Skin Diseases in Children

Definition and causes

This is one of the skin diseases in children. Hemangiomas are a proliferation of blood vessels that usually appears after birth and can affect any part of the body, although most often the head and trunk. The exact cause of them is unknown, but they are usually not linked to other abnormalities.

Signs and symptoms

They are seen as small, bright red tumors that can be superficial if seen above the skin or deep below the skin. They usually grow rapidly until one year of age and then slowly regress. They generally do not cause symptoms or interfere with quality of life.

Diagnosis

It is important to see a dermatologist as soon as this type of lesion is observed in babies, since it may be necessary to perform a Doppler ultrasound to rule out other types of vascular malformations, since it can be one of the many skin problems in children.

Treatment

They usually disappear over the years without the need for any treatment, however, there are currently medications that help speed up this process. If they persist, pulsed dye laser can be used to improve their appearance.

They are benign skin lesions that appear from childhood and less frequently in adulthood. They can be flat or slightly raised, very light to very dark brown in color, and have a circular or oval shape with regular edges.

The transformation of a mole to cancer is rare, but some data that can make us suspect is rapid growth, appearance of a darker area, irregular edges, asymmetric shape, bleeding or pain.

In the event of any suspicious change, it is necessary to go to a review with a dermatologist and, if necessary, the mole should be removed with surgery. In people with many moles , it is useful to carry out an annual body mapping through photographs to more accurately detect any changes.

Definition and causes

Dermatitis is a term used to refer to inflammation of the skin and can have various causes, the most common being contact dermatitis. These skin diseases in children can be caused by direct irritation from detergents, acids, corrosives, etc. or allergy of our skin to substances present in cosmetics, metals or other products.

Signs and symptoms

Both allergic and irritative contact dermatitis manifest as pimples, redness and itching. Constant scratching damages the skin causing more inflammation, thickening and cracks or fissures that burn. In more severe cases there may be blisters or “weepy skin”.

Diagnosis

On some occasions, the substance or material that is causing this condition can be easily identified, if this is not the case, skin tests for allergies can be used, which consists of putting various substances in contact with the skin and observing which one reacts to it. .

Treatment

The medication of choice is topical corticosteroids as they help to rapidly reduce inflammation, but they must be prescribed by a dermatologist as their improper use can have adverse effects.

Prevention

The most important thing is to identify the substance or product that is causing this condition and avoid contact.

Definition and causes

It is a common skin condition that usually begins during puberty or adolescence. Hormonal changes cause an increase in the secretion of the sebaceous glands which, together with dead skin cells and bacteria present on the skin, cause the appearance of pimples or blackheads.

Signs and symptoms

It can present from blackheads, whiteheads, pimples to more severe forms such as inflamed nodules or pseudocysts that leave significant scars. The most common is that it affects the face, but it can also occur in the neck, chest and back.

Diagnosis

It is a very characteristic skin condition, so the diagnosis is made by simple observation without the need for additional tests.

Treatment

There are different products and medications depending on the degree of severity; cleansing soaps, topical antibiotics, retinoids, oral antibiotics, and isotretinoin for more severe cases. There are some therapies that can be used together to improve acne and scars, such as peels, microneedling, IPL, and fractional CO2 laser.

Definition and causes

It is a skin condition that causes loss of pigment in the form of white patches. This is because the cells of the immune system attack the pigment-producing cells of the skin called melanocytes, which causes their destruction and thus the loss of pigment. This type of skin disease in children can be related to other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid diseases.

Signs and symptoms

White spots are observed that can affect any part of the body, but mostly on the face, neck, back of the hands, elbows and knees. It is generally symmetrical and can be delimited or affect large areas of the body.

Diagnosis

A special lamp called Wood’s light can be used to help highlight white spots if they are not very obvious to the naked eye, and if in doubt, a skin biopsy can be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

It can be difficult to treat, especially when it covers large areas. Some of the available options are topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors to reduce inflammation, phototherapy, excimer laser or skin grafts to help repigmentation.

They are benign skin lesions that appear frequently in both children and adults. These are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that is acquired by direct skin-to-skin contact.

They generally measure a few millimeters and have a rough appearance, they are most often located on the hands and feet, although there are also other types of warts that affect the genitals. They can spread to other areas of the skin so scratching or pricking them is not recommended. Some effective treatments to eliminate them are electrofulguration, cryotherapy and CO2 laser.

Definition and causes

They are a very broad group of microorganisms that can cause various ailments. The most common skin diseases in children (in this case fungi) treated by a dermatologist are: impetigo, cellulitis, abscesses, folliculitis, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, chickenpox, measles, rubella, candidiasis, nail fungus, feet or head, among many others.

Signs and symptoms

The clinical manifestations are very varied and depend on each condition. If you suspect any disease, it is advisable to go to the doctor for a check-up and not self-medicate as this can worsen skin problems in children.

Diagnosis and treatment

A culture can be requested to determine exactly the microorganism causing the disease and to be able to give a targeted treatment. In most viral infections it is not necessary to request additional studies to start treatment.