FAQ’s From Our Younger Patients

You can always count on children to stump you with their questions. Sometimes you are stumped because you don’t know the answer, but other times you are stumped because you never dreamed that they would ask such a thing and you have no idea how to respond. Too much information can confuse them (or open the door to other questions that you’re just not ready for); too little can feel misleading. The American Academy of Dermatology has compiled a list of questions that your children are most likely to ask and the age-appropriate answers that will satisfy their curious little minds.

Why Do I Have a Birthmark?
Doctors aren’t sure why some people are born with birthmarks and some people aren’t. Depending on what kind of birthmark you have, yours might fade away as you get older. If your birthmark makes you feel self-conscious, then ask your parents to take you to a dermatologist who can let you know if there are ways to make it less noticeable.

Why Do People Have Different Hair Colors?
Your skin and hair color come from something called melanin. People with more melanin will have darker skin and hair, while people with less will have lighter skin and hair. The amount of melanin you produce is determined by your genes. As people get older, their bodies stop making as much melanin, which is why some people have gray or white hair.

Why Do I Have Freckles?
If you do not produce a lot of melanin, then you probably have lighter skin and will likely get freckles. When you play outside and your body senses that it is being damaged by the sun, it will produce more melanin to protect your skin. For some people, the extra melanin will cover all of their skin, which is what is commonly known as a tan; for others, the extra melanin will only affect little spots on your skin, resulting in what we call freckles.

What Happens When I Get a Sunburn?
Just like birthmarks, hair color, and freckles, sunburns are caused when your body produces melanin. Melanin is how your body protects you from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The more sun you get, the more melanin your body produces, which is why too much sun results in a sunburn. Even people with dark skin can get sunburns, so it is important for everyone to protect their skin from the sun.

If your child has other urgent questions, call Derick Dermatology to schedule an appointment. We work with patients of all ages and especially love treating children; we even have a specialist in pediatric dermatology. With flexible hours and locations in Arlington Heights, Barrington, Crystal Lake, and Elgin, we can work around your child’s schedule so they don’t have to miss school, playdates, or extra-curricular activities.