Paediatric and Adolescent Dermatology

Introduction: Pool palms, also named 'juvenile palmar dermatitis of swimming pools', is a common benign condition that refers to a frictional dermatitis caused by repetitive rubbing against the rough surfaces of the pool 1,2 .It is more frequent in children, probably related to a more prolonged contact with the pool curb and walls and their delicate skin.It usually affects the palms but it can also occur on the soles 3 .In the current times, differential diagnosis includes 'COVID toes and fingers' related to COVID infection 4 .Cases: We present five paediatric patients between 6 and 12 years old who presented to our clinic with erythematous and slightly painful finger pads of 1-2 days of duration.They all had in common a history of swimming in the pool for several hours prior to the appearance of the lesions.On examination, all finger pads had focal symmetrical erythematous patches with some whitish areas resembling an early blister.There were no other lesions on the rest of the skin.The clinical diagnosis of pool palms was made and no treatment was required besides pool avoidance until the lesions resolved.The lesions selfhealed after a few days.Conclusion: Pool palms is a common condition that mainly affects children.It has been reported in the literature but there is still unawareness.It is important to recognise it to avoid further unnecessary investigations and provide reassurance to the patients of its benign nature.