Pediatric Dermatology

What is paediatric dermatology?

Paediatric Dermatology is a medical speciality concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions in children. Skin conditions are common in children and can range from minor to serious.

Early recognition and treatment of skin conditions in children can prevent long-term consequences and improve the overall quality of life. You may have heard about common skin problems like birthmarks, acne, etc. However, there are some less common skin issues in paediatric patients.

Paediatric dermatology was recognised for the first time in the year 2000. So there was a shortage of paediatric dermatologists everywhere. And paediatricians had to be taken care of by other medical professionals for their health concerns. In this article, you will go through different types of concerns in paediatric dermatology.

Emerging Concerns in Paediatric Dermatology

You are a parent and have noticed some changes in your child's skin. As a parent, your first instinct might be to ignore it, hoping it will go away on its own. But it's important to remember that it might be a sign of something serious. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

In addition to the most common skin concerns, many other skin conditions can affect children. Some of those conditions are infantile hemangiomas (IH), port wine stains (PWS), and Surge-Weber syndrome (SWS).

What is Infantile Hemangiomas (IH)?

These are the common tumours that are present in infants, with a prevalence of about five per cent. These tumours are mostly present in the head and neck region.

What Can You Do to Treat Infantile Hemangiomas (IH)?

A gel-based solution called Timolol 0.5% can be used for superficial IH. But for complicated cases of IH, propranolol can be used. Propanolol is considered to be the most preferred treatment for IH.

What are port wine stains (PWS)?

Port-wine stains (PWS) are a type of birthmark that is present at birth or can develop shortly after. They are caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels in the skin, which results in a red or purple discolouration of the affected area. PWS typically occurs on the face, neck, or upper body.

What Can You Do to Treat Port Wine Stains (PWS)?

Laser therapy is one of the most commonly used methods to treat port wine stains (PWS). Lasers work by focusing on the overgrown blood vessels and breaking them up. This makes the stainless red.

The type of laser used and the number of treatments required will depend on many factors, like the size, depth, and location of the stain. In some cases, port wine stains (PWS) can also be treated with topical creams, which can help reduce inflammation and improve the stain's appearance.

Your doctors might even recommend surgical procedures in certain cases. Those surgical procedures are skin grafting and tissue excision. However, surgical procedures are mainly for the more severe cases of port wine staining (PWS).

What is Surge-Weber Syndrome (SWS)?

Surge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare disorder where your child might experience fevers, skin rashes, and joint pain. It is a type of autoinflammatory disease that is caused by an overactive immune system.

You can identify this disorder when the child experiences recurrent fevers that last for several days at a time. It is accompanied by multiple joint pains and skin rashes.

In rare cases, some children may experience inflammation in the eyes, muscle weakness, and difficulty breathing. It is thought to be a genetic disorder, which means that there is a 50% chance of inheriting this disorder from your parents.

When Should I See a Doctor for These Concerns?

• If your child experiences multiple joint pains and recurrent fevers, it might be a sign of SWS.
• If you notice raised or purple-coloured bumps, it might be a sign of infantile hemangiomas.
• If you notice red or purple discolouration on multiple areas of your child's body, it might be a sign of PWS.

Your child's paediatric dermatologist will begin by taking a detailed medical history.

It is very important to consult a doctor.

Paediatric Dermatology is a new subspecialty in medicine. New drugs are being tested to find a better way to treat these disorders. Paediatric dermatology necessitates effort, as well as staying informed about these disorders and treatment options.

Request an appointment at Apollo Cradle, Bengaluru - Jayanagar. Call 1860-500-1066 to book an appointment.