in the DNA structure, which in the long term can lead to a conversion of the cells and can thus trigger skin cancer. The direct, superficial damage manifests itself mainly through redness, overheating, pain and possibly itching.
How can I tell if my baby has a sunburn?
The most noticeable symptom of sunburn is the red coloration of the skin. It should be noted, however, that the rash usually appears with a delay. It is therefore possible that no change can be seen during the stay in the sun.
Other conspicuous symptoms are overheating of the corresponding area and pain. Itching can also occur. In this case the behaviour of the baby can be observed. At the same time, a sunburn should always be feared during a stay in the sun and therefore the baby’s skin should be checked after exposure to radiation.
Associated symptoms
The most prominent symptom is the resulting rash, also called “erythema solare”. This manifests itself by a red coloration, overheating, pain and possibly itching. In the case of more severe sunburn, swelling and blistering can also occur.
In this case and with all the symptoms mentioned below, a doctor should be consulted. Other possible complaints are fever, dizziness, nausea, fainting and severe pain. An infection of the sunburn is also possible and can manifest itself by pus discharge.
Not to be confused with sunburn is the sun allergy, which rarely occurs in combination with it. This topic might also be of interest to you: Sun allergy in childrenThe reddening of the skin is the most typical sign of sunburn and is usually extensive and sharply defined. The sharp border is caused by the demarcation between the garment and exposed skin.
The cause of the redness is on the one hand a local inflammatory reaction and on the other hand a compensatory increased blood circulation of the skin, which is supposed to remove the excess heat. The radiation-induced damage to the skin cells results in the release of inflammatory mediators, which in turn cause inflammation. This manifests itself mainly through pain, heat and redness.
Swelling and functional impairment are also possible. If a swelling of the affected area, for example of the face, also occurs during sunburn, this indicates severe sunburn and should be clarified by a doctor. The cause of the swelling is the inflammatory reaction, which is accompanied by increased blood circulation (hyperemia).
The increased water pressure in the blood vessels leads to a kind of pressing of the water into the surrounding tissue. As a result, immune cells are transported into the tissue, which can prevent or fight an infection. Pain is the third most common symptom after red coloration and overheating of the skin.
One reason is the strong irritation of the skin, which makes any additional irritation painful. In most cases, it is sufficient to wear clothing or to lie on the affected area. The inflammatory reaction releases inflammation mediators such as prostaglandins.
These cause a stronger pain sensation in the inflamed area. In addition, they can trigger a rise in body temperature and thus fever. A doctor should be consulted if the pain is very severe.
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