Overview of Dermatologic Care in Children

Abstract

The skin of children undergoes changes from the time of birth that alters functional capacity, therefore the skin care regimen for children is dependent on their age. Infants and children have increased skin surface to body weight ratio, which can increase relative absorption of medications and potentially lead to adverse events and toxicity. In addition, the skin has increased absorptive capacity in premature and newborn infants that should be considered when choosing topical therapies. Special situations occur in infancy resulting in normal skin changes that may be addressed with simple interventions. This chapter provides an overview of recommended skin care practices for infants and children.