Your child’s skin has to last a long time, from scraped knees on the playground to knee-slappers around the old folks’ home someday far, far in the future.
Pediatric Dermatology is a branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions in infants, children, adolescents and teenagers that affect the skin, hair and nails.
Children’s skin can be very different from that of adults. Because it needs to grow and stretch as the child moves and matures, a child’s skin is usually thinner and more easily injured than that of adults. Certain skin conditions are more common in children, while some produce different symptoms in children than adults.
Pediatric dermatologists are medical doctors who have years of specialized training to help them understand the unique characteristics of childrens’ skin and the conditions and injuries that can affect it. After graduating from medical school, pediatric dermatologists usually serve a residency in general Dermatology, followed by a fellowship or residency in Pediatric Dermatology. They also seek out more training and education throughout their careers, to keep up with the latest ideas and treatment advances.
As part of their education, pediatric dermatology providers receive extensive training in how to understand children and their medical needs, including communication from children who aren’t yet verbal. They’re also skilled at communicating with parents and other caregivers, collaborating closely with them to help coordinate a child’s dermatological treatment plan at home.
