Pediatric Dermatology

Simply termed eczema , it is a common skin condition of the very young kids characterised by severe itching , rashes and dryness. It is very important to identify the condition and treat accordingly with proper maintenance skin  care with emollients following treatment.

Most common cutaneous disorder of infancy and early childhood.

It is a term used to describe any acute inflammatory skin reaction in the areas covered by the diaper. Most commonly due to irritation from urine and faeces and sometimes allergic reaction to diaper components itself. However there are certain rare serious conditions which occur in the diaper area which needs further evaluation and treatment.

A common skin condition of infants due to the influence of maternal harmones presenting as greasy scales over scalp  and sometimes red rash over face, trunk and flexural areas of the body.

It is mostly self limiting requiring treatment when extensive.

Children are exposed to many infectious agents which can be viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic. Common skin infections in children include impetigo, scabies, molluscum contagiosum, warts, tinea , candidiasis, viral exanthems etc. Proper identification and treatment with appropriate medications is the key.

Acne is a common disorder of adolescent skin. It most often begins at puberty but can happen at any age including the newborns, infants, younger children, and adults.

It can have a psychological impact on the teenager affecting self-esteem. Knowing the causes of acne and getting the right treatment goes a long way in improving the overall wellbeing of the child.

Not every birth mark needs to be black in colour nor be present right from day 1 of birth. Birth marks are usually seen at birth or few weeks shortly after birth and are made up of either pigment cells or blood vessels. There are a variety of birthmarks which vary in appearance, progression and outcome. Most of them do not require treatment , however identification of certain syndromes associated with birthmarks and appropriate evaluation is of extreme importance.

Pigmented birth marks include moles (melanocytic nevi), Mongolian spots, cafe-au-lait spots, pigmentary mosaicism (hyper and hypo pigmented).

Vascular birth marks include Hemangiomas, portwine stains, vascular malformations(capillary, arterial, venous, lymphatic)

A variety of conditions like psoriasis, lichen planus, Pityriasis rosea, Pityriasis lichenoides chronica, parapsoriasis, Pityriasis rubra Pilaris etc present with red plaques and scaling . While few are self limiting , most of them are chronic affecting the quality of life of the child. Proper diagnosis with simple investigations like skin biopsy goes a long way in appropriate treatment of these disorders.

Autoimmunity is a condition where the body recognises it’s own cells as foreign and starts producing antibodies against them. There are many autoimmune disorders like morphea, systemic lupus erythematosus, alopecia areata, vitiligo etc . Autoimmune disorders are chronic and requires long term treatment and care.

Genetic disorders are present since birth and usually run in families. Though treatment options are limited in these cases, diagnosing the condition through genetic testing and mutational analysis is important as most of them require multidisciplinary care and genetic counselling helps the parents in proper planning of further pregnancies. It is important to have awareness regarding prenatal genetic counseling and testing.