Infant sunburn: what parents should know

Sunburn is an inflammatory reaction after ultraviolet exposure. On delicate infant skin it may cause redness, warmth, tenderness, irritability, or later peeling. Blisters suggest a deeper injury and need medical guidance. Sunburn can affect the face, shoulders, back, arms, legs, or any uncovered area; redness may be harder to judge on darker skin, so warmth and discomfort also matter.

A baby cannot reliably describe pain or thirst. Watch feeding, wet nappies, alertness, and behaviour alongside the skin changes. Sun-damaged skin can be explored in Sun-Damaged Skin, while the condition overview is Sunburn.

Move the baby indoors or into deep shade and keep the affected skin covered from direct sun. Cool the area with a lukewarm, damp cloth for short periods; avoid ice, vigorous rubbing, and fragranced products. Offer usual breastfeeds or formula more often if the baby is willing, and keep clothing loose and soft.

Do not pop blisters or peel loose skin. A clinician can advise whether a simple emollient is suitable after the skin has cooled; see Emollient Therapy for related information. Do not apply steroid creams or adult after-sun products unless a healthcare professional specifically recommends them.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly for an infant with any blistering, marked swelling, extensive redness, severe pain, fever, repeated vomiting, unusual sleepiness, poor feeding, or fewer wet nappies. Seek urgent help if the baby is difficult to wake, breathing abnormally, or appears seriously unwell. Eye-area exposure, facial swelling, or a burn after prolonged heat exposure also warrants prompt assessment.

Ask whether the burn needs an examination, which moisturiser is appropriate, how to manage discomfort for the baby’s age, and when normal bathing and outdoor activity can resume. Ask how to protect the infant from ultraviolet exposure without overheating.