“Childhood sunburn nearly doubles risk of melanoma”

Pediatricians Cristina Granja and Patricia Olivan at a health lesson on photoprotection of children in VigoEUROPE PRESS

Pediatricians of Vitas Vigo Hospital Cristina Granja and Patricia Olivan warned that sunburn in childhood “almost doubles the risk of developing melanoma.” This was pointed out during a health lesson on children’s photoprotection.

In particular, as they said, children have lower concentration of melanin protective. In addition, their skin is thinner, which increases the likelihood of sunburn, and the layers of skin rich in stem cells are more susceptible to mutations.

During a conversation prepared in collaboration with the Rilastil company, pediatricians at the Vitas Vigo hospital emphasized that the Sun “is necessary for life”Despite this, they claim that in summer, 25% of all skin is exposed to the sun for a maximum of ten minutes, which is enough for proper production of vitamin D.

Excessive sun exposure changes the genetic information of the skin.

However, “excessive exposure may lead to harmful health effects” and, in the case of children, “may stimulate tanning melanogenesis or lead to changes in genetic information and abnormal cell behavior“.

The seminar was thus based on the promotion of the use of photoprotection, based on the need to change some of the procedures that are becoming commonplace. Thus, doctors Granja and Olivan warned that “the use of photoprotection minimizes damage

radiation, but it should not be considered as a means of increasing sun exposure.”

Photoprotective clothing and accessories such as hats and sunglasses.

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Both also advocated the use Suitable clothing and accessories, for example, dark-colored clothing and thick fabrics, preferably elastane and lycra (which offer the greatest sun protection); as well as the use sun protective clothingwhich offers the great advantage of its ease with high level of protection.

Likewise, they chose use of hats wide-brimmed or Sunglassesconsidering that the darkest are not always the most reliable. They must always be approved and with CE quality markas they insisted.

Pediatricians also spoke about the use oral photoprotectors in children, indicating that they should complement other measures and that they require further scientific research to be considered effective.

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