Category: Skin And Rashes

Child Health Topics

Search by category (lower right) or topic (search box on the top) to find information about common childhood illnesses, injuries and safety issues. Remember, if you have an urgent issue, please call our office: (925) 254-9203, option 6

Other excellent resources:
www.healthychildren.org - American Academy of Pediatrics website for parents
First 5 California - parenting advice for children ages 0-5 plus county based resources
Poison Control - (800) 222-1222

Appointments

Plantar Warts

9/24/2017

Plantar warts are warts which are on the bottom (or sole) of the foot. They can be frustrating because they can last a long time and they can feel like you constantly have a rock in your shoe!

Warts do not require urgent treatment in the office. If they are not painful or bothersome, they can be left alone and eventually (could be years) will resolve on their own. East Bay Pediatrics physicians recommend trying home treatment first. Then if desired, you can schedule an appointment at least two weeks later.

Home treatment, at bedtime:

Soak the foot in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften the overlying skin, dry the foot.
Using a disposable emery board (the wart virus can stay on a pumice stone), try to remove the dead skin covering the wart.
Apply liquid OTC Compound W or a piece of medicated wart tape (Dr. Scholls or Mediplast) and cover the wart. Do not use the freezing kind of medication. If using the tape, try to have it just cover the wart so that healthy tissue is not irritated by the tape.
In the morning, wash off the tape and dry the foot.
Repeat steps 1 to 4 each night and continue until the wart resolves and the skin peels off.
After two weeks, if the wart is not beginning to resolve, an appointment can be made for possible treatment with liquid nitrogen. This entire cycle may need to be repeated a few times.

Eczema

7/22/2016

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a very common childhood rash. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe, and it is important to understand the nature of the rash in order to manage it well. Eczema often runs in families, and it is often seen in patients or families where there are seasonal allergies, food allergies and asthma. The most important thing to know about eczema is that it is a chronic condition, that comes and goes, no matter how well it is treated. Some children do outgrow eczema as they get older, but others continue to have symptoms throughout their life.

Symptoms: Eczema usually causes an itchy, red, bumpy rash. Children with eczema usually have dry skin. Patches of eczema can be small or large, and are sometimes round or oval shaped. In babies, the rash is usually on cheeks, arms, legs and neck. It is usually not in the diaper area. In older children and adults, it is usually on the insides of elbows, backs of knees, wrists and ankles. Some people get it on their eyelids. In more severe cases, it can be widespread over their whole body. After eczema fades it sometimes leave pale spots (hypopigmentation) that are more noticeable in the summer time when the rest of the skin gets more tan.

Causes: For most children, there is no one cause of eczema. A small percentage of children with eczema have food allergies. When that food is removed from the diet, the eczema may improve (though doesn't usually go away completely). Many parents find that there are triggers that worsen their child's eczema. These may include very cold or very hot weather, viral illnesses, and detergents, lotions or soaps that are scented. Minimizing these triggers can lessen the eczema, but it is important to know that even if all of these triggers are avoided, eczema can still flare up.

Treatment: The most important element of treatment for eczema is moisturizing. Frequent moisturizing, particularly after baths, will help keep skin moist and prevent eczema from worsening. Most children with eczema do better with less frequent baths, maybe every 2 to 3 days. Some children need moisturizers applied several times a day, every day, and others only need it occasionally when the eczema is flaring up. If, despite good moisturizing, itchy patches of eczema remain, a topical steroid cream will help treat the eczema. Despite the worries of some parents, topical steroid creams are safe when used as directed. For mild eczema, over the counter 1% Hydrocortisone twice a day will help. If it is not helping after 1 week, call your doctor. For more severe eczema, a prescription strength topical steroid will be prescribed by your doctor. The goal is to use the lowest strength steroid for the shortest time needed to settle down the eczema flare.

Eczema is very itchy, and controlling scratching can also help the rash. In babies, keeping nails cut short and covering hands with socks at bed time can help. In older children a dose of an anti-histamine can decrease itching and keep the child from scratching.

Infant Cradle Cap

7/5/2016

The infant's scalp may show a yellow flaky rash which seems unrelated to temperature or bathing conditions. This cosmetic condition may be present from birth and is referred to as infant “seborrhea” or commonly called “cradle cap.” Baby oil or mineral oil may be applied to loosen the flakes prior to gentle brushing with a fine nylon baby brush. Simply washing thereafter with plain soap or baby shampoo once or twice per week will keep cradle cap under control until it disappears.

Newborn Jaundice

6/30/2016

Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin caused by a pigment called bilirubin. Bilirubin, a by-product of red blood cell breakdown, is processed by the liver. Due to immaturity of the liver in newborns, nearly all newborns experience some degree of yellowness which is usually seen at about Day 3. Sometimes the extent of jaundice may require measurement of bilirubin by heelstick blood test. If the bilirubin is elevated, additional tests and/or treatment may be required.

For mild jaundice, more frequent feeding or exposing the baby to filtered sunlight at home may be useful. If additional fluids are needed, offer 1-2 ounces of formula after nursing two to three times per day. If you have any concerns about your baby's yellow appearance, call our advice nurse. The advice nurse may recommend an office visit and/or a bilirubin blood test.

Child Health Topics

Plantar Warts

Eczema

Infant Cradle Cap

Newborn Jaundice

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