Due to the differences in the development and immune system of children, there are many common skin conditions that tend to apply more often to children and infants. Understanding these changes can help you to make the best possible decision when it comes to skin conditions that your children may have. These steps can help you to ensure that your child remains healthy, safe, and comfortable. It can also help you to address potential issues in the early stages, which often minimizes complications. Our expert team at Allen-Taintor Dermatology is dedicated to providing you with the information and guidance that you need to protect your skin and your children’s. Here are a few of the most common skin conditions in children.
Diaper Dermatitis
Diaper dermatitis is more commonly known as diaper rash. This category doesn’t really refer to a single skin condition, but rather a complete category of conditions that tend to result in the same area. A few of these conditions include an overgrowth of yeast, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and various inflammatory skin conditions. Of all of these conditions, irritant contact dermatitis is definitely the most common. This condition is often caused by prolonged skin exposure to either urine or feces, which results in the rash. In most situations, frequent diaper changes can help to reduce the likelihood of diaper dermatitis. It may also be useful to use a mild topical steroid ointment or cream in order to handle the rash. Other types of diaper dermatitis may have more complex causes and may be more difficult to treat.
For example, allergic contact dermatitis is not as common, but it is generally caused by an allergic reaction to something in the diaper. Problems associated with yeast will often require more involved treatments to resolve. Diaper dermatitis can most often be treated with frequent diaper changes, but it may be important to consult with a professional for the best possible treatment.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a skin condition that is often referred to as eczema. It tends to start early on in childhood, though many people grow out of the symptoms of eczema. In fact, over half of the children who have eczema early on grow out of it by the age of 2. The symptoms of atopic dermatitis include red and itchy patches of skin, as well as rashes on the cheeks beginning between the ages of 2 and 6 months. The rashes caused by eczema tend to ooze when scratched.
There is no permanent treatment for eczema, though there are many ways to help control the symptoms of eczema. In older adolescents and young adults, it is likely that eczema will manifest as scaly patches of skin. It is important to seek treatment when you have eczema to minimize the likelihood of outbreaks and help to control the negative symptoms associated with eczema.
Warts
Warts are common in people of all ages and may run particularly rampant in children. Overall, warts are caused by an infection with a virus and are caused by skin-to-skin contact with another wart. This makes warts particularly difficult to get rid of, because they can spread to other areas of the body. If you or your child has a wart, it is important to take care of the wart coming into contact with other areas of the skin. Warts manifest as hard bumps on the hands, fingers, and feet, though they may also appear in other areas.
It is important to keep in mind that there is no anti-viral treatment that will specifically target the development of warts. Treatments for warts tend to target the area of the skin where the infection is held and there are many treatments available for warts. Our expert team can help you to make the best decisions when it comes to the treatment of warts for you or your child.
Acne
Acne is most common in teenagers and may even impact adults. It is commonly caused by the hormonal surge that comes along with adolescence. Though acne may clear up over time, obtaining the appropriate treatments can help to control the presence of acne. This can go a long way toward boosting confidence and self-esteem for teenagers. There are many varieties of acne and each cause tends to have a different effective treatment. It is often incredibly beneficial to visit a dermatologist for treatment when the acne is long-lasting or a frequent occurrence.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a skin condition that tends to be most common in children under the age of 10. It is a virus that is also highly contagious. Chickenpox is a result of coming into contact with another 
individual with chickenpox without having any immunity to chickenpox. It starts with itchy red papules. These papules tend to appear first on the back, stomach, and face. The papules tend to become more severe as the chickenpox develops and the infected spaces will spread to the other areas of the body. Most cases of chickenpox in children tend to be relatively minor and clear up with time and rest. However, chickenpox is often far more severe in adults.
There are many common skin conditions in children. It is vital to ensure that you obtain the appropriate treatment for these skin conditions to protect the health of your children. There are also many common skin conditions in adults and teenagers. Understanding the various conditions will help you to identify them when they arise. This will help you to provide treatment in the early stages, which can prevent substantial issues and discomfort. Here at Allen-Taintor Dermatology, we offer many solutions for the treatment of various skin conditions. We are able to handle many varieties of acne, in addition to many other problems. It is similarly important to take the steps to protect your skin from various types of damage. To learn more about the most common skin conditions in children or the dermatology solutions that we offer, contact our experts at Allen-Taintor Dermatology today!