Dermatology can affect people of all ages and from all walks of life. The skin is the body’s natural protection against the elements, and the first barrier to your vital organs in the event of a serious accident. The skin is tough and being the largest organ of the body, it is one of the most important.
Though most adults will go through different skin conditions in their lives, young children are also prone to issues with their skin. If you have a young child, it is important to be aware of any changes on the skin such as colour, texture and appearance. If you do feel that your child may be suffering from a skin condition, you should seek out medical advice, and the condition may be something that needs medical treatment.
Nappy Rash
Nappy or diaper rash is a very common condition in young children. The medical term for this is diaper dermatitis, and is a skin condition that affects the lower region of the body where the child would wear the diaper. This condition has several different types, with the most common being a form of dermatitis caused by irritant contact between the diaper and the skin.
The condition occurs when the infant’s skin is exposed to feces and urine for long periods of time. The skin can become slightly swollen and sensitive to touch, as well as red in colour. This can be treated by using a moisturizer on the skin that comes into contact with the diaper. It is also very important to change the diaper regularly throughout the day and night.
Molluscum Contagiosum
This is a viral information on the skin that is very common and usually affects youngsters between the ages of 2 to 5 years old, although in rare cases it can occur in children under the age of 12 months. It causes lesions on the body that are dome shaper and flesh colored.
The condition is a benign one, and there is discussion in the medical world about whether this is something that doctors should actually try to treat. Many parents of children who suffer this condition often do prefer to take some medical treatment in order to speed up the recovery as well as prevent it from spreading further.
Ringworm
This is a type of tinea infection which is caused by the presence of different fungi on the body. The main characteristic of this condition are red ring shaped marks on the body, usually with rough to touch patches. Ringworm is a condition that affects many children in third world countries, where they may suffer from malnourishment and have poor levels of hygiene.
There are various types of ringworm with one of the most common being tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot, as it is often known. Causes of this type of condition include sweating in the foot area, tight shoes and socks, or evening inadequate drying of the toes after bathing or even swimming.
Another common type is tinea capitis, which is scalp ringworm. This is a condition that occurs mainly in children between the ages of 2 to 10 years. The main characteristics include an itchy red scalp, and in some instances hair loss.
Warts
This is a condition that is common in all ages of children, and will usually appear as hard lumps on the hands and feet. They are caused by the papillomavirus and can be very contagious. They can easily spread to other parts of the body, as well as to other people, so if you child is suffering from this condition, then it is advisable to keep them away from school.
There are many different types of warts as there are many types of papillomavirus. The most common warts are those that are found on the back of the hands and around the nails. There are others that you can find on the soles of the feet, which can be very painful in some instances, making it difficult to walk around.
They will usually heal themselves over a year or so, but this process can be sped up through a prescribed lotion or cream. The main factors if treatment is advised or not will depend on the age of the child, as well as the length of time that the warts have been on the skin. Each case will be different with each child, so there is no single pattern of treatment that can be suggested.
As with all health issues and conditions, if you believe that your child has any type of skin condition or infection, it is very important to take them to a specialist for a full examination. In the event that you have an emergency and need to be seen right away by a specialist, you could try and find a local client where you can turn up without an appointment, or even online. Do a search on Google for something such as Online Dermatology – Walk-in Dermatology along with your location, and you should see a list of results of places close by you can visit, or have an online consultation with a specialist.