To choose a dermatologist for your child, start with the specific skin concern, then confirm the clinician is a board-certified dermatologist who regularly sees children your child's age. Next, check that your child's insurance plan covers the visit and whether it needs a referral from the pediatrician. Finally, weigh practical fit: location, office hours, and how clearly the clinician explains things to you and to your child.
Many children never need a pediatric dermatologist. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that dermatologists treat patients of all ages, from newborns up, and that children may be referred to a pediatric dermatologist for severe disease, a challenging birthmark or a rare condition.
Step 1: start with your pediatrician
Your child's pediatrician can treat many mild skin problems and tell you when a dermatologist would help. A referral is worth asking for when:
- A rash, eczema or acne hasn't improved with the treatment the pediatrician suggested
- The diagnosis isn't clear
- The problem keeps coming back or is affecting sleep, school or mood
- Your child's insurance plan requires one
Referral rules come from the plan, not the doctor. HealthCare.gov notes that HMO and point-of-service (POS) plans generally require a referral from a primary care doctor before a specialist visit, while other plan types may not. To check your child's plan:
- Look at the insurance card for the plan name and the member services number
- Call and ask whether a dermatology visit needs a referral, and whether the referral has to be in place before the appointment
- Ask whether the dermatologist you're considering is in network for that exact plan
Step 2: check board certification
Board-certified dermatologist. According to the AAD, a board-certified dermatologist has finished medical school, an internship and a three-year dermatology residency, then passed a board exam. This is the baseline to look for, whatever your child's age.
Pediatric dermatologist. This is a subspecialty. The AAD explains that a pediatric dermatologist first becomes board certified in dermatology, then completes extra fellowship training focused on children and passes a separate board exam. The American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org site notes that this subspecialty certification is given by the American Board of Dermatology.
How to look either one up:
- The AAD's Find a Dermatologist directory lets you search for board-certified dermatologists by location.
- The Society for Pediatric Dermatology has a "Find a Pediatric Dermatologist" search on its website, pedsderm.net.
If you want to know what letters such as FAAD mean, or how to verify a license, our guide to dermatologist credentials explains each one.
Step 3: match experience to the concern
The best fit depends on what your child needs help with.
- Common concerns such as eczema, acne, warts, everyday rashes, and hair or nail problems are a routine part of general dermatology. Ask how often the clinician sees children with that concern.
- Birthmarks. Many are harmless. HealthyChildren.org lists hemangiomas, other vascular birthmarks and pigmented birthmarks among the conditions pediatric dermatologists focus on.
- Complex or rare conditions. Complex birthmarks, rare genetic skin conditions, or severe skin disease in a young infant are often seen by a fellowship-trained pediatric dermatologist.
Step 4: weigh practical fit
Before you book, think about:
- Insurance network: confirm the practice takes your child's exact plan, not just the insurance company.
- New-patient availability: ask when the first new-patient visit is. Our post on finding a dermatologist who is accepting new patients has tips if the wait is long.
- Office hours vs the school day: compare the hours with your child's school day and your work schedule.
- Getting there: think about transit, parking, and how long the trip takes with a young child.
- Language: ask whether anyone on the care team speaks the language your family is most comfortable in.
Step 5: questions to ask when you call
- Do you see children my child's age? (For a very young infant, ask about this directly.)
- Do I need a referral under my child's plan, and are you in network?
- Who would my child see?
- What should we bring to the first visit?
- How do we reach you with questions between visits?
For the first visit, bring the insurance card, a list of every treatment your child has tried, photos of the skin on a bad day, notes from the pediatrician, and a referral if the plan needs one.
Step 6: after the first visit
Afterward, ask yourself:
- Did the clinician explain the diagnosis and plan in words you understood?
- Did they speak to your child directly, at a level that suits their age?
- Do you know what to do at home, when to come back, and what to do if things get worse?
If something didn't sit right, it's reasonable to call with follow-up questions or to get a second opinion.
Dermatology for children at Bay Ridge Dermatology
Bay Ridge Dermatology sees patients of all ages, pediatric through geriatric. The practice's clinicians are Dr. Evangeline Perez, a board-certified dermatologist with more than 20 years of experience, and physician assistants Nicole Marie Colucci, PA-C, and Kerry Ly, PA-C. Kerry Ly speaks Mandarin and Cantonese in addition to English; if your family would like a visit in either language, ask for her when booking. If your child is a very young infant, mention their age when you call and ask the office whether the visit is a good fit.
Accepted insurances include Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, United, Oxford, Empire and Humana, among most others. Whether your child's visit is covered, and whether it needs a pediatrician's referral, comes down to the exact plan, so check with the plan or call the office at (347) 497-4984. See the insurance information for what to ask.
The office is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Thursday and 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday, and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Same-day appointments are offered, but openings change day to day, so call and ask what is available.
When to see a dermatologist rather than keep treating at home
It's time to book a visit if your child has:
- A rash or eczema that is still there after a few weeks of gentle care and the pediatrician's treatment
- Itching that keeps them up at night
- Acne that is leaving dark marks or scars, or is upsetting them
- Warts that are spreading, painful or won't go away
- A mole that is new and looks different, or is changing, bleeding or itching
- A birthmark that is growing or changing
- Patches of hair loss
Call the pediatrician or dermatologist promptly for signs of skin infection, such as honey-colored crusts, pus, or redness and warmth that are spreading. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises calling the pediatrician right away if a baby younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
Get emergency care (call 911 or go to an emergency room) if your child has:
- A rash that looks like small bruises or pinpoint spots and doesn't fade when you press a clear glass against it
- A rash with a fever, and your child seems very unwell, drowsy or hard to wake
- Blistering or peeling skin over a large area
- Eczema that suddenly turns into clusters of painful blisters or open sores
- Sudden swelling of the lips, face or tongue, or trouble breathing
When you're ready to set up a first visit for your child, you can book online or call (347) 497-4984.
This article is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own skin, see a dermatologist.