Now that you know what a dermatologist is and what types of children’s skin conditions they treat, let’s talk about the difference between a pediatrician and dermatologist.
A pediatrician is a trained doctor who specializes in the health of children, including physical, behavioral and mental health issues. These doctors have completed their medical school requirements and a 3-year residency program in pediatrics. However, their area of expertise doesn’t usually include skin cancer or infections, skin abnormalities and acne.
Pediatricians:
- Give physical exams
- Keep your child’s vaccines up-to-date
- Diagnose and treat illnesses, general infections, injuries and other health issues as they arise
- Track and evaluate growth, behavioral and social skills milestones
- Provide information and answer questions related to health, safety, nutrition and fitness
- Refer you to a specialist, like a dermatologist!
Does your child have a birthmark, a wart, eczema or something that isn’t clearing on its own? That’s where your skin expert at Trillium Creek Dermatology comes in. Some of the issues we can help with are:
- Diagnosis of skin conditions, like bacterial and viral skin infections, birthmarks, growths, congenital skin disorders, rashes, acne, eczema, psoriasis, hives, warts and more
- Surgical treatment options with skin conditions like warts or cysts
- Prescription medication to help with severe chickenpox outbreaks
- Lice outbreak/management
- Skin biopsies
Dermatologists can also answer questions about the skin, hair and nails some kids have with a bit more clarity. Some of our most common questions are:
- What happens if I get a sunburn? Any time you get a burn, it’s a sign that your skin has been damaged by the ultraviolent rays produced by the sun. Not only can this sometimes be painful, it can actually affect your skin in the future. That’s why it’s always important to wear sunscreen!
- Will my birthmark ever go away? Unfortunately, no one really knows what makes a birthmark, or why some are big or small, or why some are located on the body or the face. Some birthmarks do fade over time, but if you are concerned, schedule a visit with your skin expert at Trillium Creek Dermatology.
- Why do I have freckles? Melanin is something the body produces to protect the skin from the sun’s UV rays. Mostly seen on light-complected skin tones, freckles are triggered by that exposure. UV rays can cause melanocytes to go into overdrive protecting your skin, which can cause freckles to appear or become darker.
For more information on the treatment of skin conditions in children, or if you have more questions we can answer about your hair, nails and overall skin health, come see us!
About Trillium Creek Dermatology: Few places in the country offer the quality care, innovation and state-of-the-art procedures that are available at Trillium Creek. Through our integrative medicine approach, Trillium offers world-class general dermatology, dermatologic surgery, laser surgery, cosmetic dermatology, skin cancer treatment, Mohs surgery and holistic medicine.
