
Make sure sunscreen is within its use-by date, and keep it stored in a cool, shady place under 30☌.
SUNBURNED EYEBALLS SKIN
Put it liberally on your child’s face, hands and any other parts of skin that aren’t covered by clothes.
SUNBURNED EYEBALLS PATCH
For older babies, test the sunscreen on a small patch of skin inside the forearm for a few days to check there is no reaction.Ĭhoose broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen that is at least SPF 30+. Using sunscreen is not recommended if your baby is under 6 months. Sunscreenīabies have very sensitive skin that can react to sunscreen. Look for sunglasses labelled AS/NZS 1067:2016. You can find sunglasses for babies with soft elastic to keep them in place.

Remember you still need sun protection in the shade because some UV can still reach your baby. You can create shade from the pram, play area or window covers. Your baby should preferably be in a dark shadow.

For young babies, make sure the fabric will crumple easily when they lie down and place the strap at the back of the head to prevent them from choking. Slap on a broad-brimmed bucket or legionnaire-style hat to protect your baby’s face, neck and ears. For babies over 6 months, apply sunscreen 15 to 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours. Use loose fitting, densely woven clothes, preferably rated UPF 50 (ultraviolet protection factor 50). Slip on clothing that covers as much of the baby’s skin as possible. Check the following sources for the UV Index in your area and information on the times of day when you need to use sun protection:īabies and children most need sun protection whenever UV Index levels reach 3 or above as shown by the daily sun protection times. The amount of UV varies across Australia. Plan your day so you avoid going out in the sun during the middle hours of the day in summer, when UV levels are at their highest. You should keep babies under 12 months away from direct sunlight when UV levels reach 3 or above. A UV index of 3 or above means the UV radiation level is high enough to damage your skin and lead to skin cancer. Each point on the index corresponds to 25 milliwatts of UV radiation per square metre. The UV Index tells you how intense UV radiation is at any time during the day. Your baby can also be exposed to UV radiation while you are walking with them in the pram, driving, or if their clothing isn’t positioned correctly. The UV can still reach them on cool or overcast days, or if it’s reflected off water, sand or snow. Remember your child doesn’t need to be directly in the sun to be burned by UV radiation. It is also a major cause of people going on to develop skin cancer in later life.Ĭancer Council Australia recommends you should take several steps to protect your baby or child from the sun whenever the UV index reaches 3 or above. Being exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can lead to sunburn and eye damage. Babies have sensitive skin that can burn easily. "Patching will help the eye be more comfortable, but this gets better almost always on its own.You need to protect your child from the sun from the day they are born. "The eye is going to make new cells," Schwab said.

Any brand that documents ultraviolet protection should be sufficient."Īnd as Cooper, who likely got burned by light reflecting off of water learned, the best treatment was time. "It can be prevented by wearing ultraviolet sunglasses, which is like sunscreen for the eyes and they don't have to be the most expensive brand. "The damage is done to the membrane of the cell and it breaks down," Schwab told. Schwab, a national correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. It turns out not just fair-skinned people, like the newsman, are susceptible to the condition, which occurs when ultraviolet light reflects off a surface such as water or snow, said Dr. "I wake up in the middle of the night and it feels like my eyes are on fire, my eyeballs," he said on his talk show, Anderson. "Temporarily blinded last week while on assignment. The reporter, who was on assignment for CBS' 60 Minutes, shared a photo of himself Tuesday on Instagram with his right eye covered by a patch. Sunburn, usually associated with red, burning skin can also occur on the eyeballs, as journalist Anderson Cooper learned while on a reporting trip in Portugal when he went blind for 36 hours. (Image Credit: Anderson Cooper/Instagram)
