With the start of every new school year, sports season or social activity, your child will experience a healthy dose of change: a new classroom, a new teacher, new friends and possibly even a new school.

Change can bring stress or anxiety even to the youngest students, along with increased social interactions and a return to those early-morning wake-up calls. These triggers can also lead to changes in your child’s hair, skin and nails.

As a dermatologist at Temple Health–Chestnut Hill Hospital, I provide advanced diagnosis, treatment and care for routine and complex skin conditions and disorders, for patients of all ages.

Parents should know that it is never too early to schedule a dermatology appointment for their child. (At our practice, we also accept walk-ins daily — whether you are a returning patient or new to our practice.)

Here are some of the more common dermatological conditions that parents should watch for in school-age children:

• Eczema. One of the more common skin conditions, eczema presents as dry, flaky and itchy skin. The good news: Eczema isn’t contagious; in fact, it’s a reaction to your environment. Eczema can emerge (or worsen) because of the clothing you wear, the soap you use, or even the temperature around you. However, it can get very severe and uncomfortable, particularly if left untreated. A dermatologist can point you toward either a topical cream or a medication to target immune pathways.

• Dandruff. We have all seen those small white flakes on someone’s scalp and/or their clothing. Dandruff is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s simply the shedding of skin cells as the result of stress, cold weather, hair products, not shampooing enough, and even shampooing too often. Dandruff is a naturally occurring fungus on our skin and the scalp. While there is no cure for it, a dermatologist can prescribe medication to keep it in check — and diagnose it. (Because dry skin and irritation are associated with dandruff, it’s often mistaken for eczema.)

• Acne. Why we experience acne is sometimes difficult to pinpoint. Genetic predisposition is one cause of acne. Hormonal changes, bacteria and clogged pores, and cosmetics are other culprits. I once treated a 40-year-old patient who had never suffered from acne, who scheduled an appointment due to a completely unexpected outbreak. While we cannot always definitively explain the “why” behind acne, there is much less guesswork in its treatment. Dermatologists can guide patients through a range of topical and prescription interventions that will reduce the severity of the symptoms with consistent use.

• Birthmarks. Some of us are born with hemangiomas, more commonly referred to as birthmarks. These are generally benign, but even harmless birthmarks can eventually require intervention if they unexpectedly expand to the point that they disrupt usual functions of the eyes or mouth, for example.

For parents of children of all ages, I always advise that you have a basic knowledge of your child’s skin, hair and nails. This can help you more easily detect any changes in their condition.

It’s unrealistic for parents to notice everything. But periodic checks are helpful, much like a parent monitoring a child’s backpack for homework assignments or the books that need to be covered with clear-contact paper.