Dermatology

Many treatments for warts are destructive and painful, and are more likely to cause complications than the warts. A pediatric dermatologist advises what to do-or not do-for common warts.

A healthy 5-week-old girl presents for evaluation of rapidly growing, flat-topped red papules on the left side of her face.

Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) will go to great lengths to hide their skin. Here’s how referring them to a pediatric psychologist can help them be their best self, even with AD.

A healthy 5-year-old boy with a 6-month history of asymptomatic 2-mm to 3-mm papules on his legs presents for evaluation of a red, slightly itchy rash that just developed on the back of his right knee. What's the diagnosis?

Applying sunscreen as often as manufacturers recommend results in plasma concentrations of sunscreen’s 4 active ingredients that exceed the threshold for safety concerns established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a recent study.

Contemporary Pediatrics sits down exclusively with Sheila Fallon Friedlander, MD, a professor dermatology and pediatrics, to discuss the one key condition for which she believes community pediatricians should be especially aware-hemangiomas.

An otherwise healthy 5-month-old girl presents with an asymptomatic, rapidly growing, firm, smooth nodule on the side of her left fifth finger since she was 2 months of age.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a study published in JAMA Pediatrics that examined how atopic dermatitis impacted the sleep quality and duration of the 14,000 study participants.

A healthy 3-year-old girl presents for evaluation of light brown spots on her trunk and extremities that have appeared over the last 2 years. The spots are not symptomatic but the girl’s parents are worried that she could have neurofibromatosis.

A 3-month-old boy presents for evaluation of a diffuse asymptomatic rash that began on his scalp and skin creases 6 weeks ago and has spread over his trunk and extremities. This week he has begun to scratch at his neck and abdomen.

A healthy 14-year-old girl with a progressive asymptomatic rash on her arms, legs, trunk, and face presents for evaluation. She was treated for eczema with minimal improvement.

A healthy 12-year-old girl presents to the clinic with 2 days of low-grade fever and enlarging, painful, tense bullae on both hands. She had recently been diagnosed with streptococcal pharyngitis and was being treated with oral cefixime.

A healthy 11-year-old boy is brought to the office for evaluation of asymptomatic reticulated rash that started on his ankles 3 weeks ago and since has spread to his shins and the tops of both feet. He is on no medications and has had no history of trauma or recent illness. What's the diagnosis?

The parents of a 2-month-old boy return to the office for a well-child visit. The infant has a history of hypotonia and poor head control but is growing normally. His parents noted streaky patterns of hypopigmentation over his trunk and extremities shortly after birth and felt they were likely just “birthmarks.”

A 16-year-old girl presents to the clinic for acne follow-up and mentions that her palms wrinkle significantly after only a few minutes of immersion in water. She is otherwise well and has no significant past medical history.

An 8-year-old boy is brought to the office for evaluation of a persistent itchy rash on his extremities, trunk, and face. Although the rash has been present for longer than 3 months, individual skin lesions change from hour to hour and occasionally the rash clears completely only to recur several hours later. He is otherwise healthy with no known allergies, changes in diet, medication use, or recent illness.

A previously healthy 8-year-old boy presents to the dermatology clinic with a progressively worsening elbow rash over the course of the last week. The rash does not itch. He spent the previous weekend sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. His pediatrician prescribed a course of cephalexin as well as a trial of topical antiviral ointment, neither of which improved the rash. The patient denies any other new exposures. 

A landmark observational study is the first to report on the effect of ultraviolet-free blue light therapy on allergic skin disease in newborns.

New research examined the potential role of Gram-negative skin bacteria in the pathogenesis and exacerbation of eczema, and their effectiveness to treat it.

Children with psoriasis may have higher rates of associated medical comorbidities. Newest recommendations say such kids should be screened for these risk factors.

The mother of a healthy 4-week-old boy brings him to the office for evaluation of a small pit on the medial canthus of the left eye, noted since birth. There is constant drainage of tears onto the left side of his face and exudate on the bottom of the left medial canthus.

An anxious mother brings her healthy 4-month-old daughter for evaluation of itchy pustules on both hands and feet. The eruption has persisted despite 2 courses of permethrin for scabies. The infant also was diagnosed with hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome and dyshidrotic eczema, but neither of these diseases fit clinically.

The worried mother of an 11-year-old boy arrives at the office for evaluation of an asymptomatic bumpy rash that appeared suddenly in his right groin a month ago, and that has now extended all the way down to his right ankle. What's the diagnosis?

Adding emollients to bath water for eczema relief doesn’t help improve the condition, but costs a lot more than topical treatments.

Many parents and professionals have these misconceptions about allergies and other unusual findings.