The Ages of Children and their Dermatoses

Pediatric dermatology deals with diseases of skin from birth to adolescence including neonatal period (from birth to 1 month), infancy (1 month to 2 years), childhood (2 to 12 years), and adolescence (12 to 18 years). Each period has specific dermatological diseases and problems. Dermatological problems account for 30% of all outpatient visits to a pediatrician. Further, around one third of all patients seen in dermatology clinic are children [1,2]. Approach and management of children with skin diseases differs from that of adults. These differences are both in the form of disease presentations and therapeutic approach. There are many diseases, which exclusively occur in childhood and many others that may present at any age but show differential features in children. Further treatment differs in the form of drugs, their safety, their dosage and side effects. Thus pediatric dermatology in itself is a specialized field, requiring sound knowledge of both dermatology and pediatrics.