Pediatric Skin Diseases
Children even infants and newborns can develop skin diseases. Common skin diseases in childhood are:
- Atopic dermatitis, pityriasis alba
- Infection of skin – impetigo, scabies, lice infestation, tinea etc- these can be managed with antibiotics, antifungal or other drugs
- Lichen planus, psoriasis, lichen striatus- these diseases have red or purple lesions with scales
- Skin rashes with fever- chickenpox, measles, herpes simplex etc
- Bullous disorders- epidermolysis bullosa, chronic bullous diseases of childhood
Treatment of these diseases is done properly by skin specialists, not by a child specialist. Most of these can be easily treated with creams and oral medication. But some diseases can be severe and chronic, so show to a skin specialist as soon you see any skin lesion in a child.
Pityriasis Alba
Pityriasis alba in adolescent children develops white patches over the face. This is a type of mild allergy. It usually improves in 1-2 years without any treatment. But if required treatment can be taken.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is one of the commonest reasons for parents to bring the child to a skin specialist. In this condition, children have generalized dryness along with red patches with oozing or scaling with itching. This condition usually develops in 1styear of life.
Lesions improve with medication only to come back again. Usually, it goes completely as the child grows into adolescence.
Treatment- most important thing for parents is to understand that this disease goes permanently only with age, till then they might have to visit a doctor and take treatment again and again for a few years. 2nd thing as this condition is related to dryness, moisturizers have to be used as frequently as possible even when there are no lesions. With help of creams and sometimes tablets disease can be controlled and quality of life can be improved.