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Health authorities have repeated a skincare warning to parents after a sudden rise in the number of children admitted to hospital with severe sunburn in South Australia.
- Health authorities have reported a "spike" in severe sunburn among children in South Australia
- At least a dozen children have required hospital treatment in recent days
- SA Health says there are simple protective measures to employ to prevent sunburn
SA Health last week issued a public reminder because of a "spike" in sunburn presentations at the Women's and Children's Hospital burns unit.
The hospital's advanced burns nurse consultant Linda Quinn said there have been more than a dozen instances of children needing treatment because of sun damage in recent days.
Amid another wave of hot weather and extreme UV levels, she urged care and caution before stepping out into the rays to avoid "extremely painful" consequences.
"Over the last week, at least 12 children have sought medical treatment for their sunburn," Ms Quinn told ABC Radio Adelaide this morning.
"This is sunburn that is so severe and blistering that it's required them to have strong pain relief and have dressings done.
"All sunburn is [preventable], so it's a timely reminder to parents."
South Australia is currently amid a run of warm to hot days, with the mercury forecast to rise above 40 degrees in parts of the state by the end of the week.
The UV level in Adelaide is expected to reach extreme on each of the next four days.
Ms Quinn said hats, loose clothing, sunglasses, shade, shelter and reapplication of SPF30+ sunscreen every two hours were all recommended, but avoiding the sun altogether during the worst part of the day was also advisable.
"If you want to go to the beach, go first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon, so really try [to] avoid that middle part of the day."
The rise in severe sunburn cases comes just weeks after a similar warning from health authorities in Queensland, who expressed alarm at the number of children needing hospital treatment for severe and painful sunburn.
Recent research estimated the number of melanoma deaths worldwide would jump from 57,000 to 96,000 during the next two decades, a spike of 68 per cent.
More than 16,000 melanoma cases are diagnosed in Australia annually and about 1,300 Australians die of the skin cancer each year.
Dermatologist Stephen Shumack said sunburn could occur within minutes of unprotected exposure.
"In summer, the ultra violet content of the sunlight is really very high and, in the middle of the day, it only really takes eight to 10 minutes to burn," Dr Shumack said.
He said that, while some sun exposure was necessary for vitamin D production, protection did not hinder that.
"There is no evidence that using sunscreen on a regular basis has any impact of your production of vitamin D," he said.
"We know, for instance, in summer, to produce vitamin D you probably need a few minutes a few times a week in the sun, even with sunscreen.
"It's very, very short periods of time."
SA Health said that, in cases of mild sunburn, several steps could be taken, including a cool bath or shower and a non-irritant moisturiser.