Skin conditions can occur at any age, and many kids develop issues with this organ at a young age. If your child has a skin problem you are worried about, a pediatric dermatologist in your local Boston MA area could help. Such a professional can treat many different conditions such as acne, birthmarks, eczema, moles and brown spots, allergies, and even skin cancer. Here at Vibrant Dermatology in Dedham, MA, we offer all of these services and more.
But do you really need to see a dermatologist specifically for children, or can you simply use your own physician? The answer depends on whether the specialist in question has the training and experience necessary to work with children. Since they are still developing physically and mentally, they will have different needs to adult patients, and you will need to see someone who can cater to this. Let’s explore what a child dermatologist does.
A great dermatologist will be able to treat many different issues that your child may be facing. When you first come to the clinic, we will consult with you and your child in order to find the problem and diagnose it correctly. We will also require information about the child’s general health and past treatments for the condition. Together, we will find a solution that is age-appropriate and will help your child to regain their health.
Acne is a common issue, particularly as your child moves into the teenage years. Although it affects millions of people around the country, not everybody gets it addressed in time, which is why some people have acne scars for the rest of their life. If your child is affected by this condition, try to have it resolved as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage. We might use a topical cream or ointment, perform laser treatment, or recommend a new skincare routine.
Birthmarks are completely normal, but they can be very disruptive if they are particularly big or located in a place that’s very visible. Occasionally, birthmarks can also be harmful, in which case they need to be removed for the safety of your child. We can perform laser therapy on many types of marks, but the exact nature of the treatment will be discussed with you at the initial consultation.
Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is when you develop patches of itchy, cracked, dry, and sore skin without any evident cause. This issue can occur in infants, and they usually have visible signs on their head or scalp. On the other hand, older children have it mostly on the bend of their elbows, their knees, or in the wrist and ankle area.
It’s crucial that you treat eczema as soon as possible because your child will tend to scratch the affected areas. This can cause scarring in the long run, so the faster you can address it, the smaller the likelihood that there will be lasting damage. There is a wide variety of different treatments available, and our talented team will speak to you about which one is appropriate.
Like birthmarks, most moles and brown spots aren’t a concern, but they can be removed for esthetic reasons. Sometimes, your Boston MA pediatric dermatologist might suggest the removal because they suspect that a mole could turn cancerous later on in life. If your child’s mole starts to change in shape or color, it’s raised, it has jagged edges, or if it’s bleeding, you should seek us out in order to make sure it’s not harmful.
There are many different kinds of allergies your child might have, and some of them affect the look and texture of the skin. The child may have bumpy, raised, or red patches that occur only when they come into contact with certain substances. Sometimes, you might not be sure why the allergic reaction is occurring, but most likely, it is related to a sting, a certain type of food, or a medicine.
When you come to the clinic, we can evaluate your child’s condition and why they have developed symptoms of an allergy. We can also provide you with the correct type of treatment and tell you what you need to avoid in the future. In case of an allergy to medicine, it’s crucial that all of your child’s doctors are aware of the situation.
Skin cancer occurs more often in adults, and particularly in people who spend a lot of time in the sun. However, children can contract it, especially in families that have a genetic predisposition to melanoma. When you come to the clinic and we diagnose your child with skin cancer, they will need to have it removed, sometimes surgically. Your dermatologist can walk you through the process, so you’ll feel supported for the duration of the treatment.
You may be wondering whether you can take your child to see a regular dermatologist or whether a specialist is necessary. Unfortunately, not all physicians are qualified to work with children, so you will need to check before booking an appointment. Here at our clinic, we welcome patients of all ages, but we treat children differently to adults because they have very different needs.
We distinguish between several developmental stages, and as your child progresses through them, they will change both physically and mentally. These stages can be summarized in three categories, called infancy, childhood, and the teenage years. When looking for a dermatologist, make sure they have experience with all three, as it can be very beneficial to work with one professional throughout all of your child’s developmental phases.
When your child is still a baby, their skin is very sensitive, and a variety of issues can arise. Infants are easily infected by a fungus or a bacterial infection, and excessive heat or cold can cause rashes. In addition, your baby might already have some allergies, in which case you’ll have to be very careful about what they come into contact with.
When you notice an issue with your baby or toddler’s skin, you should seek out your dermatologist as soon as possible. In most cases, you’ll be able to solve the problem faster the less you delay. Your physician can not only give you medicine so that the symptoms go away, but they can also tell you valuable tips about how to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
Once your child is past the baby and toddler phase, they might not be as delicate and sensitive anymore. However, many children have issues with skin infections, eczema, or allergies to certain substances. At this stage, it’s still important to monitor the situation and get help when your child’s skin is showing abnormalities.
As your children grow up, they might be staying out in the sun for prolonged amounts of time, so you should get advice on how to encourage them to wear sunscreen and what to do when they are sunburned. By paying attention to this issue early on, you can prevent your children from having issues such as excessive wrinkles or skin cancer later on.
When your child moves into the teenage years, they will be more likely to experience acne caused by the hormonal imbalance that’s present in adolescents. Luckily, this issue is treatable, so you can prevent your child from developing bad acne that can lead to scarring. Many young adults still suffer from eczema, rashes, and sunburn, so they might need treatment for reasons other than acne.
Just like adults, children can develop a wide variety of different skin conditions throughout the years. For this reason, it’s important that you visit a well-qualified and friendly pediatric dermatologist local to the Boston MA area whenever your child develops an issue with their skin. When you visit a competent professional, they will be able to treat all of the common conditions, and your dermatologist will always speak to your child with respect and care.
In addition to skin allergies, birthmarks, eczemas, moles, cancer, and brown spots, your doctor will help your child later on in their teenage years, when they might start to develop acne. No matter how old your child currently is, you should seek out the best specialist you can. Give us a call at Vibrant Dermatology in Dedham, MA to book your initial appointment and help your child to keep their skin healthy.