Dr. Mitchell Elliott Bender

First of all, thank you very much for the invitation.

It's fun to be here.

The answer to the question is yes, there are pediatric skin problems all the way from the relatively mundane like diaper rash

all the way to genetic conditions, which often are manifest on the skin.

And as we mature, different situations appear.

So in fact, right now there are subspecialties in dermatology, including pediatric dermatology, where people take additional training after their

basic dermatology training, and they're able to diagnose genetic conditions and various, in addition to the mundane conditions, more unusual, more concerning conditions.

For example, this is just one example, diaper rash, of course, is very common because urine and stool in the diaper can be very irritating to the skin, and that usually could be fairly easily remedied.

But there's one condition, Langerhan histiocytosis, which can appear in the diaper area and usually at the beginning is confused with diaper rash.

But Langerhan histiocytosis is a blood condition which is treatable, but it has to be diagnosed.

So...

One has to differentiate the mundane diaper rash from Langerhans histiocytosis.

And one other example, there is a genetic condition, acrodermatitis enteropathica, which is due to a genetic condition where you can't absorb zinc.

And this manifests as a rash on the face and in the diaper area.

And so that has to be recognized and it's treatable, but it has to be recognized.

So at each stage of life, literally from birth to advanced senior age, different conditions pop up and they have to be kept in mind.

Well, you know, in adults, there are conditions that could be very acute.

Probably the most one that comes to mind, people who have growths on their heart valves.

endocarditis.

These bacterial particles can go into the blood and wind up.