Common Pediatric Skin Conditions Research Articles

Most common pediatric skin conditions managed in outpatient dermatology clinics in the United States stratified by race and ethnicity.

A better understanding of what skin conditions are most commonly diagnosed in different pediatric racial and ethnic groups in outpatient dermatology clinics could help guide the development of pediatric dermatology educational initiatives for primary care providers and general dermatologists who have limited access to pediatric dermatologists. Using a nationally representative dataset, we evaluated the most common diagnoses in patients younger than 15years of age (children) and 15-24years of age (youth) who present to outpatient dermatology clinics, stratified by race and ethnicity. While acne and dermatitis were among the top ten most common diagnoses in all racial and ethnic groups studied, Black children were also commonly diagnosed with dermatophytosis and impetigo, and Black and Hispanic children were often diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis; pigmentary disorders were among the top three most common diagnoses in Black, Asian, and Hispanic youth. Training more physicians how to evaluate and treat common skin conditions in children and youth of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds may improve access to care for skin disease in the United States.

Skin microbiota: Friend or foe in pediatric skin health and skin disease.

The human integument and gastrointestinal tract host unique microbial ecosystems. Within the last decade, research has focused on understanding the contributions of the microbiotato human health and disease. The majority of skin microbiome studies involve adults. This review focuses on key studies conducted within the pediatric population and provides a framework for future skin microbiome work in this ever-expanding field. This article begins by exploring the skin microbiome at birth and reviews the impact of delivery mode on infant skin colonization. How skin microbial colonization evolves from infancy to adulthood and normal development impacts the abundance of skin commensals such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Cutibacterium is also highlighted. Finally, several skin microbiome research studies in common pediatric skin conditions are reviewed, including body odor, atopic dermatitis (AD), and acne. The bacteria involved in metabolizing sweat, the impact on body odor, and how this process evolves from childhood to adulthood is outlined. In AD, different bacteria genera that predominate in children and adults and the impact of current AD therapies on skin microbiota are explored. Finally, in acne, the understanding of how Cutibacterium acnes contributes to acne pathogenesis and how acne therapies impact the skin microbial communities is reviewed.

Pediatric Laser Therapy in Pigmented Conditions.

Advances in laser therapy have led to novel therapeutic approaches to common pediatric skin conditions. As a non-invasive alternative to surgical options, laser therapy is efficacious in treating a broad range of conditions, from vascular and pigmented lesions to tattoo and hair removal. This paper reviews the basic mechanics of laser therapy, its role in common pigmented pediatric dermatoses, and special considerations for this unique age group.

Common Pediatric Skin Conditions with Protracted Courses

This article reviews some of the recent literature on therapeutic modalities and their efficacy in common pediatric skin conditions. Immunotherapy and laser therapy of warts and molluscum contagiosum show therapeutic promise. Bleach baths may help in eradicating Staphylococcus aureus carriage and in improving atopic dermatitis. Cephalexin continues to show efficacy even with increased incidence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. More studies have looked at the use of systemic immunosuppressants for alopecia areata and vitiligo in children, although risks and benefits of therapy must be weighed. The excimer laser shows promise as a treatment modality for both alopecia areata and vitiligo.

What???s new in pediatric dermatology: update for the pediatrician

Common pediatric skin conditions such as infantile atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, hemangiomas of infancy, warts, and molluscum contagiosum do not always respond to standard therapy. In some settings pediatricians will use "off-label" medications if the benefit-to-risk ratio is favorable. This article reviews important literature from the past year related to "off-label" immune-based treatment of skin disease, using the topical immunomodulators tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, and imiquimod, as well as intravenous Ig. The topical immunomodulators tacrolimus and pimecrolimus have been embraced by pediatricians as long awaited alternatives for treating atopic dermatitis in children 2 years of age and older. Their unique appeal as nonsteroidal topical agents with good safety profiles has led to their frequent use for unapproved indications. A number of recent publications detail their use in infantile atopic dermatitis in children as young as 3 months of age, as well as use in other conditions such as vitiligo. Imiquimod, another topical immunomodulator, approved for genital wart treatment in adults, has also been examined for "off-label" pediatric use in nongenital warts, molluscum contagiosum, hemangiomas of infancy, and basal cell carcinoma. Finally, "off-label" use of intravenous Ig has been evaluated for the life-threatening dermatoses Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. In the absence of larger controlled trials, pediatricians must consider the cumulative weight of smaller studies with their personal experience when assessing any role for "off label" therapy. The recent literature reviewed herein will facilitate such assessments of the non-steroid topical immune modifiers tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, and imiquimod as well as intravenous immunoglobulin.

Selected pediatric skin tumors: An update for dermatologists

There are a vast number of benign and malignant skin tumors that present in the pediatric population. This monograph addresses a select few of specific dermatologic interest. The first, Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, is a condition with clinical findings often confused with less serious common pediatric skin conditions, yet it can have significant morbidity.The genodermatoses are syndromes that can present with both benign and malignant skin tumors. Advances in molecular genetics have helped elucidate many of the gene defects. Nevus sebaceous is specifically addressed, as there has been much controversy regarding its treatment. Several benign tumors seen in the pediatric population can appear clinically suspicious for a malignancy: pseudorheumatoid nodules, pilomatrixoma, infantile myofibromatosis, and congenital smooth muscle hamartoma. Careful history and physical examination can enable dermatologists to reassure parents and patients of the benign nature of these lesions, obviating any need for further invasive testing. Comparatively, malignant lesions that may simulate benign lesions, metastatic cutaneous neuroblastoma, primary subcutaneous rhabdomyosarcoma, and other rare tumors, are addressed. Finally, clinical presentations of pediatric basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, although rare in this population, are discussed. (Curr Probl Dermatol 2002;14:41-69.)Curr Probl Dermatol 2002;14:41-69.