Albino Sunburn, Painful and Dangerous

If you have albinism (or if you are an "albino"), no doubt you know the dangers you face with the sun. Albino sunburn can be very, very painful and even deadly, if it leads to cancer. Therefore, you must take precautions whenever you're out in the sun to protect what is very delicate skin, with none of the protections normal melanin production would normally give you.

You see, for most people, we have at least some melanin in our skin, but if you have albinism, you have little to none. Melanin production normally increases with exposure to sun, which is how we tan and burn. It's never a good idea, of course, to get excess sun exposure, but it's especially painful and dangerous if you have albinism.

So, for an example, an albino girl should never sunbathe with her friends or try to undertake tanning sessions in an effort to darken her skin, even though friends may think it's a good idea. Because people with albinism can suffer skin cancers at a very early age, it's especially important to adopt significant precautions when you are out in the sun.

When you're out in the sun, wear protection. That doesn't mean just sunscreen, but also clothing, such as hats, long sleeves and pants, and sunglasses. And unfortunately, you have to limit your exposure to the sun regardless of the protection you wear, because sunscreen's protection is limited at best, and it's likely that you're not going to entirely cover your face or hands, which are prime areas for burning and skin cancers. Sunscreens have been shown to be only moderately effective for people with albinism at best, so don't let the using one fool you into thinking you can stay out in the sun for a long time.

What to do if you do get burned

If you do get burned, applying a soothing "100%" aloe vera gel can certainly help . Watch for those with alcohol in them, since this can sting. Other soothing lotions may also help your sunburn heal.

Keep up with visits to your dermatologist

The bottom line is, if you live your life, you're going to get some sun exposure at some point, likely, and that means you're going to need to keep making regular visits to your dermatologist. You should be vigilant about any changes to moles, spots, etc., and you should keep an eye out for new ones to appear. One particular skin change that commonly appears with sun exposure (not just in albino people ) is the appearance of something called actinic keratoses. These small reddish tan bumps signify that your skin has been damaged, and usually appear for most average people in middle age for those who have had significant exposure to the sun. As someone with albinism, you may experience them earlier.

Although they are generally harmless (if unattractive) in and of themselves, they can develop into squamous skin cell cancers . Therefore, make sure you and your dermatologist keep an eye on them. If they're particularly pervasive, your dermatologist may want to prescribe an ointment called 5-flourouracil. The ointment is irritating and will cause your skin to peel, but it will also get rid of the keratoses before they develop into something more serious.

In short, if you have albinism, it's wise for you to limit your exposure to the sun and stay out of it whenever possible. Cover up when you must be out and use sunscreen on exposed areas of the body, like hands and face. Although not perfect solutions, these will help you preserve your skin so that you don't have to deal with more significant problems later on. Top.

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