Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate parental knowledge, attitude, and practice towards pediatric skin diseases in order to spot gaps and guide next health education programs.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 291 parents or main caregivers of children aged 0-14 years living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was carried out in the year 2025. Through social media sites, participants completed a self-administered, systematic survey written in Arabic and English. The survey evaluated knowledge of basic skin diseases, views on their treatment, actual-world care methods, and demographic features.
Results: With 61.2% having a university degree, most participants were Saudi nationals (96.2%) and females (65.3%). The most often seen causes of skin disorders were allergies (74.2%) and genetic factors (61.9%). Doctors (77.4%) and the internet/social media (65.6%) were the main sources of skin health information. Most parents (88.6%) knew that untreated skin conditions could cause problems, and 90.4% believed that they could affect mental well-being. While 71.5% felt that these conditions need to be treated right away, 59.1% would feel uneasy letting their kid play with a friend who had a visible skin condition, which showed that there is still a lot of stigma attached to them.
Conclusion: Although parents in Riyadh had somewhat great knowledge and proactive attitudes about typical childhood skin disorders, significant gaps exist, especially about less recognized disorders and false beliefs about infectiousness. Stigma toward noticeable skin diseases continued, so focused educational programs are needed to raise awareness, minimize improper self-medication, and promote an inclusive attitude.

Key words: Knowledge, attitude, practice, pediatric skin disease, Saudi Arabia.