Doctors see rise in skin issues after opening of new school semester

The number of children seeking medical advice for dermatological issues has been rising since the new semester started, and minors with skin conditions are recommended to receive treatment early to prevent the onset of other diseases, said a leading pediatric dermatologist in Shanghai.

Wang Liuhui, director of the dermatology department of Children's Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, said during a media interview on Tuesday that factors for the rise in numbers include the dip in temperatures due to the arrival of autumn, emotional stress stemming from pressure in school, and not being adapt to changes in the school environment.

She pointed out that many young patients are suffering from atopic dermatitis (AD), a highly common condition that is characterized by chronic and recurrent itching and skin injuries.

Over the past decade, the prevalence of AD in the country has been rising. The prevalence of AD in children aged between 1 and 7 years old is around 13 percent, according to experts.

AD, an immunoinflammatory disease that seriously affects the health and quality of life of sufferers, is usually the first step in the allergic process. This condition can eventually lead to problems with the digestive and respiratory tracts.

If AD is not treated in a timely manner, patients are likely to have a higher risk of developing allergic rhinitis, asthma, and other diseases in the future, said medical experts.

"We have called for an early start to standardized treatment to help the young patients alleviate itching symptoms, regain high-quality sleep and healthy growth, and reduce the incidence of comorbidities in the future," said Wang.

A lecture aimed at imparting skin health knowledge to children was held at Shanghai Zhengda Foreign Language Primary School on Monday. During the event organized by the Shanghai Health Promotion Center and others, comics, dramas, and games were used to help students gain a better understanding of inflammation and the human's immune system.