Boy Hospitalized After Severe Sunburn Due to Out-Of-Date Sunblock
A young boy needed surgery after suffering severe burns from using expired sunblock while on holiday. The incident occurred when Natalie Harvey and her family vacationed in Cape Verde. They had been applying UK-bought sun cream throughout the trip, but on the last day, they ran out and purchased SPF90 lotion from the hotel shop.
After applying the lotion and spending time in the sun, the boy, Hector Harvey, developed 8cm watery blisters all over his body. He was later admitted to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he underwent surgery to treat the sunburn. Doctors suggested that the sun cream purchased abroad may have been expired or counterfeit, leading to the severe burns.
Natalie, the boy’s mother, shared her ordeal to raise awareness about the importance of checking sun cream expiry dates and UVA ratings, especially when buying them abroad. She emphasized the need for parents to be vigilant in protecting their children from sun damage.
- The family used UK-bought sun cream during their vacation.
- They bought SPF90 lotion from the hotel shop on the last day.
- Hector developed severe blisters all over his body after using the new lotion.
- He underwent surgery and treatment at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
- Doctors suspected the sun cream bought abroad was expired or counterfeit.
Natalie expressed her concerns regarding the incident and urged parents to prioritize their children’s safety in the sun. Hector, fortunately, is not expected to have permanent scarring from the burns but will require ongoing care for his sensitive skin post-surgery.
The story serves as a cautionary tale for families traveling abroad and highlights the importance of being cautious when purchasing sun protection products in unfamiliar places to avoid similar incidents.