A friend’s daughter recently suffered 2nd degree burns from eating oranges and playing outside for hours in the sun. Doctors said she got a chemical burn from the citrus juice in the sun. Can you tell me more about this type of burn and help parents avoid this from happening to their child by giving them some tips to avoid the burns? Is it all types of citrus? Should we be worried this summer?
Citrus fruits contain an organic chemical called furocarins that can lead to photosensitivity and a harsher burn. It is common to also see brown spots in the wake of these burns that may take weeks to dissipate. If some juice splashes onto the skin from a fruit, be sure to have your child rinse off and always be diligent about sun protection with sun avoidance and sunscreens for your child.
