Internationally adopted children often present diseases contracted in the 
country of origin. Skin diseases are common in new arrivals, and diagnosis may 
prove challenging for GPs or even dermatologists if they are inexperienced in 
the extensive geographic and ethnic diversity of international adoptees. To 
analyse the frequency and characteristics of skin diseases in international 
adoptees. In total, 142 adoptees were evaluated for a cross-sectional cohort 
study. The most frequent diseases observed at arrival were dermatological 
conditions. Of the adoptees, 70% presented at least one skin disease, of which 
57.5% were infectious; Tinea capitis being the most frequent (n = 42). The 
recovery rate of Tinea capitis was 89% (n = 32/36). Ten cases of scabies were 
diagnosed. Other diseases included viral skin infection (n = 22), with 16 cases 
of Molluscum contagiosum and bacterial infection. Skin diseases are very common 
in internationally adopted children. There is a need for close collaboration 
between dermatologists and paediatricians to diagnose such infections, as well 
as clear guidelines to treat them.