Common skin conditions in children can be divided into inflammatory skin disorders, lumps and bumps, infections, and infestations apart from that some uncommon childhood disorders are also there.
Skin conditions in babies and kids may include rashes, hives, warts, acne, birthmarks and more. These conditions may be caused by dermatitis, viral infections, bacterial infections, fungal infections, or other diseases. Treatment varies from antiitch creams to pain relievers to antibiotics, depending on the condition.
What are skin conditions in children?
Various skin conditions can affect babies, toddlers, children, and adolescents throughout their lives. Healthcare providers receive more than 12 million office visits from children each year related to skin concerns. Skin conditions in kids may include ringworm, warts, acne, birthmarks, and all sorts of rashes.
Ringworm
Worms don’t cause ringworm. And ringworm doesn’t need to be itchy. It’s caused by a fungus that lives off dead skin, hair, and nail tissue. It starts as a red, scaly patch or bump. Then comes the telltale itchy red ring. The ring has raised, blistery, or scaly borders. Ringworm is passed on by skin-toskin contact with a person or animal. Kids can also get it by sharing things like towels or sports gear. Many antifungal creams will be effective.
Fifth Disease
This contagious and usually mild illness passes in a couple of weeks. Fifth disease starts with flu-like symptoms. A bright face (classically described as a ‘slapped cheek’ appearance) and body rash follow. It gets spread by coughing and sneezing and most contagious the week before the rash appears. It’s treated with rest, fluids, and pain relievers (do not give aspirin to children).
Chickenpox
This once-common rash isn’t seen as much in today’s kids thanks to the chickenpox vaccine. It’s very contagious, spreads easily, and leaves an itchy rash and red spots or blisters all over the body. The spots go through stages. They blister, burst, dry, and crust over. Chickenpox can be very serious. All young kids should get a chickenpox vaccine. So should teens and adults who never had the disease or the vaccine.
Impetigo
Impetigo, caused by bacteria, creates red sores or blisters. These can break open, ooze, and develop a yellow-brown crust. Sores can show up all over the body but mostly around the mouth and nose. Impetigo can be spread through close contact or by sharing things like towels and toys. Scratching can spread it to other parts of the body. It’s treated with antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics.
Warts
A virus causes these funky but mostly harmless, painless skin growths. Warts can spread easily from person to person. They also spread by touching an object used by a person with the virus. They’re most often found on fingers and hands. To prevent warts from spreading, tell your child not to pick them or bite nails. Cover warts with bandages.
Heat Rash (Prickly Heat)
Blame blocked sweat ducts. Heat rash looks like small red or pink pimples. You usually see heat rash on the head, neck, and shoulders of babies. The rash often comes when wellmeaning parents dress a baby too warmly. But it can happen to any child in very hot weather. Dress your baby in only one more layer than you’re wearing. It’s OK if their feet and hands feel cool to the touch.
Contact Dermatitis
Some kids skin reacts after touching foods, soaps, or plants like poison ivy, sumac, or oak. The rash usually starts within 48 hours after skin contact. Minor cases may cause mild redness or a rash of small red bumps. In severe cases you may see swelling, redness, and larger blisters. This rash usually goes away in a week or two but can be treated with an anti-inflammatory cream like hydrocortisone.
Hand – Foot – Mouth Disease
Despite its scary name, this is a common childhood illness. It starts with a fever, followed by painful mouth sores and a nonitchy rash. The rash blisters on hands, feet, and sometimes buttocks and legs. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, and used diapers. So, wash hands often.
Eczema
Kids prone to eczema may have other allergies and asthma. The exact cause isn’t clear. But kids who get it tend to have a sensitive immune system. Watch for a raised rash with dry skin and intense itching. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. Some children outgrow it or have milder cases as they get older.
Roseola (Sixth Disease)
Roseola, a mild illness, gets its nickname from a list of six common childhood rashes. Young kids 6 months to 2 years are most likely to get it. It’s rare after age 4. It starts with a cold, followed by a few days of high fever (which can trigger seizures). Then the fevers end suddenly. They’re followed by a rash of small, pink, flat, or slightly raised bumps. It shows up first on the chest and back, then hands and feet.
Can Ayurveda treat skin diseases???
From an ayurvedic perspective, skin diseases are caused by doshic imbalance, and therefore treatment focuses on imparting harmony and balance for the individual. Ayurveda can cure long-term skin diseases and chronic conditions such as dermatitis and eczema.
But we should go through the line of treatment according to the particular vitiation of dosha…
What foods cure skin rashes?
- fruits.
- vegetables.
- whole grains.
- healthy fats, such as olive oil.
- fish, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
