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Sun Damage in Children

Sun damage can show itself on a child immediately, or it can stay hidden until the child has reached adulthood. Children are especially susceptible to damage from the sun and need to be protected against harmful UVA and UVB rays. A number of health issues may manifest themselves if a child has experienced some form of sun damage.

  1. Sunburns

    • Children are more susceptible to a sunburn because they have less of the skin pigment melanin than adults do. Melanin is what allows adult skin to tan when exposed to direct sunlight, and less of this pigment means a child is more likely to develop a painful sunburn if unprotected. Symptoms of a sunburn are red pigmentation of the child's skin, feeling of heat when skin is touched, pain and in severe cases blistering. Sunburn can be avoided by applying sunscreen religiously and staying in the shade as much as possible.

    Skin Cancer

    • A child who develops a severe sunburn as a result of unprotected sun exposure will be more likely to develop a serious type of skin cancer later in life. It is estimated that nearly 80 percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before an individual is 18 years old, often because children spend a greater amount of time playing outdoors than adults. A child who experiences severe sunburns with blistering as a child is more likely to develop malignant melanoma than a child who is not exposed to sun damage.

    Eye Problems

    • Sun damage can occur in a child's eyes, and children under the age of 10 years are considered to be at a higher risk for this type of damage. When the eyes are overexposed to harmful UV rays, a sunburn of the cornea of the eye can occur. Children whose eyes are not protected from direct sunlight are at a higher risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration and tissue growth in the whites of the eyes when they are adults. A child's eyes can be spared from sun damage by wearing a pair of sunglasses that protects against UV rays.

    Permanent Skin Changes

    • In addition to leaving a child's skin more prone to sunburn, low levels of melanin in the skin also makes a child more susceptible to skin damage that can have long-term affects. Skin damage that occurs in childhood can cause an adult to develop wrinkles, freckles, sunspots or skin discoloration and moles.

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