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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

Would you keep your teen home with sunburn?

22 replies

champagnetruffleshuffle · 27/04/2021 07:52

My dd 13 laid in the sun in a bikini at the weekend without suncream on. It wasn't warm, so she didn't think she'd burn and I was out so unable to educate her. She burnt her front quite a lot and is in pain. We've cooled it, kept fluids up and used aloe vera gel and it's calming. She's getting in a state about going to school today. She was off yesterday and I feel it is unreasonable to have 2 days off when it was self inflicted. WWYD?

OP posts:

Pinchoftums · 27/04/2021 07:54

If it's so bad that she can't go to school two days later she should get medical attention. Otherwise off to school!

Hellocatshome · 27/04/2021 07:56

Does she not want to go to school because she is red and embarrassed or because wearing clothes hurts her skin? If she is embarrassed then hard luck off to school she goes, if her skin is still really painful then I would maybe be slightly more sympathetic.

Temp023 · 27/04/2021 07:59

Paracetamol and off she goes.
Valuable lesson learnt hopefully!

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Original poster

champagnetruffleshuffle · 27/04/2021 08:01

It's not so bad that she needs the docs, not blistering and it is improving a bit. I don't think she's embarrassed, her uniform will hide it. She just hasn't been burnt before like this. I know it's painful but two days seem ott. Trouble is she is 13, I can't dress her, she's getting upset and it's all going down hill!!

OP posts:

indiakulfi · 27/04/2021 08:02

She either goes to the doctor or goes to school.

MrsTophamHat · 27/04/2021 08:03

Assuming she wants to be off because she is red and embarassed I think it depends on a few things. If she is generally confident and has a decent friendship group then I would be sending her straight in. However, I don't think I would be sending her in feeling self conscious if she was a target of bullying or had issues with confidence.

Whinge · 27/04/2021 08:03

@indiakulfi

She either goes to the doctor or goes to school.

I agree with this.

I'm guessing she liked having yesterday off too much, and is trying to milk the situation for another day or 2. If she doesn't go to the doctors then she goes to school.

Figgygal · 27/04/2021 08:03

Harsh lesson but yeah I’d have her at school
In fact she’d have gone yesterday too

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 27/04/2021 08:04

The level of sunburn that she can get in the uk in april is not worth time off school!

Deadringer · 27/04/2021 08:05

I would leave her off.

RestingPandaFace · 27/04/2021 08:05

I would send her in, and maybe give her a couple of paracetamol to take at lunchtime. It’s a valuable opportunity to teach resilience.

PinkPlantCase · 27/04/2021 08:07

To put it another way would it be okay to have time off work for sun burn?

Send her in

Spudlet · 27/04/2021 08:07

I did something similar at a similar age, although during the school holidays. I did my face too, it was awful. If her uniform will hide it, I’d give her some paracetamol and send her in, but if she’s likely to be bullied because of it I’d let her stay at home but make her do some home studying. I was bullied about my appearance anyway (I’m a redhead, so you can imagine), so going to school looking like Mrs Tomatohead would have only made things ten times worse.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 27/04/2021 08:08

If she stays home I'd make her do a research paper on the long term effects of tanning.

Make staying home an unpleasant option!

Sexnotgender · 27/04/2021 08:09

She needs to go to school or the doctors.

If she refuses there needs to be some consequences.

BarefootHippieChick · 27/04/2021 08:11

Having been permanently sunburnt every summer as a kid, back in the days when we'd never heard of suntan lotion 😁 I don't recall ever having time off school because of it. If she's not in major pain then paracetamol and off to school!

saraclara · 27/04/2021 08:15

Of course she should go to school. She should have been there yesterday too. Non-blistering sunburn isn't a reason to be off.

Is there something else going on?

Thatwentbadly · 27/04/2021 08:20

It must have been warm if she was able to lay outside in a bikini. Does she have sun stroke too or just sunburn? I think I would go for the school or doctors option.

Original poster

champagnetruffleshuffle · 27/04/2021 08:27

Thanks for all the replies. Love the idea re the tanning research paper! I tend to agree it's wrong to stay off for this as I never have.

She's generally really good about school and has a good friendship group, doesn't like to miss out etc but she can be a bit dramatic.

Having removed the aloe gel from last night there are some ?welts on her neck and shoulder. Going to call docs for advice...

OP posts:

KFleming · 27/04/2021 08:28

I’m surprised she was off yesterday for it. Of course the sunburn you describe isn’t a reason to stay off school!

itsgettingwierd · 27/04/2021 08:33

It is hot enough for burn atm.

I'm extremely well versed on sunburn and sun are having lived abroad for 7 years.

Yet - Sunday am I sat outside for a brunch with friends for 2 hours. I was out there from 10-12! It was windy and I had shorts and fleece on.

I managed to burn a lovely stripe down one leg where the sun shone on it 🤦🏼‍♀️

Sunburn can be really sore as painful. You need plenty of body temp showers and you're right about keeping up fluids. The risk is more sun stroke from dehydration than the actual burn - but she needs educating also about her the risks of constant exposure at this level long term.

I remember my mum telling me the higher the factor - the longer it takes to get a tan - the deeper the tan and the longer it lasts.

Who knows if that's bollocks or not but as someone nicknamed Casper during winter months who tans like they have olive skin it was enough to convince me

Original poster

champagnetruffleshuffle · 27/04/2021 08:57

Thanks. I've always slathered the dc in cream while they protested, now she's 13 and more independent she definitely needs educating.

I'm not a pushover mum, but she is in a lot of pain, especially across her stomach making it hard to wear clothes. If it were just arms and legs it'd be easier to send her.

Docs are calling back and I'll see what they say.

OP posts:

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