The skin is the body’s largest organfor adults and infants alike. This is why it is so important to take good care of your skin.
This means regular dermatology visits for both you and your child, even if you do not notice anything out of the ordinary. Dr. Reed specializes in diagnosing and treating skin conditions in children, and parents from all over Massachusetts and beyond bring their children to see him for check ups as well as pediatric treatments for children’s skin conditions.
Pediatric dermatology is a special area within dermatology reserved just for infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents.
Pediatric dermatology is not the same as standard “adult” dermatology. Some skin conditions look different on children than on adults, and some skin conditions are only present in children. Further, younger patients can’t always fully verbalize what exactly is bothering them, so it takes a skilled and attentive dermatologist to examine and treat children while keeping them at ease.
Dr. Reed is board certified and has undergone training to accurately diagnose and treat children’s skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, birthmarks, and many more. Integrated Dermatology offers evaluation and management of all skin, hair and nail disorders. If you believe your child has an abnormality of the skin and would like it checked, feel free to contact us today and request a consultation. You can also contact us for a routine skin checkfor your child even if there is no discoloration or variation of the skin.
COMMON CHILDREN’S SKIN CONDITIONS
Of all the skin conditions, acne and eczema most commonly affect children. Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is red, inflamed patches on the skin. Symptoms include dryness and itchiness of the areas. Eczema occurs in up to 20 percent of children and can affect babies all the way through adolescents. Treatment will be based on the age of the child along with the location and size of the rash. Some options for treatment include steroid creams, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and antihistamines.
Acne is also very common in children and usually appears on the face, chest, or back. In addition, the physical aspects of acne, it can also take a toll on self-esteem. The good news is that with the proper medication, a dermatologist can help children manage the condition. Acne treatment plans are different for each individual, allowing a plan that is unique for each child’s skin type and lifestyle.
Below are additional children’s skin conditions we often see and treat at Integrated Dermatology.
Benign growth: Non-malignant growths on the skin including keloids, skin tags, keratoses, and more.
Birthmark: Red or brown unusually shaped mark on the skin from birth. Can be small or large.
Contact dermatitis: Itchy red rash caused when you come in contact with certain substances.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease: Contagious viral infection common in children under 10 years old. Causes fever as well as blisters and sores on the hands, feet, and/or mouth.
Hemangioma: Benign blood vessel tumor, typically congenital.
Hyperhidrosis: Excessive sweating disorder affecting the armpits, hands, and/or feet.
Moles: Small brown or red growth above or below the skin. Can be congenital or acquired.
Molluscum: Small pink lesions above the skin that have a dimpled center. Also known as water warts.
Port wine stain: Large, dark hemangioma birthmark.
Psoriasis: Condition that causes skin cells to grow faster than the cell death rate. Results in patches of itchy red skin.
Warts: Round, hard benign growth on the skin.
IS YOUR CHILD A CANDIDATE?
Skin conditions are not always treated the same way for each child.
Infants, toddlers, children, and teenagers under the age of 17 suffering from one or more of the aforementioned skin conditions can qualify as a pediatric dermatology patient. This is not to say that a child has to have a condition listed above; there are numerous kinds of skin conditions and diseases. Some conditions are shared in common with adults, some present in different ways than they would in adults, and some are unique to children. This is why there is a special area within dermatology just for children, because not all skin conditions and diseases are alike.
Some children may require a simple non-invasive treatment to treat their condition, while others may be surgical candidates. It all depends on the specifics of the case and the child and parent’s preference. Dr. Reed is happy to offer his expert opinion and share what he thinks will be the optimal solution.
Children have different needs from adults. This is true for emotional, physical, and medical situations. Visiting with a dermatologist who is educated and experience in pediatric skin conditions is important to get the best level of care for your child. The same skin disease can vary greatly between children and adults. In order for your child to receive the most accurate diagnosis and treatment, bring him or her to Dr. Reed at Integrated Dermatology.
PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY SERVICES WE OFFER
At Integrated Dermatology we treat pediatric skin conditions with various modalities depending on the condition. Types of treatment depend on the age of the child and the location of the lesion, infection, condition, or disease. Below are some of the most common treatments.
SHAVE EXCISION AND SKIN BIOPSY
Shave excision is a straightforward skin lesion removal procedure. The mole, skin tag, wart, or any other lesion in question will first be numbed with a local anesthetic so the child doesn’t feel any pain. A fine razor is then used to delicately remove the lesion. Antibiotic ointment is then applied followed by a sterile bandage to avoid the area rubbing against the clothes. This process is less invasive than a full thickness skin excision that requires stitches. Some children may however require a full thickness skin excision if the lesion is large or in question. Skin biopsies can be performed for further lab testing if necessary or desired.
CRYOTHERAPY FOR LESIONS
Cryotherapy is an effective treatment for removing warts, skin tags, molluscum, and other lesions without the need for a scalpel. A tiny probe or cotton swab is cooled to a very low temperature with liquid nitrogen and then placed on the area of concern. Sometimes the treatment area is numbed before the treatment so the child does not feel discomfort. The entire process is completed in a matter of minutes. Some lesions only require one treatment for full removal, while others may require multiple treatment sessions.
LASER AND IPL THERAPY FOR DISCOLORATION
Laser and IPL devices as offered by Dr. Reed can be used for scar removal and skin pigmentation treatment. Different laser or light wavelengths are used to reach different depths of the skin to address the underlying cause of discoloration, excess pigmentation. The laser or light only targets areas of excess pigmentation that helps even skin tone.
PHOTOTHERAPY FOR INFLAMMATORY SKIN DISEASE
Inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis are more commonly seen in children than adults. The resulting dry, itchy skin can be very irritating for the child; especially when they cannot articulate what exactly they are feeling. Phototherapy treatment for inflammatory skin diseases uses ultraviolet A and B wavelengths to treat mild to moderate cases. The ultraviolet light slows down the production of skin cell turnover that in turn reduces inflammation and irritation.
WHY CHOOSE Integrated Dermatology?
Dr. Reed of Integrated Dermatology in Boston is excited to provide pediatric dermatology. He understands that parents may have concerns regarding their child’s skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists who are well trained and experienced in providing care for adults understand that children cannot always be treated in the same manner. Not every approach used to address dermatological problems for adults is the best solution for a child. Dr. Reed works with parents to determine the best course of action for a child’s condition and find out what methodology is best for managing it. Pediatric dermatologists are also committed to ensuring the visit is comfortable, relaxing, and positive to put children at ease when visiting a medical professional such as Dr. Reed.
At Integrated Dermatology, we see a variety of pediatric conditions, which may include skin disorders such as acne, rashes, psoriasis, and eczema. We also treat birthmarks, port wine stains, moles, and skin tags. Skin infections and fungal infections, such as impetigo, can also be treated by Dr. Reed. Additionally, any moles or unusual changes in the skin should be monitored, although skin cancer is very rare in young children. Screenings are important for patients of all ages.
Dermatologists who provide pediatric care often have extensive training outside of the degree necessary to become a board-certified dermatologist. Pediatric dermatologists are experienced in providing care for children and even infants when the need arises. Dr. Reed has extensive education that allows him to care for even the youngest of patients in a way that is thorough and effective when providing quality, comprehensive treatments.
Dr. Reed and the experienced team at Integrated Dermatology pride themselves in offering a wide variety of services to not just adults, but children. Parents who are concerned about a skin, hair, or nail condition that their children are experiencing, can request an appointment today and have these concerns addressed by a quality dermatologist in the Boston area. The doctor is Harvard-trained and has years of experience helping patients in his community improve the health and wellbeing of their bodies.
THE DAY OF TREATMENT
When you arrive with your child at our office on the day of the treatment, you will be greeted by our kind staff and brought to the treatment room. Treatments are performed in office by Dr. Kenneth Reed or one of his well trained professional physician extenders.
For the majority of treatments, local anesthesia or topical numbing cream can be used and this will keep your child comfortable. Some treatments may require light sedation or general anesthesia, but this will be discussed at the time of the consultation so you are fully informed about each step of the process. Most skin conditions are treated in a matter of minutes, but each case is unique so the procedure is customized to the child and their condition. Once the procedure is over, the treatment area will be covered with ointment or wrapped, and you both are free to return home.
RECOVERY
Recovery from pediatric dermatology depends on the treatment performed, but majority of the time no recovery or downtime is required.
It may take some time for results of laser and light therapy to take effect, but shave excision and electrodesiccation can offer immediate results. There may be discomfort, redness, or irritation of the treated area following treatment, but depending on the treatment method, this should go away between a couple hours and a couple days. Medication or cream can be provided to alleviate discomfort for this time. It is important for all dermatology treatments that the treated area is not exposed to direct sunlight until Dr. Reed expresses otherwise.
SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S CONSULTATION
You can call us or click here to request a pediatric dermatology consultation for your child. Parents are encouraged to be in the room during the consultation to listen to all of the information and ask questions since you will have additional information about your child’s condition and symptoms. At this time Dr. Reed will examine the area of concern while keeping the child at ease; the comfort of the child is very important to him. For minor cases, treatment can sometimes be performed on the same day. If your treatment must be performed at a later date, we will be happy to schedule it at your convenience. Please bring insurance information to the consultation as some treatments are covered.
We offer a comfortable, kid friendly environment at Integrated Dermatology and are proud to offer pediatric dermatology treatments. Contact us today to request a consultation for your child.
