Sun Safety & Sunburn in Keiki — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted

Under the Hawaiʻi sun, protecting your keiki’s skin is year-round, everyday care — and it pays off for life. A few sunburns in childhood raise the risk of skin cancer decades later, so the habits you build now matter more than almost anything else you can do for their skin.

Why it matters so much here

UV exposure early in life is linked to skin cancer later; the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that a history of one or more childhood sunburns increases the adult risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. In Hawaiʻi, with strong UV nearly every day of the year, sun protection is not a summer-only, mainland idea.

Babies under 6 months

The AAP and FDA advise keeping babies younger than 6 months out of direct sun. Their best protection is shade and clothing — lightweight long sleeves, long pants, and a brimmed hat. When shade and clothing aren’t enough, a small amount of sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) on exposed areas like the face is acceptable, but it isn’t the first line at this age.

Older babies and children

For children over 6 months, use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher, broad-spectrum), reapply every two hours and after swimming, and pair it with hats, sun-protective clothing, and shade. The strongest rays are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. — build in shade breaks during those hours.

If a sunburn happens

Cool the skin, offer extra fluids, and use comfort measures; for a baby under 1 year, a sunburn should prompt a call to us. Blistering, a very painful burn, fever, or a lethargic child needs to be seen.

How we approach it at Ohana Care Clinic

We treat sun safety as everyday mālama ʻāina — caring for your child as they enjoy the land and sea — and build it into well-child visits so it becomes second nature for the whole ʻohana.

Getting care by telehealth

Most of our care at Ohana Care Clinic happens by secure video across Hawaiʻi. A new primary-care or pediatric patient is seen in person for the first visit at our Hilo clinic; after that, many follow-ups and quick questions work well by video. When your keiki has a rash, sting, or other concern, a photo during a video visit often tells us whether they need to be seen in person.

When to get help now

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or lips, widespread hives, fainting, or any reaction that looks life-threatening after a sting or new exposure. When in doubt, call us at (808) 867-8002 or use our symptom checker for after-hours guidance.

Medically reviewed by Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, pediatric nurse practitioner, and George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, President & Owner of Ohana Care Clinic.
Date published: July 2, 2026 · Last reviewed: July 2026 · Citations verified: July 2026

This article is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic, reviewed by Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your child’s situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you think your child may have a medical condition, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024). Sun safety: Information for parents about sunburn and sunscreen. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Sun-Safety.aspx

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Should you put sunscreen on infants? Not usually. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/should-you-put-sunscreen-infants-not-usually