When to seek medical help: If the itching is severe, or the skin is badly blistered, you should seek medical advice as soon as you are able. Skin irritation resulting from exposure to poison ivy and poison oak normally disappears in a week to 10 days.

Painful sunburn

Sustaining a sunburn is a painful and dangerous experience— especially for a child. (Just one sunburn during childhood greatly increases the risk of skin cancer later on in life.) Make sure your child is well protected from the sun by a sun hat, light cover-up and some form of footwear. In addition, he should be wearing a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and preferably keep to shady areas between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The beach is the single most dangerous place to be in hot, sunny weather as sand and water intensify the burning rays of the sun, causing them to reflect back on the skin. Be extra vigilant if you and your family are spending time on the beach and be sure to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours and always after a dip.

How to treat: If your child has mild sunburn (redness and discomfort but no blistering), make sure she stays well hydrated and apply a soothing lotion such as calamine.

When to seek medical help: If your child’s sunburn is producing blisters, causing a lot of pain, or covers a large area of his body, you should seek the advice of a health professional.