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What is a Pediatric Dermatologist?

What is a Pediatric Dermatologist?

Imagine this: a child has a pesky patch of skin that no matter how many times a pediatrician sees the rash, it does not seem to be improving. It might be time to visit a Pediatric Dermatologist.

Pediatric dermatologic care focuses on skin conditions that affect infants, children, and adolescents. Skin changes are frequent in children. A Pediatric Dermatologist has the qualifications to understand these changes and provide medical care as needed.

Pediatric Dermatologists treat many skin conditions prone to children: skin infections, moles, birthmarks, hives, psoriasis, cysts, rashes, acne, and warts. Additionally, Pediatric Dermatologists are trained to consider children’s individual needs. They help children feel comfortable as they are examined and treated.

Children cannot always say what is bothering them, and they cannot always answer medical questions and be asked to wait and sit patiently. That is why it is essential to see a Pediatric Dermatologist.

Pediatric Dermatologists have specialized training to recognize normal growth and development, and when to worry. Some medical disorders, such as infantile hemangioma blood vessel growths, are not found in adults – only infants and children.

Similarly, with psoriasis, it affects children differently and may show different symptoms that only a Pediatric Dermatologist would recognize. Pediatric Dermatologists are also expertly trained in pediatric medication management.

At Knoxville Dermatology Group, we have providers who are trained in Pediatric Dermatology. To schedule an appointment, please call our office or visit us online.

How to Ensure Skin Conditions Don’t Keep Your Kids Out of School

School is officially back in session, and the kids are hard at work. Whether you’re relieved or not, it’s important to make sure they stay healthy for the whole year. Many parents forget that their kids come into contact with hundreds of children every day between the classroom, halls or recess. If not careful, you child could develop a skin-related illness or infection and pass it along to other kids. No one needs to miss school. These tips ensure your child will get the “Perfect Attendance” award at the end of the year.

Head Lice

Lice is the classic nuisance that schools will do everything in its’ power to prevent. Contrary to popular belief, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that students diagnosed with head lice do not need to be sent straight home. The organization suggests letting the student finish out the rest of the school day before going home and being treated. This is because head lice have not been shown to spread disease.

If your child does come home with lice, it’s important to follow these treatment instructions to ensure that they can return to school as soon as possible. To treat head lice, get an over-the-counter prescription lice medicine, called pediculicide, and read the measurement and how-to-use instructions that are provided. Comb the treatment through small stands of hair, one at a time, until all parts of the head have been treated. After eight to 12 hours, if the lice are still alive and active, repeat the treatment process. If the lice problem continues to persist, take a visit to a dermatologist.

It’s important to check the heads of everyone in the household and anyone who the child has recently come in contact with. All clothes, hats, bedding, towels or grooming aids must be washed and sanitized. Personal hygiene or cleanliness is not a factor that contributes to head lice. If someone in your child’s school gets lice, make sure all children in the class get checked immediately.

Shingles

Chickenpox used to be a common virus that most kids would get. With a vaccine in place now, the condition is becoming less common. However, anyone who has had a case of the chickenpox is at a slight risk of developing shingles, even children. Both chickenpox and shingles are caused by the varicella zoster virus. When a child gets chickenpox, the virus stays in the person’s nervous system forever. When the virus flares up again, it is considered shingles. This is pretty rare in children or teens with healthy immune systems.

A case of shingles will bring symptoms of tingling, itching or even pain before a rash appears. The rash will show up as a group of pimples on the body or face. After a week to ten days, the blisters will break open and scab over. It takes usually two to four weeks for the scabs to heal completely. Children might also experience fever, headache, fatigue or general muscle achiness with an outbreak. Shingles is extremely contagious, so make sure to keep you child home from school and away from friends.

Eczema

One in ten children will experience eczema before the age of five. Eczema is defined as numerous different skin conditions that leave the skin red and irritated. The skin will sometimes have small, red, fluid-filled bumps that ooze. Doctors aren’t sure what exactly causes the condition, but they do believe genetics plays a factor. Kids who develop eczema often have other family members with asthma, allergies or even hay fever.

Good skin care is the first step of treating eczema. In minor cases, a change to your daily habits and hygiene will do the trick. Using an unscented moisturizing or lotion will help keep the skin hydrated. Use it twice a day and after bathing. Dry air can irritate the condition, so doctors recommend keeping a dehumidifier in the room your child sleeps in. For any case of eczema, a dermatologist can prescribe physician-strength medicines and moisturizers.

Does you or your child have a skin condition that could affect them from going to school?  Our dermatologists are specialists in cases involving eczema, shingles and provide assistance for head lice. Call Knoxville Dermatology Group today at (865) 690-9467 or visit us online!

5 Facts About Lice

Back-to-school season almost always means new clothes, new teachers and new friends for school-age children. So what do you do when you realize that these new friends have shared their toys and their head lice with your child? First take a deep breath and learn these 5 facts about lice:

1. Lice infestations are not related to cleanliness; in fact, lice prefer clean heads.
2. Lice move by crawling – they can’t jump or fly.
3. Pets do not transmit lice.
4. Lice do not transmit any diseases.
5. Head lice are very common and spread almost always by head-to-head contact

And before you pull out the heavy-duty cleaning supplies, know that lice usually die within 2 days and nits (lice eggs) cannot survive at temperatures other than that of the human scalp (CDC.gov).

As you can see, there’s no need to panic if you get that unfortunate note from the teacher. However, they are a nuisance that won’t go away until you get treatment. There are many over-the-counter products available or you can consult one of our physicians for the most effective treatment options.

If you have any questions about lice, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians in Knoxville to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.