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Skin conditions can see a child miss activities, or school and feel isolated. Bringing back normality is part of successful treatment.
A child’s skin is a natural barrier against infections. The bacteria which cause them often live on their skin without harm, although not always. The likelihood of a child going through life without a skin infection is tiny.
Many conditions are transient and minor, part of childhood. Others will require treatment, to relieve symptoms, or bring a cure. The difficulty may be in telling which are minor and which could have significant implications.
Serious conditions, such as scarlet fever, or meningitis show symptoms on the skin which can be similar to minor problems. Short term conditions could appear much the same as the onset of longer term dermatitis, which will need support.
Accurate Diagnosis
Your child will be seen by a consultant dermatologist, experienced in childhood skin conditions. Their ability to differentiate between common issues and thankfully rarer, serious infections is the key.
State of the art diagnostic back up is available to patients of all ages, from digital microscopy, to laboratory analysis. Whilst a consultant’s skill is critical, every avenue should be open for investigation.
This includes understanding a child’s personal and family medical history, how they are affected by the condition, how they feel. Our North London clinic does not take a generic approach based on condition, treatment should be individual.
Treating Skin Infections
We prefer not to list the range of childhood skin infections and symptoms they produce. This can be misleading, compared to a professional diagnosis, or unneccessarily worrying.
Along with those mentioned, conditions we see include hives, folliculitis, ringworm (nothing to do with worms) cellulitis, impetigo, eczema.
Treatment will vary according to the depth and spread of infection. A range of antibiotics can be valuable, within a cream, given orally, or in a few cases intravenously, antifungal creams can help, for conditions such as ringworm.
There can be times when minor surgical intervention is called for, such as incision and drainage of boils, or carbuncles. Whatever the requirement, understanding what is best for a child and their family leads decisions.
Our London Clinics
Our clinic offers dedicated support on children’s dermatology. For diagnosis and treatment, along with tailoring care to the child they are treating. The way treatment is applied can and should vary.
Whether a condition is contagious can be discussed, along with practical options, from avoiding the sharing of clothing, or household items, to using an antibacterial soap.
Above all, a child and their family members will be met by a welcoming, comfortable environment. Feeling supported matters for all patients, more so when they are young, by all means contact us to discuss how we can help.