Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Common skin, hair and nail problems during the first six months of life

P Hogan1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Camperdown, New South Wales.

Australian Family Physician
|October 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Differentiating normal infant skin, hair, or nail findings from concerning conditions is crucial for early diagnosis and preventing unnecessary treatments. This guide focuses on common causes in infants under six months.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Neonatal Medicine

Background:

  • Infants under 6 months frequently present with skin, hair, or nail issues.
  • Accurate diagnosis is essential to differentiate benign findings from serious conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline common physiologic and pathologic causes of skin, hair, and nail findings in infants.
  • To aid family doctors in evaluating these conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common dermatologic, hair, and nail conditions in early infancy.
  • Focus on clinical features and differential diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • Identification of key clinical indicators for differentiating benign from pathologic presentations.
  • Emphasis on conditions requiring further medical assessment.

Conclusions:

  • Distinguishing physiologic from pathologic findings is key for appropriate infant care.
  • Early recognition of concerning conditions can prevent complications.

More Related Videos

Flat Mount Imaging of Mouse Skin and Its Application to the Analysis of Hair Follicle Patterning and Sensory Axon Morphology13:58

Flat Mount Imaging of Mouse Skin and Its Application to the Analysis of Hair Follicle Patterning and Sensory Axon Morphology

Published on: June 25, 2014

Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Planar Hair-bearing Skin Organoids Using an Air-Liquid Interface Culture System04:37

Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Planar Hair-bearing Skin Organoids Using an Air-Liquid Interface Culture System

Published on: October 17, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles01:16

Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles

Hair and hair follicles are integral components of the integumentary system. Hair is a filamentous structure composed mainly of a protein called keratin. It is found on the surface of the skin throughout the body, except for areas such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair Growth and Types01:20

Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair Growth and Types

Hair growth begins with the production of keratinocytes by the basal cells of the hair bulb. As new cells are deposited at the hair bulb, the hair shaft is pushed through the follicle toward the surface. Keratinization is completed as the cells are pushed to the skin surface to form the shaft of hair that is externally visible. The external hair is completely dead and composed entirely of keratin. Hair can be cut or shaven without damaging the hair structure because the cut is superficial. Most...
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Nails01:05

Accessory Structures of the Skin: Nails

Nails are one of the important accessory structures of the skin. They are hard, protective structures that cover the dorsal surface of the distal phalanges of fingers and toes. Nails are composed of specialized keratinized cells and serve various functions, including protection, sensation, and manual dexterity.
The main components of a nail include the following.
Nail Plate: The nail plate is the visible portion of the nail that extends beyond the fingertips or toes. It is a hard, translucent...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...