Conditions & Treatments

At the Mount Sinai Health System, we diagnose and treat a wide variety of dermatological conditions in children of all ages.

Conditions

We treat a wide range of pediatric skin conditions. The most common conditions in children are:

• Acne
• Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a chronic skin condition that comes and goes, causing red, dry, itchy skin. It is very common, affecting 15 percent to 30 percent of children, and often begins in early infancy. Almost 50 percent of children who have the condition experience their first symptoms before they reach six months of age. In addition to dry skin care, children with atopic dermatitis often require treatment with a topical corticosteroid or topical calcineurin inhibitor. In more severe cases, we may need to treat with phototherapy or systemic immunosuppressants. We also evaluate your child for any skin infections including staph infections and help to identify any other possible triggers, such as food or environmental allergies.
• Warts, also called verruca vulgaris, are skin growths caused by the human papilloma virus. They spread by contact with infected people or contaminated objects and surfaces. They can occur anywhere on the body, but in children they usually affect the hands, particularly around the nails (periungual warts), or the soles of the feet (plantar warts). Sometimes warts go away on their own within a few years, but they may increase in number and size or become painful or itchy. If your child’s warts are uncomfortable, we can offer many types of treatment, including topical liquids or pads with salicylic acid, tretinoin cream, freezing (cryosurgery) with liquid nitrogen, candida antigen, and surgical removal. We can help you decide on the most appropriate option, depending on your child's age and the size, number, and location of the warts.
• Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus in the poxvirus family. It is a series of small skin-colored or pink bumps, some with a depression in the center. Each bump contains a pearl of the virus. The virus spreads by direct contact, so we recommend keeping the areas covered and avoiding sharing towels and clothing. Over time, your child’s body learns to fight off the virus, but this can take several months or even years. Molluscum contagiosum can become itchy, irritated, or infected. Various treatment options are available if your child has a more persistent or problematic case. Treatments include topical medications such as cantharidin and retinoid creams as well as curettage (scraping). As with warts, your child’s dermatologist will help you decide which treatment is best for your child, depending on your child's age as well as the size, number, and location of the molluscum.
• Infantile hemangiomas are among the most common vascular birthmarks seen in children, affecting between 5 percent and 10 percent of all infants. These birthmarks usually become first noticeable in the first few weeks of life and may become larger, more raised, and a deeper shade of red. Some appear blue if they are located deeper within the skin layers. After one year, infantile hemangiomas typically start to go away (involute) slowly, usually without causing any problems. Most hemangiomas do not require treatment, but can occasionally cause disfigurement, functional problems such as vision abnormalities, or can ulcerate and bleed. Treatment options include topical medications such as timolol, oral medications such as propranolol, surgery, and laser therapy.

Treatments

We offer a comprehensive range of diagnostic tests and treatments, which include all available topical, oral, and injection therapies. We also perform the following diagnostic procedures and treatments:

• Dermatologic surgery and excisions, including Mohs surgery, can help treat skin cancer such as melanomas. Mohs surgery is the most tissue-sparing method available for treating skin cancer and melanomas.
• Patch and photo patch testing is a state-of-the-art diagnostic technique to determine causes of your child’s allergic contact dermatitis and photosensitivity. As a member of the North America Contact Dermatitis Group, we are one of 14 centers in North America with this diagnostic capability.
• Immunodermatology treats immunological-based conditions in children, such as bullous diseases and lupus. We offer a monthly immunodermatological clinic that addresses both dermatological and psychological components).
• Dermatopathology is available for your child, with specially trained physicians who are board certified in dermatology and pathology.
• Laser therapies include pulsed dye and excimer to treat children of all ages.
• Phototherapy and photodynamic therapy comprise ultraviolet A (UVA), narrowband ultraviolet B (nbUVB) light treatments and photochemotherapy for children of all ages.