Skin

Watch a video live chat with a children's skin doctor. She answers some common eczema and skin care questions from parents.

An insect bite is usually a red itchy bump. There may be a blister in the middle. Sometimes insect bites are painful (especially spider bites) as well as itchy.

Acne is a common skin condition that usually starts in the teenage years. It usually clears up after several years, but for some people, it can last a lot longer.

Any area of skin can become infected with cellulitis if the skin is broken in some way. Cellulitis is a serious infection that needs treatment with antibiotics.

Eczema is a dry skin condition. You can easily manage most eczema at home but it needs care every day. There is no cure for eczema - just good management.

The vulva includes the outer genitals in females. The skin around the vulva is thin in tamariki and can be easily irritated. Good vulval skin care can help lessen the chance of irritation. 

If your child has Henoch-Schonlein purpura, you may first notice a rash. This is caused by inflammation and swelling of the small blood vessels in the skin. 

The main cause of nappy rash is wearing a wet or dirty nappy for too long. Keep your baby's skin clean and dry. 

Scabies is caused by a tiny mite which digs under the skin and lays eggs. Small blisters grow on the skin above each egg and the skin gets very itchy.

Warts are common, harmless skin growths caused by a virus. Warts will disappear within 2 years in most tamariki (children).

Lichen sclerosus is an uncommon skin condition. It affects males and females of all ages but mainly affects tamariki before puberty.

Find out the most important steps when tamariki have skin infections. Every day check, clean, cover, eat well, sleep. Wash your hands before and after touching infected skin.