Pediatric dermatology and common skin conditions

Children experience a variety of skin diseases that are unique to their age group and have different clinical presentations when compared to their adult counterparts. Identifying pediatric cutaneous pathology can be challenging for primary care providers (PCPs), as presentations of classic cutaneous conditions can vary even within a few years in childhood. For a variety of reasons related to access to pediatric dermatologists, the majority of pediatric dermatology is managed by PCPs. Given that up to 30% of all pediatric primary care visits can include skin-related diagnoses (Castelo-Soccio and McMahon, 2017), it is essential for PCPs to have a strong grasp of the most common skin conditions that pediatric patients experience. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the clinical presentation and treatment of common pediatric skin conditions in order to equip PCPs with the necessary knowledge base to properly care for the dermatologic needs of the pediatric population. The common pediatric skin conditions discussed in this chapter include atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, molluscum contagiosum, verruca vulgaris, melanocytic nevi, and infantile hemangiomas.