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Dermatology

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Dermatology is the area of health that diagnoses and treats problems with the skin. At Seattle Children’s, our team cares for children and teens who have many different kinds of skin conditions. We have a lot of experience treating common conditions, like eczema, psoriasis, warts and port wine stains. We also are experts in treating less common disorders, like morphea and lichen sclerosis. Our team is specially trained to treat children, teens and young adults up to age 21 in a setting that is safe and comfortable for them. As part of Seattle Children’s medical team, we work closely with other experts in the hospital. Other team members include healthcare providers in vascular anomalies, plastic surgery and rheumatology. We work together to give your child all the care that they need.

Conditions We Treat


We diagnose and treat many different conditions that affect your child's skin, including:


Acne

Acne is a common skin disease that causes pimples. Pimples form when channels connecting oil glands in the skin to pores on top — called follicles (pronounced FALL-uh-kulz) — become clogged. Almost everyone gets acne at some time, but it is most common in teens and young adults. Acne can cause scarring, but treatments may help minimize or prevent this. Read more.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

Atopic dermatitis  (pronounced dur-muh-TIE-tiss) is a skin disease. It is the most common type of eczema. Eczema is a term that refers to many kinds of skin problems. It can cause a rash that most often appears inside the elbows, behind the knees, on hands and feet, and on the face. Atopic dermatitis happens to a lot of babies and children, and it can be a problem for a long time. It causes dry, itchy skin that gets worse if you scratch it. Read more. (PDF)

Birthmarks

Birthmarks are flat, usually pink or red, marks with irregular (not usually smooth or round) borders. Most birthmarks go away by themselves over time. They are usually gone by the time your child is 18 months of age. Birthmarks on the back of your child’s neck may stay for years, but they are harmless. If your child has a mark on their skin, it is a good idea for them to see a healthcare provider who knows a lot about birthmarks. Sometimes, a mark that looks like a birthmark is something different. For example, some marks could be port wine stains or hemangiomas. Those are two conditions that need more care. Read more.

Fungal infections 

Fungal infections are caused by fungi (FUN-gye) that live on our skin, hair and nails. Fungi called dermatophytes (pronounced DUR-muh-fites) cause common skin infections like ringworm, athlete's foot and jock itch. Fungi called Candida (pronounced kan-DEE-duh) cause diaper rash. All of these conditions can be itchy and uncomfortable. Most fungal infections can be treated. Read more.

Hemangioma

A hemangioma (pronounced hee-man-jee-OH-muh) is a spot on the skin, usually on the face or neck. There are different kinds. Some look red and are in the top layers of skin. Some look blue and are deeper in the skin. Some are a mixture of both. Hemangiomas may fade over the years. Some hemangiomas do not need treatment. Others can cause problems with vision, breathing and feeding.

Moles

Moles are growths on the skin. They can be flat or raised and are usually pink, tan or brown. They are usually no bigger than the top of a pencil eraser. Moles are very common. If your child has a mole that looks different from others (atypical) or changes over time, it should be checked by your child's healthcare provider. Read more. (PDF)

Molluscum

Molluscum, or molluscum contagiosum (pronounced muh-LUSS-kum kun-tay-gee-OSS-um), are smooth, pearly, flesh-colored skin growths caused by a virus. They begin as small bumps and may grow as large as a pencil eraser. Read more. (PDF)

Warts

Warts are harmless skin growths caused by a virus. Warts can grow on any part of your child's skin. How they look depends on where they are located on the body. Read more.

Services We Provide

Pulse dye laser treatment

Pulse dye laser treatment is a high-tech way to treat skin conditions like hemangiomas and port wine stains. It uses yellow light to destroy the specific blood vessels that cause these conditions. The yellow light tends to destroy only the parts of the skin that are red. Other skin is not harmed. Read more. (PDF)

Surgical procedures and excisions

Our team treats some skin problems using surgical procedures. We have a lot of experience removing skin growths (called excisions, pronounced ek SIH zhuns), like moles on your child's chest, arms or legs. It might be important to remove moles if they make it more likely for your child to get skin cancer. Some moles may also removed if your child does not like how they look.

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