Dermatologist Sends Strong Warning To Parents About Sun Exposure
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A dermatologist has warned parents that sun exposure is dangerous for babies. According to her, this could lead to skin cancer.
Dr Enechukwu Inyienu, a consultant dermatologist advised parents to pay attention to their children’s skin after sun exposure. She said that a child who suffers skin burns and blisters could be at a high risk of skin cancer.
She explained further that children with multi-coloured skin patches known as xeroderma pigmentosum are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.
During an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, she advised parents of such children to take their children to a dermatologist for proper diagnosis.
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She said adequate diagnosis is important to prevent skin cancer in the child.
What is xeroderma pigmentosum?
The Medical News Today defines xeroderma pigmentosum as a rare genetic disorder that affects the skin, the eyes, and sometimes the nervous system. It stops the body’s ability to repair damage from sunlight and other sources of UV light.
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A health portal for health information services known as MedlinePlus explained this further.
It said “the signs of xeroderma pigmentosum usually appear in infancy or early childhood. Many affected children develop a severe sunburn after spending just a few minutes in the sun.
“The sunburn causes redness and blistering that can last for weeks. Other affected children do not get sunburned with minimal sun exposure, but instead, tan normally.
“By age 2, almost all children with xeroderma pigmentosum develop freckling of the skin in sun-exposed areas (such as the face, arms, and lips); this type of freckling rarely occurs in young children without the disorder.
“In affected individuals, exposure to sunlight often causes dry skin (xeroderma) and changes in skin colouring (pigmentation).”
Inyienu advised parents to use sun protection for their children. She also debunked the myth that skin cancer only affects the white race.
She concluded:
“Sun protection is not just using sunscreen. When you are going to stay under the sun for a very long time you can use hats, and umbrellas, stay in shade, and use protective clothing.
“There are clothing that can protect, long sleeve clothing, longer, darker clothing can also protect.”
Source: Punch HealthWise
