Final answer:
The toxin of Staphylococcus aureus that causes skin damage, mainly in children, by acting as a protease is the exfoliative toxin, leading to Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS).
Step-by-step explanation:
The toxin of Staphylococcus aureus that acts as a protease and is responsible for skin damage, particularly in children, is the exfoliative toxin. This toxin contributes to the condition known as Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), which is characterized by the onset of erythema (redness of the skin) and subsequent peeling that resembles scalding. The exfoliative toxin targets specific proteins within the desmosomes that connect skin cells, leading to their separation and the distinct skin peeling associated with SSSS.