The skin is the largest organ in the body — and it plays a critical role in your child’s overall health. There are many disorders that can cause damage to your child’s skin, which can have far-reaching impacts on multiple aspects of their overall health and wellbeing.
At the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at Children’s Nebraska, we understand how significant a skin condition can be on the lives of our patients — and also their families.
Our board-certified Pediatric Dermatologist is fellowship-trained and dedicated to the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of common, complex, and rare skin conditions in infants, children, and adolescents. At Children’s, our goal is to provide cutting-edge care and treatment plans, while providing compassionate, comprehensive, patient-focused care.
Make An Appointment
Phone 402-955-6799 | Fax 402-955-6445
What Sets Children’s Apart?
- Our board-certified Pediatric Dermatologist is the only full-time Pediatric Dermatologist focusing solely on pediatrics in the state of Nebraska.
- Dermatology patients at Children’s are treated in our brand new ambulatory clinic, specifically designed for the care of pediatric patients and their families.
Conditions We Treat
At Children’s, we diagnose, treat, and provide follow-up care for a wide range of skin conditions, including:
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Acne
A common skin condition that causes pimples (when hair follicles under the skin clog up). -
Benign Growths (Lumps, Bumps, Cysts)
Noncancerous lumps, bumps, or cysts (closed sacs located underneath the skin that are filled with dead skin cells). -
Birthmarks
Abnormalities of the skin that are present when a baby is born. There are vascular birthmarks (made of blood vessels that haven’t formed properly), pigmented birthmarks (made of a cluster of pigment cells that cause color in the skin), and moles (growths on the skin that form when pigment cells grow in clusters). -
Congenital Nevi
A skin condition in which abnormally dark, noncancerous skin patches (nevi) made of pigment-producing cells (called melanocytes) are present at birth or soon after. Nevi are often dry, itchy, and irritating. They may also have excessive hair growth. -
Contact Dermatitis
A condition in which the skin becomes red, sore, and inflamed following direct contact with a substance. There are two kinds of contact dermatitis: irritant dermatitis (caused by irritating substances, such as acids, soaps, or fabric softeners) and allergic contact dermatitis (caused by an allergic reaction to allergens, such as adhesives, certain fabrics, and latex). -
Skin Lesions
An area of the skin that is different from the skin surrounding it, such as a lump, sore, or skin cancer. -
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
A chronic condition in which the immune system is either disordered or overactive, causing inflammation that damages the skin barrier. This leads to dryness, itching, and rashes that may look purple, brown, or grayish in darker skin tones and red in lighter skin tones. -
Genetic Skin Disorders
Skin disorders caused by genetic makeup, such as Cole disease and focal dermal hypoplasia. -
Hemangiomas and Other Vascular Lesions
A benign (noncancerous) tumor made of blood cells, most of which are located on the surface of the skin or just beneath it. -
Infectious Skin Diseases (Bacterial, Fungal, Viral)
Skin infections caused by germs (often resulting from a cut, break, or wound in the skin) that can either cover a small area on the top of the skin or go deep into the skin and spread to a larger area. Examples of skin infections include staphylococcal (staph) infections, shingles, athlete’s foot, and lice. -
Scars and Keloids
Scars are permanent patches of skin that grow over a wound when the body heals from a cut, scrape, burn, surgery, infection (like chickenpox), or skin condition (like acne). Keloids are raised scars that can appear up to 3 months after skin injury. -
Moles (Nevi)
A growth on the skin that forms when pigment cells grow in clusters. Moles may be present at birth or develop later in childhood. -
Port-wine Stains (Capillary Malformations)
A birthmark in which swollen blood vessels form a reddish-purplish discoloration of the skin. -
Psoriasis
A skin disease that causes itchy skin or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. Patches usually appear on the elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms, and feet. -
Rashes or Skin Lesions of Unknown Cause
An irritated or swollen area of the skin or an area of the skin that is different from its surrounding skin, such as a lump or sore, with an unknown cause. -
Skin Manifestations of Systemic Conditions
Skin issues caused by conditions that affect the entire body, such as rheumatologic disorders (diseases that affect the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons). -
Warts and Molluscum
Warts are growths in the skin caused by an infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), and mollusca are small, raised lesions caused by poxvirus (molluscum contagiosum virus).
Description of Services
Children’s team provides a wide range of dermatologic diagnostic services and treatments services, including:
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Skin Biopsies
A procedure to remove a small sample of skin for testing of conditions like skin cancer, skin infections, and skin disorders. -
Removal of Skin Lesions
A procedure to remove a skin lesion for diagnosing or treating skin conditions. Procedures include those requiring sedation and/or general anesthesia. -
Propranolol Treatment for Hemangiomas
An oral solution in a class of medications called beta-blockers. This treatment works by narrowing blood vessels that are already formed — and also preventing new ones from growing. -
Patch Testing for Diagnosis of Contact Dermatitis
A small amount of allergen is placed on the skin (usually the back), and patches are applied to cover each allergen. Patches are left in for a period of time to see if any allergens cause a skin reaction. -
Laser Treatment for Port-wine Stains and Other Vascular Lesions
The use of “pulsed-dye” lasers (highly concentrated light sources) to make lesions lighter by targeting the pigmentation and fading it. -
Laser Treatment for Scars (Including Acne Scars), Epidermal Nevi, and Irregular Skin Texture
The use of “pulsed-dye” lasers (highly concentrated light sources) to reduce scars, moles (nevi), and smooth skin texture. -
Treatment for Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) and Other Inflammatory Skin Diseases
Treatment for inflammatory skin diseases, including eczema, such as over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, and lifestyle changes. -
Light Treatment (Phototherapy/Narrow-Band UVB) for Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema), Psoriasis, and Vitiligo
Using ultraviolet light B (UVB) on a regular basis to slow the growth of affected skin cells.
Meet Our Specialist
At Children’s, we know that pediatric skin conditions can range from a minor annoyance to a more serious concern, and they can be temporary or require long-term management. Our Pediatric Dermatology team is committed to easing symptoms for all children.
Our Pediatric Dermatologist, Dr. Nicole Harter, is the only full-time Pediatric Dermatologist in Nebraska dedicated completely to pediatric practice, including diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing maintenance of pediatric skin conditions.
Dr. Harter is also proud to provide specialized educational opportunities to medical students, residents, and fellows. Our Division of Pediatric Dermatology and the Department of Dermatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center work together to provide all healthcare professions students and physicians-in-training the highest-quality education in pediatric dermatology.
Preparing for Your Child’s Dermatology Appointment
Please bring all of your child’s current medications with you to your appointment. This includes topical medications (creams or ointments that are put on the skin) and oral medications (medications taken by mouth). You can bring photos of your medications if it’s easier.
If your child has been previously seen by a doctor for their skin condition, please bring any of the following information you have:
- Doctor’s notes
- Medical records
- Lab test results
- Results from X-rays, ultrasounds, MRI, or other tests
What To Do Next
For Patients
Schedule An Appointment
To make an appointment, contact the Children’s Nebraska Dermatology Department at 402-955-6799.
For Referring Providers
The Physicians’ Priority Line is your 24-hour link to pediatric specialists at Children’s for emergency and urgent consults, physician-to-physician consults, admissions, and transport services. Call 855-850-KIDS (5437).
Learn more about referring patients.