Identifying Common Skin Problems
There are many different rashes, blisters, growths, and blemishes that can show up on your child’s skin. Usually, these skin problems are temporary and harmless, aside from some itchiness or embarrassment, but it’s important to monitor anything out-of-the-ordinary that may appear. To give our readers a better idea of what to look out for, we’re covering five of the most common skin problems you might see on your child in today’s edition of the Briarcliff Pediatrics blog:
Ringworm begins as a red, scaly patch on the skin, then develops into a red ring with a raised and/or scaly border. However, if it shows up on your child’s scalp, groin, nails, palms, or soles, ringworm will not take on this ring-shaped pattern. Despite its name, ringworm is not a worm, but a fungal condition. It’s contracted through skin-to-skin contact, either human-to-human or animal-to-human, and can be spread through the sharing of towels, sports equipment, etc. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), your child’s chances of getting ringworm go up if they spend a lot of time outdoors in hot, humid weather, have diabetes, are obese, or play contact sports. If you think your child may have ringworm, make an appointment for a checkup with Briarcliff Pediatrics today. Ringworm thrives in moist, warm environments and is extremely contagious, so avoid contact and keep the infected area clean and dry until you can begin medical treatment.
Fifth disease begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by the development of bright-red cheeks and a body rash. Other symptoms include fatigue, fever, upset stomach, coughing, headache, itchiness, nausea, sore throat, and/or runny nose. Although fifth disease is usually a mild illness that can be treated with fluids and rest, it lasts a couple of weeks and can be dangerous when contracted by pregnant women.
Thankfully, chickenpox cases in the United States have gone down substantially since the vaccine became available to Americans in the mid-90s. This extremely contagious condition manifests in red spots or blisters all over the body, along with an itchy rash. Chickenpox can be serious, so it’s vital to have your child vaccinated against it. In fact, if you or anyone else in your family has never had chickenpox or received the chickenpox vaccine, I recommend having this vaccine at any age.
Usually found on the fingers and hands, warts are viral skin growths that spread easily from person to person. To keep warts from spreading between people or to additional parts of the body, make sure your child avoids touching anyone else’s warts, using objects that someone with warts has used, and/or picking at any warts they may have. Warts usually go away on their own, but there are treatment options for especially stubborn ones. Do not attempt to excise warts on your own; they almost always come back and might spread further as a result of cutting into them.
Impetigo is itchy, sometimes painful, and manifests in red sores or blisters that can rupture and ooze, producing a yellowish crust. The sores generally appear around the mouth and nose, but they can show up anywhere on the body. Impetigo is contagious, so as with ringworm and other skin conditions, it’s best to keep your children from scratching the affected area and/or touching others when impetigo is going around.
Keep in mind that these are not necessarily the most common skin conditions—there are many, many different types of skin problems, and you should always see a pediatrician about anything you’re unsure about. Dr. Ray Deeb and Dr. Ashley Brown provide comprehensive healthcare for newborns and children up to the age of 18, and they’re currently accepting new patients. If you would like to learn more about our practice, contact Briarcliff Pediatrics to schedule an appointment or a complimentary meet-and-greet. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest health tips and news in children’s healthcare, and check back monthly for new blogs.
