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Some Sunburn Remedies Can Lead To More Irritation, Allergic Reactions In Kids

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There's a good chance children are nursing a sunburn this July 4th weekend.

There are a few remedies that work, but as CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez reported, there are also some people should avoid.

Children have especially sensitive skin, which means they sunburn more easily. It also means that there are some remedies that can lead to more irritation and allergic reactions in kids than adults.

The best treatment for sunburn is prevention, and not just sunscreen, SPF clothing is important, too.

However, it's hard to keep active kids lathered and covered at all times, so sunburn still could happen.

If parents see their child's skin getting red, get out of the sun and stay out until the sunburn has healed, which could easily be a week or more.

The next thing to do is take the heat out of the burned skin. A cool water bath or cool compresses help limit the damage. Some people recommend adding dilute vinegar, witch hazel or fat-free milk to the compress as soothing astringents.

Pediatric dermatologists advise against many of the over-the-counter sunburn products. They may contain alcohol, local anesthetic and other ingredients that can lead to irritation or an allergic reaction because the skin's barrier has been damaged by the burn.

"Buying a lot of different topicals to put on the skin and help out is not necessarily the smartest thing to do," Dr. Joan Tamburro of the Cleveland Clinic said. "If you feel like you need an over-the-counter hydrocortisone, that would be helpful, but I wouldn't spend a lot of money on the aloe gels and other things that are touted to help sunburn."

In addition to the cortisone cream, pediatric Ibuprofen, Advil or Motrin also takes some of the inflammation out of the skin and eases the pain. Hydration is important, too.

"Anytime you have a severe sunburn, you're going to be dehydrated, so you've gotta keep fluids going," Tamburro said.

Another thing to avoid is soap as it dries out the already damaged skin and can make itching worse as the burn heals.

Also, heavy ointments like petroleum jelly trap heat. Use a little baby oil or fragrance-free light moisturizer after the cool bath to keep skin moist.

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