A MUM is warning others of the dangers of shunning sunscreen after her son suffered third degree burns in the heatwave.
Nicola Williams told her son Nathan Herbert to take a bottle of factor 50 lotion with him when he headed out in the sun last week.
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But the 11-year-old, from Rhyl, ignored her advice and went for a swim at the beach with his mates in 30C heat on Thursday.
That decision has left the youngster with agonising third degree burns and agonising blisters across his back.
He’s been in so much pain that he hasn’t been able to wear a t-shirt or lie down on his back – forcing Nicola to cancel his birthday party on Sunday.
The 32-year-old said she took him to see a doctor the following day who confirmed he had suffered second and third degree burns.
‘Learnt the hard way’
He was prescribed antibiotics and he was treated with silicone dressings and burns cream.
Nicola has had to apply a new dressing everyday, but each time it has ripped off a layer of skin.
Speaking to North Wales Live, she said: “It’s not very nice at all, he’s in a lot of pain with it.”
She added: “Children don’t take it seriously, I had bought factor 50 sun cream and told him he must put it on before he left, but he never did.
“He’d been in the pool all week and kept complaining about having to put it on.
“I feel awful for him, he’s definitely learnt his lesson the hard way.”
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Last week, we reported that a teenager had been left with agonising giant balloon-shaped blisters after getting sunburned on holiday.
Maisie Squires, 16, from Leeds, suffered severe burns to her entire back while snorkelling with her family in Cuba.
She says she had been wearing sun cream but just an hour was long enough for the tropical rays to cook her skin.
The teen posted shocking images on Facebook showing that her blisters were so bad they stuck out from underneath her t-shirt.
Beat the burn: A pharmacist’s top 10 tips for sun protection
MAKING sure you are wearing the right amount of sunscreen will protect your from the lobster look and skin cancer
Lloyds Pharmacy pharmacist Michael Wong gives his top tips on staying sun smart:
- Reapply sun cream a minimum of every two hours and make sure you always reapply after swimming, exercise, sweating and towelling
- If you have moles or freckles, make sure you wear a minimum SPF30
- Wear water resistant sunscreen while swimming and don’t forget to apply sun protection under your swim wear as the garments can move around
- Use a golf-ball sized (or six teaspoons) amount of sun cream to cover your entire body
- People tend to burn their nose more than any other body part, so don’t forget to apply sun cream there, as well as to the tops of your ears and the delicate skin on your lips
- Seek shade wherever possible especially between the hours of 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest
- Wear protective loose fitting clothing and a sun hat
- Don’t forget to protect your eyes, choose sunglasses that protect your eyes against UV rays
- Drink plenty of water, dehydrated skin is more prone to sun damage
- If you have a history of sun damage or skin cancer you should always wear the highest sun protection and seek shade whenever possible
Experts have urged people to make sure they are applying adequate suncream, especially while swimming.
A spokesperson from the British Association of Dermatologists told The Sun: “When swimming, particularly snorkelling which exposes your back to the sun for a long period, when the UV index is high then you need to take extra precautions.
“Sunscreen will quickly wash off, so protective clothing such as a rash vest is a necessity.”
They added: “Prevention is always better than a cure when it comes to sunburn, as the ‘cure’ will only do so much, and the damage to the skin can’t be reversed.
“When it comes to protecting yourself we recommend staying in the shade between 11am-3pm, applying sunscreen with an SPF 30 and good UVA protection, and using protective clothing such as a hat, t-shirt, and sunglasses.
“Cases of severe sunburn, particularly in young children, should be seen by a doctor.
“If you suffer severe blistering then you should get help immediately, which means a trip to your local A&E.”
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