NDRI.com

Infants Skin Conditions and Disorders

Milia:

Histologically, milia are retention cyst of pilocebaseous follicle, usually seen in term infants and scattered in nose, chin and forehead. They exfoliate and disappear within first few weeks of life. No treatment is required.

Eryhema toxicum:

The cause is not known but the incidence decreases with decrease of gestational age. They appear on the first or second day of life, as macules, papules and vesicles usually on the trunk. The condition is self limiting except when lesions become pastular.

Mongolian spots:

These are pigmented lesions often found at birth due to infiltration of melanocytes deep in the dermis. The lesion may be small or large, grayish blue or bluish black, irregularly rounded and never elevated. The common site is the lumbo-sacral region. They are innocent and fades as the child gets older.

Giant hairy nevi:

This may present at birth. They are leathery and hard and brown to black with a large amount of hair. There may be involvement of deeper structure including CNS. The surgical excision is indicated though difficult, not for cosmetic reason but for as about 10% progress to malignant melanoma.

Salmon patch, nevius simplex or macular hemangioma or stork bite: This is a flat pink macular lesion found on the fore head, eyelid, nasolabial area, glabella or nape of neck and usually bilateral. Most are resolve by one year of age.

Port-wine stain or nevus flammeus:

This is a flat, mildly elevated, reddish purple lesion, most commonly found on the face. The lesion is a vascular malformation of dilated capillaries and never involutes. They often associated with hemangioma of the underlying structures. Port-wine nevi of the face with hamangioma of the trigeminal nerve with cortical brain lesion are known as Sturge-weber syndrome. The skin lesion can be obliterated with pulse-dye-laser therapy.

Strawberry hemangioma:

They may present as a pale macule with irregular margins, usually found on head, neck, and trunk. They are rapidly growing during first 6 months and continue to grow up to 1 year. The majority subsequently involutes completely without scar by the age of 4-5 years. A strawberry hemangioma involving the eyelid may need treatment to prevent amblyopia.

Cavernous hemangioma:

It is a deep strawberry hemangioma, composed of large, mature vascular elements and growing during the first year of life but regression is often incomplete. The complications are hemorrhage due to platelet trapping (Kasabach- Merritt syndrome), hypertrophy of involved structure, heart failure due to arteriovenous anastomosis and infection. Treatment includes surgery, laser therapy, steroids and alpha interferon.

You may also be interested in . . .