Sunburn
Summer is here and many of us will be spending more time on the beach than at other times of the year. It is a good time to take a moment to remember the safety of the "slip, slop, slap" message to avoid sunburn and reduce skin cancer risk. What, though, do we do if we do get burned?
Unfortunately, there is no fast-fix sunburn treatment. Once sunburn occurs, you can't do much to limit damage to your skin. However, the following tips may reduce your pain and discomfort in the hours and days following sunburn:
Take anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen etc), on a regular basis according to the label instructions until redness and soreness subsides and take note of the warning regarding their use especially in those with a history of peptic ulcer.
Apply cold compresses - such as a towel dampened with cool tap water - to the affected skin. Or take a cool bath. Drink plenty of water.
Apply a moisturizing cream, aloe or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to affected skin.
A low-dose (0.5 percent to 1 percent) hydrocortisone cream may decrease pain and swelling, and speed up healing.
Some dermatologists warn against using products that claim to relieve sunburn pain but may actually irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction. These include topical "-caine" products, such as benzocaine.
Keep in mind that it may take four to six hours after sun exposure to know the full extent and severity of sunburn. If blisters form, don't break them. They contain your natural body fluid (serum) and are a protective layer. Also, breaking blisters slows the healing process and increases the risk of infection. If needed, you can lightly cover blisters with gauze.
Within a few days, your body will start to heal itself by getting rid of the top layer of damaged skin - the "peeling" process. Following this process, your skin may have an irregular colour and pattern for a time.
Seek medical care for sunburn if:
-Severe sunburn covers a large portion of your body with blisters
-Sunburn is accompanied by a high fever or extreme pain
-Severe sunburn doesn't respond to at-home care within a few days
Stings
Another hazard in summer for Australians at the beach is jellyfish. The commonest cause of stings to swimmers is the bluebottle. No deaths from bluebottle stings have been confirmed in Australia but they can still be extremely painful.
Application of hot compresses or immersion in a hot shower is recommended now as the toxin is heat sensitive. This is more effective than cold compresses if available. Forceps can be used to remove tentacles and then cold packs can be used. Vinegar is not recommended.
More dangerous are the stings from the box jellyfish and the much smaller Irukandji jellyfish. These are found in beaches and off shore reefs in Northern Australia as well as Thailand, Indonesia, PNG and The Philippines. The last Australian death was in 2003 in Thailand and it has been found to be the cause of over 60 deaths in the region. Deaths in adults are relatively uncommon with most fatalities occurring in children swimming without protection in unpatrolled beaches.
Ways to avoid stings include avoiding swimming after the onset of the wet season from October until April. As this isn't practical for most tourists minimisation of risk is important.
Jellyfish nets are effective against box jelly fish but not Irukandji. Lycra swimsuits-long sleeved, and lycra wetsuits are recommended.
Swimming at patrolled beach and being aware of beach reports is also helpful.
Symptoms of a sting from a box jellyfish include:
-severe local pain
-redness
-confusion
- agitation
-collapse
Treatment includes:
- resuscitation
- inactivating stingers with dilute vinegar
- antivenom if available
Irukandji stings usually cause milder pain with a syndrome of abdominal and joint pain, sweating, nausea and headache about 30minutes after the sting. Treatment is usually in hospital for pain relief and blood pressure treatment.
Otherwise when at the beach always swim between the flags at a patrolled beach and make someone aware of where you are. Children of course need special attention and supervision even in shallow water.
Dehydration
Babies and young children should be watched carefully during hot weather. They can quickly lose body fluids through perspiring, which can lead to dehydration. They need to drink regularly, wear light clothing and be kept cool.
Warning signs of dehydration:
Dehydration may be a risk if your child:
- Is not eating or drinking
- Is sleepy
- Is irritable or crying
-Has fewer wet nappies
- Has hot and dry skin
- Has a dry mouth
- Has a body temperature near 40°C
- Vomits or has diarrhoea
- Has a rise in temperature.
If you notice one or more of these signs, take your child to a doctor or hospital.
Things to remember:
- Babies overheat quickly in hot weather.
- Give babies and young children extra drinks in hot weather.
- Dress them in cool clothing and use sunscreen.
-Let them sleep in the coolest room in the house.
- Never leave children in the car.
- To cool hot little bodies, try frequent lukewarm baths or sponge them down with a cool washer
- Offer frequent drinks to avoid dehydration
