Complications
Occurs with more severe burns affecting young children or adults with greater than 15% to 25% body surface area blistering. Parenteral fluid replacement may be necessary.
Characterized by yellow, "honey-colored" crusting of erosions due to impaired barrier function of the skin. Topical or systemic antibiotics may be required.
The likelihood of photoaging and chronic actinic damage depends on skin type. These complications are unlikely to result from a single episode of sunburn. Severe sunburns may be followed months to years later by the appearance of freckling or multiple solar lentigos.[37] Pigmentation changes from chronic actinic damage are generally irreversible and result from increased melanin production with or without an increased number of melanocytes.[7] Scaly erythematous macules known as actinic keratoses may develop in sun-exposed areas. In addition to epidermal alterations, chronic actinic damage is defined by solar elastosis within the dermis, leading to decreased strength and elasticity (wrinkling).
Likelihood of skin cancer depends on the skin type. Unlikely to be caused by a single episode of sunburn. Nevertheless, epidemiologic and laboratory studies have consistently demonstrated that sun exposure is a major preventable risk factor for malignant melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers.[3]
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