Skin Disorders in Children: When to Seek Medical Treatment and When you Should Just Relax

Each and every day, parents across the United States are missing time from work and school due to everyday childhood illnesses, often not requiring medical attention. For some parents, however, the presence of a seemingly dermatological condition often results in a visit to the pediatrician’s office where, many times, the condition is not something that required pediatric medical attention.

As parents, understanding the varying types of skin disturbances that may be present in a young child is important to determining when the condition requires medical intervention by a pediatrician and when the condition can simply be treated at home.

For example, some children suffer from a dermatological condition which presents as red patchy areas on varying areas of the body. When these red patchy areas develop, the underlying cause is often attributed to the infant’s dry skin coupled with an allergic reaction from something in their environment. Often, by moisturizing the infant’s skin and removing the item which caused the allergic reaction, the red patches will disappear on their own. More importantly, this type of condition is not contagious and does not require missed time from work and school.

Another type of skin ailment in children, in contrast to the aforementioned condition, does require medical intervention. When the child presents with red bumps or rash, that do not appear to be connected to dry skin, this may be an indication of a viral or bacterial infection. In this case, it is important to seek out the attention of the pediatrician to rule out a condition that may be contagious or a condition that requires prescription medications. In rare cases, a red rash on an infant’s skin may be indicative of a scabies infection or even a more complex health condition such as scarlet fever associated with strep throat.

And then there are white patchy areas on the infant’s skin. Generally considered a condition attributed to a loss of skin pigment, white patches on the skin of newborn children is generally not a concern as it is related to birth. However, when the condition presents in older children, these white patchy areas may be indicative of a child who is suffering from a fungal infection. To differentiate the fungal infection from general pigmentation loss, the white patches, in the fungal infection, will generally appear on the neck, arms and upper back and may include areas of dry, scaly light pink skin. When unsure if the condition is a fungal infection or general pigmentation loss, consult a pediatrician.

As with any skin disorder or dermatological complication in children, the key to reducing time away from work and school involves the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. In most cases, children who suffer from changes in skin texture may simply be suffering from heat rash, dry skin or a change in skin pigmentation and, thus, do not require extensive treatment nor do the parents require missed time from work and school. When in doubt, thought, seek the advice of a healthcare professional.