Atopic dermatitis ('eczema') is one of the most common skin problems in babies and children. While in young babies, eczema is often still located on convex skin areas such as the cheeks, in later childhood the eczema gradually moves onto concave skin areas such as in the inner elbows and behind the knees. Chronic eczema skin is dry, thickened and itchy which can be distressing for both child and parents and can make sleeping a problem as well. Acute forms of eczema can appear more inflamed, red and weepy. Whenever the skin is scratched, bacteria can get in and potentially cause secondary infections, often seen as weeping and crusting.

Treatment of eczema can greatly improve the little patient's quality of life as well as the parents'. Although we can't actually cure eczema, a combination of innovative emollients, moisturizing baths, anti-inflammatory creams and anti-itch tablets can keep the symptoms in check until the child eventually grows out of it, as most do. You will also be glad to hear that we now have steroid-free anti-inflammatory creams available to treat eczema. Allergy tests can also be arranged, where appropriate.

In young babies, a rash called seborrhoeic dermatitis is a common problem. It can look similar to eczema, but is not usually very itchy and disappears at around three to four months of age.

Diaper rash is a common form of inflamed skin (dermatitis) that appears as a patchwork of bright red skin on your baby's bottom.

Diaper rash is commonly linked to continuously wet or infrequently changed diapers, diarrhea, and using plastic pants to cover diapers. Diaper rash also may develop after solid foods are added to your baby's diet, when breast-feeding mothers eat certain foods or when your baby is taking antibiotics.

Other common eczema:　
Contact eczema　
Allergic eczema　
Discoid eczema

Between 80-90% of teenagers will suffer with acne to some extent. But that doesn't mean that it should be endured without complaint or accepted as inevitable. Acne can be a seriously distressing, possibly disfiguring condition with the potential to scar the face permanently. Scientific studies have confirmed that even non-severe acne can cause profound emotional problems such as depression and suicidal thoughts. We would therefore strongly encourage you to bring your teenager to see a Dermatologist so treatment for breakouts or acne can begin before scarring occurs.

There are now highly effective treatments available, one of which can even switch acne off for good in the majority of patients. We can prescribe all medical treatments including Isotretinoin and will also recommend which skincare products are suitable for your child. Special acne facials are a great addition to any acne treatment in teenagers.

Impetigo is an extremely common bacterial skin infection in children. It's often recognised by its honey-coloured crusts somewhere on the face and because it's highly infectious, early treatment is recommended. We MAY take a simple, painless skin swab to confirm exactly which bacterium is causing the problem. Our lab will also confirm which antibiotics this particular bacterium is sensitive to and whether it has developed any resistancies. In well-defined impetigo, treatment with an antibacterial or antiseptic cream can be sufficient, while in more antibiotic tablets are prescribed.

Some forms of scaling scalp and patchy hair loss may be due to a fungal infection (tinea capitis). This is infectious and should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. We may take a simple hair sample to our partner lab for analysis in order to try confirming the diagnosis.

Other common infections:

• Chickenpox
• Kawasaki disease
• Viral exanthems
• Tinea pedis
• Folliculitis
• Scabies

These are common among children, mostly arise on the feet and hands and can spread if not treated. We offer different, very effective forms of treatment including in-clinic 'freezing' (much more potent than the milder over-the-counter 'freezing' variants) and high-concentration salicylic & lactic acid paints for use at home. If a more 'radical', one-visit solution is wished, we can arrange a curettage & cautery ('scraping & laser/electrosurgery') under local anaesthesia.

Other viral infections:

• Mollascum contagiosum

Hair loss

Alopecia areata, a form of patchy hair loss, is the most common type of hair loss in children. It can arise spontaneously or be triggered by stressful life events such as a new school, problems with peers, a recent accident, loss of a family member or divorce of parents. Hair loss occurs very suddenly and can be localized or widespread, sometimes even affecting body hair. Alopecia areata is a non-scarring form of hair loss and the good news is that in the majority of cases, the hair eventually grows back fully. We can't predict how long this will take, but we can certainly offer treatment to try and kick-start the process and help minimise the child's understandable distress.

Other causes of hair loss:

• nevus sebacceus
• traction alopecia

MONGOLIAN SPOTS
Mongolian spots are benign, congenital , blue-black large macular lesion with wavy border and irragular shape characteristically located over the lumbosacral area. Most commonly seen in Asian.

HEMANGIOMA OF INFANCY
In infancy, it is a benign self-involuting tumor of endothelial cells that line blood vessels. The appearance depend on location. If they are on the surface of the skin, they are reminiscent of ripe strawberry. If they are just under the skin, they present a bluish red with obvious blood vessels.

PORT-WINE STAIN
Port-Wine Stains is a vasuclar anomaly consisting of superficial and deep dialated capillaries in the skin which produce a reddish to purplish discoloration of the skin.

Port Wine Stans are present at birth and persist throughout life. It occur most often on the face but can appear anywhere on the body. Early stains are usually flat and pink in appearance. As the child matures, the colour may become dark red or purplish colour. In adulthood, thickening of the lession or the development of small lumps may occur.
Most of these congenital birthmark can be effectively treated by laser at our centre.

Café-au-lait spots: Café au lait macules are smooth-edged oval macules oriented along skin lines. They represent localized excess pigment production and occur in 3% of infants and 25% of healthy children. Recent studies demonstrate that six or more café au lait spots remains the first and most sensitive of the indicators of neurofibromatosis in children.

Nevus of Ota:
Congenital melanocytic nevus

Nail dystrophy also known as ‘trachyonychia’

Infections
Tumours
Scalp seborrheic dermatitis

Children under one year of age or within the first months often has unique spectrum of skin conditions related to the structure of baby’s skin.

Genetically based skin conditions, also referred to as genodermatoses, can be hard to diagnose. Serious genodermatoses are relatively rare and treatment is sometimes difficult, the collaboration between the pediatric dermatology services, geneticists, and other medical specialists results in a better understanding and management of inherited pediatric skin conditions.