tag:theconversation.com,2011:/us/topics/moisturiser-20465/articlesmoisturiser – The Conversation2020-12-31T20:19:29Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1500702020-12-31T20:19:29Z2020-12-31T20:19:29ZHow to treat sunburn pain, according to skin experts<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/372698/original/file-20201203-17-2nbdx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2275&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>So you’re one of the <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/media-releases/2020/kids-of-the-80s-and-90s-failing-the-slip-slop-slap-ometer">21% of Australians</a> who got sunburnt last weekend.</p>
<p>While we should be avoiding sunburn, it’s sometimes easier said than done in the Australian sun.</p>
<p>What can you do once you realise you’re turning into a temporary lobster?</p>
<h2>First, the bad news</h2>
<p>Once you’re sunburnt, you can’t undo the damage to your DNA and skin structures, and you can’t speed up skin healing. You can only treat the symptoms.</p>
<p>Sunburn is a <a href="https://www.clinicalkey.com.au/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S0733863514000175?returnurl=https:%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0733863514000175%3Fshowall%3Dtrue&referrer=https:%2F%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F24891049%2F">radiation burn</a> caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, causing extensive damage to the DNA in your skin. When your skin’s <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709783/">DNA monitoring and repair system</a> judges there’s too much damage to fix, it flags the cells for destruction and calls in the immune system to finish the job.</p>
<p>The immune cells and extra fluid squeezing into the skin cause the swelling, redness, heat and pain we know as sunburn. Blisters develop when whole sheets of cells die and lift away, and fluid fills in the space below. Later, dry peeling results when large sheets of dead cells peel off to make way for fresh ones.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Skin peeling, also called desquamation, after a sunburn." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/371862/original/file-20201130-19-lfmmsq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/371862/original/file-20201130-19-lfmmsq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=542&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371862/original/file-20201130-19-lfmmsq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=542&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371862/original/file-20201130-19-lfmmsq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=542&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371862/original/file-20201130-19-lfmmsq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=681&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371862/original/file-20201130-19-lfmmsq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=681&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371862/original/file-20201130-19-lfmmsq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=681&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">By the time you get to skin peeling, or ‘desquamation’, your sunburn is almost completely healed.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skin_peeling.jpg">Rjelves/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-happens-to-your-skin-when-you-get-sunburnt-53865">Explainer: what happens to your skin when you get sunburnt?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>However, while your skin does its thing, you can manage the symptoms and make yourself more comfortable.</p>
<h2>Step 1: Prevent further damage and assess your burn</h2>
<p>First, get out of the sun until the redness and pain have subsided, even if this takes several days. The full effects of a sunburn can take <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sunburn">up to three days</a> to develop, and further UV exposure will only compound the damage. </p>
<p>Next, assess whether to seek medical help. <a href="https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/sunburn/">Severe cases</a> can involve <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534837/">second-degree burns</a>, which disrupt the lower layer of skin, the dermis, and stop the skin from regulating fluid loss effectively. If you have a second-degree burn across a large area of you body, complications can include electrolyte imbalances due to large amounts of fluid loss, or shock, also due to extreme fluid loss. Secondary infections are also possible since the upper layer of skin is no longer acting as a tough barrier to germs. You should definitely <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sunburn">see a doctor</a> <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sunburn#doctor">if you</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>have large areas of blistered skin, especially on the face</p></li>
<li><p>have severe swelling</p></li>
<li><p>can’t manage the pain with over-the-counter painkillers</p></li>
<li><p>experience fevers, chills, nausea, dizziness or confusion.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Blistered sunburn in <a href="https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Sun_safety/">children</a> needs immediate attention from your GP. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A severely sunburnt, swollen hand with a pale patch where the skin was protected by a watch." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/371859/original/file-20201130-18-bvjvpo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/371859/original/file-20201130-18-bvjvpo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371859/original/file-20201130-18-bvjvpo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371859/original/file-20201130-18-bvjvpo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371859/original/file-20201130-18-bvjvpo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371859/original/file-20201130-18-bvjvpo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371859/original/file-20201130-18-bvjvpo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Swollen sunburn means you need to see a doctor.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E6%97%A5%E7%84%BC%E3%81%91.jpeg">Uddey/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Step 2: Ease the suffering</h2>
<p>As with a thermal burn, <a href="https://www.stjohnvic.com.au/news/first-aid-for-sunburn/">water</a> is your friend. Drink plenty to correct any dehydration from being in the sun too long and replenish the fluid being drawn into your skin. <a href="https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/treat-sunburn">Cool baths, showers</a> or damp cloths ease the sensation of heat and can be used as often as you like throughout the day. Avoid putting ice on a sunburn, as this can make matters <a href="https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Burns_prevention_and_first_aid/">worse</a> by causing <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC428524/">intense vasoconstriction</a>, where blood vessels narrow sharply and cut off local blood supply to already damaged skin.</p>
<p>Moisturising lotions can also help soothe by <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sunburn">keeping moisture in</a>, but avoid skin-numbing creams unless prescribed by your doctor. Any water-based moisturiser should do, including aloe vera gel.</p>
<p>Despite its popularity as a home remedy, there’s surprisingly little research on aloe vera for sunburn specifically. There’s promising data for its use in <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/ten.teb.2020.0236">wound healing</a>, but many studies investigated aloe extracts taken orally, rather than gel on the skin. In any case, a commercial aloe vera gel won’t do you any harm if you find it soothing. However, gel straight from the plant in your garden comes with a risk of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7197909/">soil-borne</a> infections in skin that’s already damaged (warning: gruesome pictures in that link).</p>
<p>Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol can take the sting out of your sunburn and help you rest more comfortably. If your skin is very itchy, try an <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sunburn/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355928">antihistamine</a>. <a href="https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/treat-sunburn">US</a> <a href="https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=sunburn-and-children-90-P01929">guidelines</a> also often suggest low-dose (0.5-1%) hydrocortisone cream; there’s not much evidence for its effectiveness, but it also won’t hurt you to try it for a few days.</p>
<p>If you have blisters, <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sunburn">try not to pop them</a> as that exposes the damaged skin underneath to infection; cover them up with a wound dressing if you’re tempted.</p>
<p>While none of these remedies will fix the damage in the way antibiotics fix an infection, they will make you more comfortable while your skin gets on with healing itself.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/mondays-medical-myth-were-not-getting-enough-sun-10205">Monday's medical myth: we’re not getting enough sun</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Step 3: Make a plan</h2>
<p>While you’re stuck inside, pinpoint how you got burnt and how you might prevent it next time. Most sunburn happens when you did not expect to be outdoors for long, or when you thought sunburn was unlikely because the weather was cool, windy or cloudy. UV radiation is still present in these conditions, but you don’t have the benefit of feeling hot to remind you to get out of the sun.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A man's sunburnt feet with white lines showing where the skin was protected by his thong straps." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/371857/original/file-20201130-19-1sthidw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/371857/original/file-20201130-19-1sthidw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371857/original/file-20201130-19-1sthidw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371857/original/file-20201130-19-1sthidw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371857/original/file-20201130-19-1sthidw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371857/original/file-20201130-19-1sthidw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/371857/original/file-20201130-19-1sthidw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Did you forget to put sunscreen on a section of your body?</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thongs_and_burns_(63364058).jpg">Charlie Brewer/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here are a few familiar scenarios:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>got burnt when you unexpectedly had to park 10 minutes’ walk away? Apply sunscreen as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12873">part of your daily routine</a> whenever the UV index will be 3 or over. This will protect you from these sneaky sunburns and also from sub-sunburn levels of UV damage. Don’t worry — there’s no evidence wearing sunscreen every day will make you <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30945275/">vitamin D deficient</a> or cause a <a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/spotlight-cder-science-new-fda-study-shines-light-sunscreen-absorption">toxic</a> <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/literature-review-safety-titanium-dioxide-and-zinc-oxide-nanoparticles-sunscreens">build-up</a> of chemicals in your body </p></li>
<li><p>arrived at the cricket and realised you left your hat or sunscreen at home? Many venues offer free sunscreen, so ask at the check-in or the health and safety officer</p></li>
<li><p>coming in from the beach, garden or bike ride just a bit too late? Sunscreen <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hpja.301">won’t protect you all day</a>, so make sun-protective clothes part of your regular attire — a rashie, long-sleeved shirt, or UV-protective armguards and leggings</p></li>
<li><p>got to the park BBQ when all the shady spots were taken? Arrange your next outing to avoid the most UV-intense middle of the day. The <a href="https://www.sunsmart.com.au/tools/interactive-tools/free-sunsmart-app">SunSmart app</a> or <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/">Bureau of Meteorology</a> weather report will tell you the UV forecast and when you need sun protection</p></li>
<li><p>forgot to reapply sunscreen? Set an alarm on your phone next time to remind you. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>The more you practise this kind of thinking, the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejsp.674">easier it will become</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A screenshot of the SunSmart app showing the UV forecast for Brisbane and recommending sun protection between 7:30am and 3:20pm." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/372704/original/file-20201203-19-1hlqci5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/372704/original/file-20201203-19-1hlqci5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=1020&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/372704/original/file-20201203-19-1hlqci5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=1020&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/372704/original/file-20201203-19-1hlqci5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=1020&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/372704/original/file-20201203-19-1hlqci5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1282&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/372704/original/file-20201203-19-1hlqci5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1282&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/372704/original/file-20201203-19-1hlqci5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1282&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The SunSmart app will tell you when you need to use sun protection based on your location.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">SunSmart app</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/150070/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Monika Janda receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Harry LLoyd foundation, and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>H. Peter Soyer receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Metro South Health Research Support Scheme, the Harry LLoyd Foundation, and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. He is also a minor shareholder of MoleMap NZ Limited and undertakes regular teledermatological reporting for MoleMap. In addition, he is a Medical Consultant for Canfield Scientific Inc, a Medical Advisor for First Derm and Revenio Research Oy.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Katie Lee does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Home remedies like aloe vera and moisturiser might help you “feel” better. But they won’t fix the skin damage in the way antibiotics fix an infection.Katie Lee, Research assistant, The University of QueenslandMonika Janda, Professor in Behavioural Science, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1197842019-08-09T14:41:54Z2019-08-09T14:41:54ZMedical skin creams could be a lethal fire risk when soaked into fabric – here’s what you need to know<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287362/original/file-20190808-144868-rwrhqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3000%2C1989&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/old-women-applying-lotion-on-hand-438938872?src=r7YjXez6vBkiIIF9byXniQ-1-40">Rarin Lee/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Care providers were alerted to a house fire involving one of their patients at 4am on May 30, 2015. The fire and rescue services discovered a 74-year-old lady who had succumbed to a blaze that developed rapidly while she was still lying in bed. She had been bed bound, known to smoke in bed and was being treated for a skin condition. </p>
<p>A year later, a 61-year-old man who was also a smoker, bed bound and had emollient applied to his skin by carers was found dead in his bed after an intense fire. A year after that, an 82-year-old man died with third degree burns when his dressing gown came into contact with a lighter. He was also receiving daily applications of a cream and ointment.</p>
<p>What do all of these tragic deaths have in common? The victims were all being treated with creams for their skin conditions. While the fires were caused by smoking, the authorities reported that they were made more intense by the presence of these emollients. </p>
<h2>A hidden danger</h2>
<p>In the UK, one in five children and one in 12 adults will suffer <a href="http://www.eczema.org/about-us">from eczema</a> and <a href="http://www.bad.org.uk/for-the-public/patient-information-leaflets">2-3% of the population have psoriasis</a>. Medical creams, lotions and ointments are widely used to treat these conditions and can be prescribed or bought over the counter. They often include instructions to apply liberally, with multiple applications during the day. This results in the product soaking into clothing, dressings and bedding.</p>
<p>Several deaths from fires have been linked with the use of these skin emollients. A <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39308748">BBC freedom of information request</a> revealed that 37 fire deaths since 2010 have been linked to creams that contain paraffin. But fire reports don’t require such information to be included and not all fire services responded to questions. So the actual number of deaths and injuries may be higher.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-batteries-have-started-catching-fire-so-often-68602">Why batteries have started catching fire so often</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>It isn’t just products that contain lots of paraffin that pose a risk – those with a low paraffin content and even those without paraffin at all could be dangerous. <a href="https://www.uk-afi.org/seminars/annual-training-conference-2019">Our research shows</a> that all fabrics ignited quicker after contact with emollients – regardless of the paraffin level – than completely clean fabrics. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379711218303400">In our initial tests</a>, we let a flame directly touch cotton sheeting that emollients had dried into for 24 hours. The fabric ignited too quickly to measure, but once we had the flame positioned 7cm from the edge of the soaked fabric, we found that ignition happened after only ten seconds, compared to over a minute with the same cotton sheeting that was completely clean.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287222/original/file-20190807-144868-v87ih6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287222/original/file-20190807-144868-v87ih6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=335&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287222/original/file-20190807-144868-v87ih6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=335&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287222/original/file-20190807-144868-v87ih6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=335&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287222/original/file-20190807-144868-v87ih6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=421&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287222/original/file-20190807-144868-v87ih6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=421&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287222/original/file-20190807-144868-v87ih6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=421&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Fabric test burns after 20 seconds. The non-paraffin cream ignited at eight seconds, the 21% paraffin base cream at 11 seconds and the clean cotton at 52 seconds.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Sarah Hall</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The fabrics we tested included various thread counts of cotton and polyester blend sheeting and t-shirts – all are common in households and all ignite much quicker when skin creams are present. We also found that once the flame has extinguished, some of the fabrics smoulder for longer when the products are present – potentially burning for longer near the skin, causing significant burns and life-threatening injuries.</p>
<p>These findings have spurred the NHS and fire and rescue services to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/emollient-cream-build-up-in-fabric-can-lead-to-fire-deaths">reassess their safety advice</a>. Flammable residues are thought to be removed from fabrics if <a href="https://www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/News/latest-research-shows-hidden-fire-risk-of-emollients/220630">they’re washed at the highest temperature</a> possible, but research is still ongoing.</p>
<p>It’s important to remember that these products – on their own and in containers – aren’t a fire risk. The risk emerges when fabrics are soaked with them and allowed to dry. As the creams have soaked into fabrics, reducing the time it takes for the garments to ignite, <a href="https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Hills-2015-0317.pdf">elderly and immobile</a> victims haven’t been able to remove their clothing quickly enough to prevent injury or death. </p>
<p>People shouldn’t stop using much-needed medication, but they should know how to use the products safely. Our advice is to wash your clothes at high temperatures as often as you can to reduce the build up of the creams. Most importantly, keep any fabrics away from naked flames and cigarettes – you’re likely to have less time to react in the event of a fire than you think.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/119784/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sarah Hall conducted this work with research assistant Kirsty Blackburn.
</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Joanne Morrissey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Common emollients used to treat skin conditions are a hidden fire risk in most homes.Sarah Hall, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Research Group, Anglia Ruskin UniversityJoanne Morrissey, Senior Lecturer in Crime and Investigative Studies, Anglia Ruskin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/468882015-09-17T20:15:09Z2015-09-17T20:15:09ZFive ways science can help you raise healthy children<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/95125/original/image-20150917-12695-36sy2m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">There might still be more art than science in raising healthy children, but science can be useful.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/familymwr/4929686071/">U.S. Army/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>There are countless parenting questions that science can’t answer: “is it gross to eat food my child spat out?”, “why do my kids hate wearing pants?” and, of course, “when they grow up, will my kids remember how much I loved them, or just that I made them wear pants?”.</p>
<p>Fortunately, there are some important parenting issues science <em>can</em> address. Here are five simple tips for raising healthy children based on scientific studies from the last 12 months,.</p>
<p><strong>1. Dads can – and should – help with breastfeeding</strong></p>
<p>How many people does it take to breastfeed a baby? A recently published <a href="http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2015/06/08/archdischild-2014-307833.short">Australian study</a> found the answer is closer to three people (mum, baby and partner) than the traditional two of mother and baby. The chance of a baby being breastfed for six months was significantly lower if mum’s partner preferred bottle feeding, or even if her partner felt neutral about breastfeeding.</p>
<p>Not every mum can or wants to breastfeed exclusively for six months. For those who do, however, it would be great if more partners (I’m looking at you, dads) stepped up and helped. <a href="http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/dads_help_breastfeeding.html">Among other things</a>, fathers can offer rest, food, water and encouragement. </p>
<p>Telling your partner she’s doing a great job, organising dinner and taking the opportunity for precious dad-and-baby time so mum can grab a bit of sleep are all important. Being an engaged dad doesn’t always go smoothly (in my <a href="http://www.dailylife.com.au/life-and-love/parenting-and-families/what-i-learned-in-my-year-as-a-stay-at-home-dad-20150526-gh9wa4.html">personal experience</a>), but it’s great fun.</p>
<p><strong>2. Let them eat peanuts!</strong></p>
<p>Peanut allergy is potentially life-threatening, and the allergy rate in developed countries has <a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1001">doubled in the past ten years</a>. Thankfully, there’s good news from a <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1414850">landmark UK study</a> published earlier this year that tested whether the risk of developing peanut allergy could be reduced. </p>
<p>It found feeding peanut butter to children less than 11 months old reduced their risk of developing a peanut allergy by up to 80%, compared with children who avoided peanuts until they turned five. The researchers fed the children a lot of peanut butter (about a tablespoon every week for three years), so we don’t know if a smaller amount given less often would give the same benefit. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/95126/original/image-20150917-12756-1cskxvh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/95126/original/image-20150917-12756-1cskxvh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=392&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95126/original/image-20150917-12756-1cskxvh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=392&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95126/original/image-20150917-12756-1cskxvh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=392&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95126/original/image-20150917-12756-1cskxvh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=492&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95126/original/image-20150917-12756-1cskxvh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=492&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95126/original/image-20150917-12756-1cskxvh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=492&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Research shows feeding peanut butter to children less than 11 months old reduced their risk of developing a peanut allergy by up to 80%.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/manoftaste-de/9233039800/">Christian Schnettelker/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
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<p>The study also excluded children who reacted to their first meal of peanuts, so these findings don’t apply to everyone. Still, for the majority of children, this is the best evidence we’ve ever had that raising peanut-allergy-free kids is more likely if you feed them peanuts early. </p>
<p><strong>3. Yoghurt can reduce the washing if your kids are ill</strong></p>
<p>When used correctly, antibiotics are amazing at helping kids return to health. Unfortunately, they kill off good as well as bad bacteria (especially in the gut), which can sometimes cause nasty side effects, such as diarrhoea. It makes sense that finding a way to replace the good bacteria might reduce the diarrhoea.</p>
<p>While probiotics (supplements of “good bacteria”) are popular, there are still lots of things <a href="http://www.cochrane.org/CD004827/IBD_probiotics-for-the-prevention-of-pediatric-antibiotic-associated-diarrhea-aad">we don’t know</a> about them, including which ones work or the best way to take them. </p>
<p>But thanks to an <a href="http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/1/e006474.full">Australian study</a> published this year, we now know that three particular probiotic strains in certain types of yoghurt significantly reduce the likelihood of diarrhoea in children taking antibiotics. The strains were Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), Bifidobacterium lactis (Bb-12) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (la-5) – look out for them at your local supermarket and save on the washing.</p>
<p><strong>4. Moisturise your baby (it might prevent eczema)</strong></p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25282564">Japanese study</a> has shown that moisturising your baby every day for the first eight months reduces risk of developing eczema by 30%. The study used a <a href="http://2e.shiseido.co.jp/">Japanese-brand moisturiser</a>, but if you’re interested in trying this you probably don’t need to import it. </p>
<p>A similar <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN21528841">ongoing study</a> in the United Kingdom is using white, soft paraffin moisturiser. Your local pharmacy will likely stock several brands of this kind of moisturiser – any one of them would be a good place to start.</p>
<p>We don’t know for sure that this works, but if it’s relaxing and fun for you and your baby, doesn’t cost more than you can afford and has the potential to prevent eczema, it’s probably worth doing.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/95128/original/image-20150917-12722-127lyoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/95128/original/image-20150917-12722-127lyoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95128/original/image-20150917-12722-127lyoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95128/original/image-20150917-12722-127lyoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95128/original/image-20150917-12722-127lyoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95128/original/image-20150917-12722-127lyoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/95128/original/image-20150917-12722-127lyoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Anyone whose baby has been unsettled at night knows about the vast range of opinions out there about how to manage the problem.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/_fabio/2751207108/">Fabio Bruna/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
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<p><strong>And finally… 5. What’s the best way to get my baby to sleep?</strong></p>
<p>Anyone whose baby has been unsettled at night knows about the vast range of opinions out there about how to manage the problem. There’s often a divide between people who advocate using behavioural strategies to teach babies to self-settle and those who worry self-settling might be harmful.</p>
<p>The good news is that a recent <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpc.12752/abstract">Australian paper</a> found no evidence that self-settling strategies cause harm, as well as finding some evidence they worked. The bad news: it found evidence that sleep problems are stressful, affecting the mental health of both mothers and fathers.</p>
<p>Self-settling is often confused with “controlled crying”, but they’re not the same thing. It involves understanding normal infant development and creating a predictable environment. From when your child is three or four months old, you might start a consistent bedtime routine, put her in bed when she’s drowsy but awake, and keep her room dark (not pitch-black) at night. But there are no hard and fast rules with sleep. If it doesn’t feel right, then don’t do it.</p>
<p>There are lots of places to get help with unsettled babies. Start with your local child and family health centre, and check out <a href="http://raisingchildren.net.au/sleep/babies_sleep.html">these useful tips</a>, or see your family doctor.</p>
<p>There might still be more art than science in raising healthy children, but science can be useful. These papers at least give us five fewer things to worry about, and you might even save on your washing. Of course, trust your own judgement and always speak to your doctor or child health nurse if you have questions about what’s best for your child.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/46888/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Dr Elliot works as a consultant paediatrician in a public hospital and complex feeding difficulties clinic in Sydney, and in private practice. He sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health</span></em></p>Here are five scientific studies from the last 12 months with simple tips for raising healthy children.Chris Elliot, Consultant Paediatrician and Conjoint Associate Lecturer, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.