Doctor Issues Stark Warning for Parents on 4th of July Weekend

Newsweek

5 days ago

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As July 4th weekend approaches and revelers prepare to soak up the sunshine in celebration, dermatologists are urging parents to take sun-protection seriously.
Dr. Hannah Kopelman, a dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration, told Newsweek that every year she sees the same patterns repeat. Many people come prepared with sunscreen but fail to reapply it regularly or rub spray sunscreens in properly. Ultimately, common mistakes can lead to severe, and sometimes life-threatening sunburns.
Dr. Samantha Ellis, another dermatologist with nearly a decade of experience, recently shared a warning on TikTok that resonated widely, with her video garnering over 90,000 views. Newsweek reached out to Dr. Samantha Ellis for comment via TikTok.
She described how every year her office receives calls from people suffering from "life-changing, blistering, fever-inducing sunburns" after the holiday weekend.
A stock image showing a little girl swimming in the pool.
A stock image showing a little girl swimming in the pool.
ChristinLola/iStock / Getty Images Plus
Kopelman told Newsweek: "Just one blistering sunburn during childhood can more than double your lifetime risk of developing melanoma. That's because UV radiation causes direct DNA mutations in skin cells, and the earlier those changes start accumulating, the more likely they are to cause skin cancer later in life.
"The skin has a long memory. I always tell parents: protecting your kids from sunburn isn't just about avoiding discomfort—it's literally cancer prevention."
She explained that sunscreen breaks down due to sweat, water, and time, and must be reapplied at least every two hours or immediately after swimming or toweling off. Spray sunscreens can create a false sense of security if not thoroughly rubbed in.
"Think of it like brushing your teeth: doing it once a day isn't enough. People also underestimate how much sunscreen they need. A full-body application requires at least a shot glass worth of sunscreen, and most people don't even come close to that," she added.
Severe sunburns can also cause physical discomfort and psychological distress, including pain, irritability, embarrassment, and symptoms like fever and dehydration. These burns often limit holiday activities but are entirely preventable with proper care.
"Severe burns can even come with fevers, chills, and dehydration. And all of it is avoidable. My best advice? Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, apply it 15 minutes before going outdoors, rub it in thoroughly, and reapply every two hours—or immediately after swimming or sweating. Don't rely on sunscreen alone—wear UPF clothing, seek shade when you can, and protect yourself like your health depends on it—because it does," she said.
A stock image showing people enjoying a pool party.
A stock image showing people enjoying a pool party.
monkeybusinessimages/iStock / Getty Images Plus
Many TikTok users shared their own cautionary tales highlighting these common mistakes.
Alyssa recounted: "One time my family went on a trip and my aunt fell asleep in the sun (she works crazy hours so we didn't want to wake her) so we liberally applied sunscreen when needed lol. On that same trip, my younger brother was doing great with sunscreen but one day he wore a drawstring backpack without a shirt on and the straps rubbed his sunscreen off in those areas and he burned. I also figured out I have PLME on that trip. I set alarms for sunscreen and didn't burn at all, but I had a horrible rash wherever I was exposed to the sun."
Another user shared a family history of sun damage: "My entire childhood my dad would cut the grass without a shirt in southern Louisiana and when he would start peeling after a burn lay on the floor for us to peel his skin. He's in his 70s now and every time I see him and we are outside he tells me I better be wearing my sunscreen. He got skin cancer repeatedly over the last 30 years."
The pain of severe burns was also described by Rachel: "I got burned sooo bad when kayaking 6 yrs ago. I had fevers, couldn't sleep, was in extreme pain for over a week. Been a diligent sunscreen reapplyer since. Also I just put a ton of spray sunscreen on, never rubbed it in and it doesn't matter."
On the brighter side, one TikToker humorously dubbed themselves "the spf influencer," noting: "My friends and family call me the spf influencer bc I'm constantly reminding them which uv index it is and to cover themselves and stay in the shade with ofc spf50.. my bf even got me an uv umbrella—best Christmas gift!"
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