Healthy habits while enjoying fun in the sun

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By Haleigh Horton | UAB Community Health & Human Services Program Student

Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com

As we approach spring and then move into the summer, it is important to begin considering again our exposure to the sun. Did you know that the beautiful rays that we get from sunlight may also pose a risk to yours and your child’s skin? Focusing on children, it is important to learn how sunshine can affect your child’s skin and learn simple steps to protect them. From wearing protective clothing to using sunscreen, these practices can safeguard your family from harm and promote a healthier sunshine habits. Specific to southern United States, where the sun’s warmth is abundant, it’s vital to be aware of the potential risks posed to children’s delicate skin from harmful UV exposure. Extended sun exposure can lead to various health issues, particularly for children with sensitive skin. The risks go beyond sunburn, encompassing long-term consequences such as premature aging and an increased risk of skin cancer.

To protect children, proactive measures like wearing protective clothing, applying sunscreen, and seeking shade during peak sunlight hours are important. Embracing sun protection practices ensures the enjoyment of the outdoors while minimizing potential harm to young skin, promoting a healthier future for our little ones. To turn these practices into habits, it is important to incorporate sun protection measures into your daily routine. Wearing protective clothing and adding sunscreen through daily when applying lotion not only reduce the risk of skin cancer, including severe forms like melanoma, but also prevent sunburn, signaling skin damage. Additionally, embracing sun protection promotes
overall skin health by maintaining moisture, preventing dryness, and minimizing premature aging. Sun protection is regarded has not only a benefit to ones long term health, but also is recognized as a part of one self-care regimen. Thusly, wearing wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves, becomes a proactive measure against harmful UV rays. Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF (i.e., 30 SPF or higher) before outdoor activities (i.e., including school or extracurricular activities) offers an additional layer of defense. Seeking shade during peak sunlight hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., becomes a strategic choice to minimize direct sun exposure.

As parents in the South, protecting our children from sun exposure is vital. During spring and summer months, let’s remember to cover up, use the right sunscreen, and be
mindful of peak sunlight hours. Understanding the risks of skin cancer and premature aging highlights the importance of consistent sun protection. By prioritizing sun safety, we contribute to our children’s long-term wellbeing, shaping a healthier future. Let’s champion our kids health together, ensuring our children thrive while under the sun and foster a culture of skin health awareness. For more information about, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website on sun safety here. Do you have additional sun safe tips to share? If so, please share in the comments section here and/or share on a Facebook page @WilkinsonWellnessLab.

References

American Academy of Dermatology Association (n.d.). Sunscreen FAQs. https://www.aad.org/media/stats-sunscreen

Raymond-Lezman, J. R., & Riskin, S. (2023). Attitudes, Behaviors, and Risks of Sun Protection to Prevent Skin Cancer Amongst Children, Adolescents, and Adults. Cureus, 15(2), e34934. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.34934

Salvado, M., Fraga, A., Marques, D. L., Pires, I. M., Gonçalves, C. C., & Silva, N. M. (2021).
Sun Exposure in Pediatric Age: Perspective of Caregivers. Children (Basel, Switzerland),
8(11), 1019. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8111019

SickKids staff. (2024). What’s the best way to protect kids’ skin from sunburn?
HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/whats-the-best-way-toprotect-kids-skin-from-sunburn.aspx

OUCH! Tips on Treating Wasp Stings

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By Jessica Feagin | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My 5-year-old son was playing in the backyard one afternoon, and he came into the house crying, saying he had been stung by a wasp. I immediately comforted him because I remembered the pain I felt when I was stung by a wasp as a child. The side of his face where he was stung had a welt and turned red. That side of his face had also swollen. I immediately researched how to treat a wasp sting to ensure my son would feel better.

Wasp stings are common and only sting when irritated by a person or their nest has been disturbed. Wasps keep their stinger. Therefore, they can sting several times. During a sting, wasps will also inject venom into the skin. Although painful and causes some discomfort, wasp stings can be treated at home. The pain from a wasp sting typically doesn’t last any more than one day, and swelling can last a couple of days. Symptoms of wasp stings can include pain in the area where it stung, redness, swelling, itching, and possibly hives if you have a reaction to the sting. Seek medical attention if you have been stung in the throat, nose, or mouth or experience life-threatening allergic reactions such as tightness in the throat or chest, uncontrolled coughing, profuse sweating, hives over large areas of the body, and dizziness or fainting (WebMD Editorial Contributors, 2020). WebMD (2020) has made some suggestions on how to treat a wasp sting at home:

  • Wash the sting area with warm soap and water to remove any venom or bacteria the wasp could have carried.
  • Apply a cold compress for about 30 to 60 minutes, with intervals of 10 minutes on and off, to reduce pain and swelling from the wasp sting.
  • Take an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen to help relieve pain from the sting.
  • Apply an antihistamine such as a corticosteroid or calamine lotion to relieve itchiness in the area.

Wasp stings are common, but do not let that prevent you or your children from playing outdoors. Wasp will sting you as a self-defense mechanism, so you must avoid them. However, if you or a loved one is stung by a wasp, there are home remedies that will help relieve the discomforts that come from the sting.

References

WebMD Editorial Contributors. (2020, November 20). Remedies for wasp stings. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/remedies-wasp-sting