Common skin problems in children

A wide variety of medical conditions may cause your child’s skin to become inflamed, discoloured, irritated, swollen, itchy or infected. Some of them may be dangerous, but most are pretty harmless beyond being a nuisance and affecting how your child looks. Find out more about some of the most common skin problems and how to treat them:

Dry skin

Also known as xerosis, this is a very common condition and usually, applying moisturiser to the affected area is the most effective treatment. If the dryness persists, you should take your child to the doctor because extremely dry skin may be a warning sign for a kind of skin inflammation called dermatitis which results in dry, irritated patches or an itchy rash that tends to get worse if left untreated and should be attended to by your doctor or a dermatologist.

Acne

Acne – spots, blackheads, bumps and pimples, often located in the face –occurs especially during puberty when your child is going through hormonal changes. Male hormones, bacteria that live on the skin and skin glands that produce oils combine to cause acne. Mild versions can typically be managed or prevented by encouraging your teen to wash the affected areas with lukewarm water and a mild soap twice a day and by not succumbing to the temptation of squeezing pimples or blackheads, which only makes things worse. So warn your child against squeezing those pimples. You can speak to your pharmacists for an over-the-counter treatment cream or to your doctor for stronger medication to help your child.

Rashes

Areas of skin with an abnormal colour or texture are signs of a rash, often caused by an irritation, for instance from an insect bite, contact with plants like stinging nettles, the heat or an allergic reaction. Rashes may also be the result of viruses such as chicken pox and measles.

Eczema

Eczema is a particularly common type of rash that leads to red, itchy, dry and inflamed skin and is not contagious. Most children are struggle with eczema and while it canmay be treated successfully by applying over-the-counter creams, long-lasting cases should be inspected by a doctor who will recommend the most appropriate intervention.

Ringworm

This itchy, red and ring-shaped rash of tiny blisters  is mostly common in children is not actually caused by worms, but by a fungus that grows on the skin and spreads out in rings. It’s frequently found on the scalp or body and is very contagious. To treat ringworm, your doctor will probably prescribe an antifungal medication which may come in the form of a cream, powder, shampoo or pill.