Pediatric and adolescent dermatology — gentle, expert skin care for kids and teens.
Looking for specialized skin care for your child or teen?
As a parent, it’s essential to care for your child’s skin, ensuring they feel comfortable and confident. At ZENA Medical, we understand how both common childhood illnesses and various skin conditions can impact a child’s appearance and well-being.
Our dermatologists are not only highly trained in evaluating and treating pediatric skin disorders but also dedicated to maintaining genuine compassion and patience with children and their families.
Children often experience common skin conditions such as eczema, molluscum, infections, and rashes. Additionally, less common conditions like chickenpox, ringworm, scabies, warts, and hives can also affect your child’s skin.
Birthmarks, another frequent concern, can vary greatly—from small spots that naturally fade to large, disfiguring marks that may require treatment or surgery.
For adolescents, acne is perhaps the most widespread skin issue. Our dermatologists offer numerous highly effective and unique treatments to address all types of acne. Be sure to visit the ACNE section of our website to learn more about our approach to this common concern.
You can rely on our dermatologists to create a customized treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific skin condition, ensuring they receive the relief they deserve.
As parents ourselves, we deeply understand the importance of a compassionate approach. Our gentle bedside manner and soft approach make our doctor’s office a comforting place for children. We are especially sensitive to the needs of children with special needs, ensuring every child feels safe and supported.
Your child may be a good candidate for pediatric & adolescent dermatology:
Treatment time varies and depends on your child’s unique skin condition and treatment type.
Patients treated with pediatric and adolescent dermatology treatments often see:
Downtime is dependent on the treatment plan prescribed. Fortunately, many of our treatments for children and adolescents come with minimal to no downtime.
We see children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers, for the full range of pediatric skin conditions. The most common reasons families come to us:
If you are not sure whether something on your child’s skin needs a dermatologist, that is a good reason to come in. We would rather look at a spot that turns out to be nothing than miss one that matters.
Adolescent acne deserves definitive treatment before it scars, and it responds best when a dermatologist sets the plan. Dr. Zenovia Gabriel has specialized in low-dose isotretinoin (Accutane) protocols for more than fifteen years and has treated thousands of patients with them, and families travel to us for acne that has not responded to anything else. For milder breakouts we build a routine your teen will actually follow, and when scarring is already present we can treat it in the same practice. Learn more about acne treatment →
A first appointment usually runs twenty to thirty minutes. You will see a board-certified dermatologist, not a delegate. We examine the area of concern, explain what we are seeing in plain language, and leave you with a diagnosis, a plan and pricing before you commit to anything.
A few things that help: bring a list of everything you have already tried on your child’s skin, prescription and over-the-counter alike, and a few photos of the rash or spot if it comes and goes. For a mole or skin check, please arrive without makeup or nail polish on the areas we need to see.
As parents ourselves, we know that a calm, unhurried visit makes all the difference. Our team is patient with nervous children, we explain each step before we do it, and we are especially attentive to children with special needs so that every child feels safe.
For medical dermatology, select providers on our team are in-network with Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Blue Shield PPO, United Healthcare PPO and Medicare. Dr. Gabriel sees patients on a self-pay basis and provides a superbill you can submit to your PPO plan for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Call us with your plan and we will confirm coverage before you book.
New patients are typically seen within two weeks. If your child has a lesion you are worried about, tell us when you call and we will move you up. For follow-ups and many rashes and acne visits, we also offer telehealth appointments across California, which is often easier for busy families.
ZENA Medical is at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, with parking on site, and we see children from Corona del Mar, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach and across Orange County. Parents are referred to us for the conditions that call for a dermatologist rather than a pediatrician, and for the adolescent acne that deserves definitive treatment before it scars. Because we are a full dermatology practice, your child can be followed by the same team from childhood through their teens. Request an appointment or call 949-200-8222.
Any age. We see newborns and infants for birthmarks, eczema and rashes, school-age children for warts, molluscum and moles, and teenagers for acne. There is no minimum age.
Most PPO plans do not require one. Some HMO plans do. Call us with your plan details and we will check before you book.
For medical dermatology, select providers are in-network with Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Blue Shield PPO, United Healthcare PPO and Medicare. Dr. Gabriel provides a superbill for out-of-network PPO reimbursement. We will confirm your coverage before your visit.
New-patient appointments are typically available within two weeks. If you are worried about a spot or a rash that is getting worse, tell us when you call and we will move you up.
When it is painful, leaving marks or scars, affecting your teen’s confidence, or has not improved after a few months of over-the-counter products. Early treatment prevents scarring, and a dermatologist can prescribe options a drugstore cannot, including low-dose Accutane for severe or stubborn acne.
Yes. Many birthmarks fade on their own and simply need monitoring, while vascular birthmarks such as port-wine stains and hemangiomas can be treated with Vbeam laser. We will evaluate the birthmark and tell you whether treatment is advisable, and when.
Most pediatric visits are an examination and a conversation. When a procedure is needed, such as treating a wart or taking a small biopsy, we explain every step first, use numbing where appropriate, and work at your child’s pace.
Yes, for many concerns including rashes, eczema follow-ups and acne care, for patients across California. See our virtual consultations page for details.
Fashion Island, 359 San Miguel Drive, Suite 300 & 301, Newport Beach, CA 92660, with parking on site. Call 949-200-8222 or request an appointment online.
We see children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers, for the full range of pediatric skin conditions. The most common reasons families come to us:
If you are not sure whether something on your child’s skin needs a dermatologist, that is a good reason to come in. We would rather look at a spot that turns out to be nothing than miss one that matters.
Adolescent acne deserves definitive treatment before it scars, and it responds best when a dermatologist sets the plan. Dr. Zenovia Gabriel has specialized in low-dose isotretinoin (Accutane) protocols for more than fifteen years and has treated thousands of patients with them, and families travel to us for acne that has not responded to anything else. For milder breakouts we build a routine your teen will actually follow, and when scarring is already present we can treat it in the same practice. Learn more about acne treatment →
A first appointment usually runs twenty to thirty minutes. You will see a board-certified dermatologist, not a delegate. We examine the area of concern, explain what we are seeing in plain language, and leave you with a diagnosis, a plan and pricing before you commit to anything.
A few things that help: bring a list of everything you have already tried on your child’s skin, prescription and over-the-counter alike, and a few photos of the rash or spot if it comes and goes. For a mole or skin check, please arrive without makeup or nail polish on the areas we need to see.
As parents ourselves, we know that a calm, unhurried visit makes all the difference. Our team is patient with nervous children, we explain each step before we do it, and we are especially attentive to children with special needs so that every child feels safe.
For medical dermatology, select providers on our team are in-network with Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Blue Shield PPO, United Healthcare PPO and Medicare. Dr. Gabriel sees patients on a self-pay basis and provides a superbill you can submit to your PPO plan for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Call us with your plan and we will confirm coverage before you book.
New patients are typically seen within two weeks. If your child has a lesion you are worried about, tell us when you call and we will move you up. For follow-ups and many rashes and acne visits, we also offer telehealth appointments across California, which is often easier for busy families.
ZENA Medical is at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, with parking on site, and we see children from Corona del Mar, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach and across Orange County. Parents are referred to us for the conditions that call for a dermatologist rather than a pediatrician, and for the adolescent acne that deserves definitive treatment before it scars. Because we are a full dermatology practice, your child can be followed by the same team from childhood through their teens. Request an appointment or call 949-200-8222.
