Is your child suffering from a skin condition such as a birthmark, eczema, warts, or psoriasis? If so, you may want him or her to be checked by a medical professional specifically a pediatric dermatologist.
What is a pediatric dermatologist?
Pediatric dermatologists are medical doctors that treat a wide variety of pediatric skin conditions. They treat children from birth to adolescence. These medical professionals undergo the following advanced training to ensure they only provide quality service to your child.
- Four years of medical school.
- A year of internship.
- Dermatology residency of three years OR
- Two years of pediatric residency and three years of dermatology residency.
After completing the training above, pediatric dermatologists will receive subspecialty certification in Pediatric Dermatology through the American Board of Dermatology.
Types of Pediatric Treatments that Pediatric Dermatologists Provide
As mentioned above, pediatric dermatologists provide medical care to a wide variety of pediatric conditions. Some of those are as follows:
- Diagnosis of various skin conditions including hemangiomas and other vascular birthmarks, pigmented birthmarks, and congenital skin disorders. They also help with eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, vitiligo, hives, warts, and a lot more.
- Prescription of appropriate medical treatment and medicines for conditions affecting the skin, hair, and nails.
- Conducting minor surgical procedures including skin biopsies, surgical removal of skin lesions (e.g., cysts, warts), and laser treatments.
When to Visit a Pediatric Dermatologist?
Most of the time, children especially the little ones, aren’t able to say what they’re feeling or if something’s bothering them. Moreover, they may not be able to answer medical questions or be cooperative enough during medical exams and procedures. This is what makes pediatric dermatologist different from dermatologists as they know how to examine and provide treatment in such a way that your child is at ease. More often than not, they have child-friendly clinics with medical equipment specially designed for children.
With their years of specialized training and experience, they’d certainly know what’s normal and what isn’t in terms of a child’s growth and development. Certain conditions like psoriasis may have unique symptoms in children which pediatric dermatologists can identify as they are experts in their field. On top of it, they can properly diagnose and treat your child’s skin condition.
If you’re in doubt about your child’s skin condition, don’t hesitate to bring him or her to the nearest pediatric dermatology clinic.