Pediatric Dermatology

There are some cases wherein a young person’s disease is exactly the same as an older patient’s but the symptoms are different or the medications don’t have the same effect. This is especially true if the patient in question has a skin disease. The skin is a very complex organ that changes as people get older. Many external and internal factors can affect its functions, and age is always a determining factor when it comes to treating skin diseases. As we all know, there are Pediatricians that specifically treat children. That’s why there are pediatric dermatologists who combine the two specializations in order to correctly diagnose children’s skin diseases.

So why is there a need for the combining of the two specializations? First of all, it must be taken into consideration that children are not smaller versions of adults. Their skin is different, their thought processes are different. If a child has a rash or any other kind of discomfort causing skin problem, then only a Pediatric Dermatologist can help them. Why? Well, children cannot correctly or fluently express what they feel. A dermatologist who has absolutely no experience when it comes to dealing with children cannot properly diagnose a skin disease. Pediatric dermatologists on the other hand were trained to treat children with ease so they can question them properly and make an accurate diagnosis. Another thing is that Pediatric Dermatologists invest in medical equipments that were specifically designed for children. Seeing as children are smaller than adults, some medical equipment will only serve to make diagnosing a child’s disease much harder than it ought to be. Another thing is that since pediatric dermatologists cater specifically to children, the examination room and waiting areas of a doctor’s office are most probably decorated with children in mind. Toys and children’s books could be found in the waiting areas of these doctor’s offices so that the children may be at ease while waiting for their turn.

What does it take to become a pediatric dermatologist? Well, first a person must complete at least twelve years of schooling. A student must obtain a bachelor’s degree, then a graduate degree in medicine. After that, a year of post-graduation training should be completed. When the year is finished, one must apply for both a pediatric and dermatology residency. A residency will last for three years. But one can just apply for a fellowship after a residency, instead of finishing two residency stints. Then, he or she can now take up the board exams.

But along with proper schooling, a few other traits and skills are needed in order to be an effective pediatric dermatologist. First, he/she should have that desire to be with children and must know how to deal with children’s tantrums and so on. Another, having a long patience is the key – if one losses patience easily, then, this could hinder one’s career. Also, the desire to gain more knowledge and learn about new things is also important.

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