Arianna Yanes, MD: Detailing the “Skin Conditions in Students” Handouts

The challenges of dermatological diseases have long been a source of concern, especially as they relate to pediatric, school-aged children.

Though a myriad of studies and treatment strategies exist in the realm of pediatric dermatology, the ways in which nurses and caregivers could integrate them into the classroom have been unsure.

Recently, the Society for Pediatric Dermatology created a series of informative handouts for use by nurses and educators in school settings titled “Skin Conditions in Students”.

In an interview with HCPLive, Arianna Yanes, MD, a PGY-3 Dermatology Resident, University of Pennsylvania and member of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, spoke of the resources that could be found in all 7 of the online handouts, which focused on skin conditions including alopecia areata, eczema, epidermolysis bullosa, ichthyosis, psoriasis, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, and vitiligo.

“Skin disease is unique in that others can see it and others can make assumptions and judgments and treat people differently as a result,” Yanes said. “So, for that reason, I think that it's very critical for the teachers and the peers to have an understanding of how to help these students and how to be kind to these students.”

All 7 skin conditions handouts benefit from the same streamlined design and feature an overview of the individual disease as well as responses to questions that teachers or nurses might have.

Sources and additional resources are linked at the bottom of each handout, which provides caregivers with a generous amount of information and management strategies for each condition.

“I think the overall goal is to be comfortable talking about these things, and to help break down some of the stigmas because the more we learn about it and the more we understand, the less we fear and the fewer assumptions we make,” Yanes said.

Yanes encourage nurses and caregivers to use these handouts as a jumping point for a larger, yet nuanced, conversation regarding pediatric skin conditions.

To hear more from Dr. Yanes on the effectiveness of the “Skin Conditions in Students” handouts, play the latest DocTalk podcast episode above.