When You Should Bring Your Child to a Pediatric Dermatologist

A pediatric dermatologist can treat all children from birth until adolescence.  They treat a variety of conditions that vary from acne and warts to conditions of the hair and nails. The Center for Dermatology provides pediatric dermatology to children in the Lawrenceville area, as well as Suwanee, Dacula, Duluth, Buford, and Snellville.  This guide is designed to help you know when your child needs to see a dermatologist.

What Does a Dermatologist Treat?

In pediatric dermatology, we treat conditions of the skin affecting infants, children and adolescents, including but not limited to:

• Warts
• Birthmarks
• Genetic disorders of the skin
• Moles
• Cancer of the skin
• Dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Various skin infections
• Allergies

When needed, we may order certain tests to help diagnose your child and develop an appropriate treatment plan.  Tests may include:

• Blood tests
• Tissue biopsy
• Skin cultures
• Skin scrapings

We use the various skin samples to find out what may be growing on the skin.  If the results are positive, it can give us a more clear indication of the medical treatment necessary.  Our goal is to find out whether fungus, bacteria or virus are the cause of your child’s dermatological issue.

When Should My Child See a Dermatologist?

Each child’s needs are unique.  In cases where your child is suffering from a congenital condition such as albinism, vulgaris, or other issues present at birth, they should see a pediatric dermatologist as early as possible.  Other conditions that come with age, such as acne, may not be life-threatening, but they can be emotionally difficult and injurious to your child’s self-esteem.  For that reason, we advise seeking treatment promptly.

What happens during the initial consultation at our clinic depends, in part, on the reason for your appointment.  Some children are recommended by other medical professionals because certain conditions require joint medical effort.  Others come because parents or caregivers have concerns.  Either way, one of the first steps is to review your child’s medical history.  We will ask you how long your child has had their condition.  We will also conduct a physical exam and discuss the severity of your child’s symptoms.

We aim to make children as comfortable as possible during every stage of their visit.  It is best to prepare your child for what will occur during the exam.  Generally, the pediatric dermatologist will want to inspect your child’s skin to ensure all possible skin conditions are found.

If your child has a skin condition that you are concerned about, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Center for Dermatology in Lawrenceville.  Contact us today to book an appointment for your little one.