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Core Concepts of Pediatric Dermatology

Tasneem Poonawalla, M.D., Pharm.D

Dayna Diven, M.D., Clinical Professor

The skin is considered the largest organ of the body and has many different functions. A "rash" is a change of the skin which can affect its color, appearance, or texture and can be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. A "lesion" can be almost any abnormality involving any tissue or organ due to any disease or any injury. The term "rash" or "lesion" however is not necessarily specific enough to be helpful to students, house officers and practitioners dealing with children with skin disease. Learning the language of dermatology and understanding morphology is the key to diagnosis of pediatric skin disorders. The following chapter presents the basic anatomy and vocabulary necessary to tackle pediatric skin disease and introduces a few disorders commonly seen in children.