Causes of dandruff in children

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Dandruff is rare in babies, but it can happen. Understanding the causes of dandruff in children will help mothers have effective preventive measures, and better co-treat when detecting children with dandruff.

1. Do babies have dandruff?

Dandruff is a condition in which the skin on the head flakes and causes itching. Dandruff appears most during puberty and decreases with adulthood. Dandruff is rare in babies, but it can happen. Signs that an infant's scalp has dandruff are:
Baby's scalp is dry and flaky Dry patches can be oily, scaly or rough to the touch Yellow, red, pink patches appear around around the baby's head To distinguish newborns with dandruff from other skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, dry skin ... You need to know that dandruff only appears on the scalp, and other skin diseases can occur. can appear in many places all over the body such as hands, feet, torso, ... Besides, most skin diseases will cause discomfort to the baby, while children with dandruff will not. If your child has dry, red skin and seems irritable or fussy, dandruff may not be the cause.

2. Causes of dandruff in babies

There are many possible causes of dandruff in babies such as:
Dandruff is a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, which occurs because the baby's scalp produces too much excess oil or sebum. On the baby's scalp there is an overgrowth of a fungus called malassezia that causes the cells on the scalp to slough off too quickly. If this is the case, you may see white or gray flakes coming off your baby's head. Children can have peeling scalp from sunburn, so limit sun exposure and always wear a hat when outdoors. Newborns with dandruff can be caused by mothers using too much shampoo and not rinsing it off after shampooing. The amount of shampoo left on the hair when it dries can look like flakes of dandruff. Therefore, use a sufficient amount of shampoo, do not use too much, pay attention to rinse your hair thoroughly with water after washing. Newborns with dandruff can also be caused by the mother washing the baby's hair infrequently, the skin cells accumulate on the head, causing the scalp to peel. Other possible causes of flakes on a child's scalp are eczema, psoriasis, buffalo pox, and head lice (which causes itching and flaking of the skin from scratching). If the flaking of the scalp is accompanied by hair loss in specific areas along with swollen glands, it is possible that the child has ringworm caused by a fungus.

3. How to get rid of dandruff in babies?

If you've ruled out other skin conditions and your infant has mild dandruff, try brushing your baby's hair before washing it with a soft comb to remove large flakes. Then wash your baby's hair with a mild shampoo to remove excess flakes.
If the shampoo you are using is not effective, consult your doctor or pharmacist at the pharmacy to choose a specialized anti-dandruff shampoo that is suitable and safe for the child's age. Use an anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week or more often as directed by your doctor. During the treatment of dandruff, avoid letting your child use styling products or hair conditioners containing a lot of oil, grease, etc. Use a soft towel to dry the child's hair after shampooing,

4. Should babies with dandruff see a doctor?

Because there are many causes of flaking on the scalp, if in addition to dandruff flakes, your child has symptoms such as severe itching, scabs, oozing or very red scalp areas,... You should Take the child to the doctor. The doctor will do a comprehensive examination to detect skin diseases. If the child has ringworm, eczema, eczema, ..., the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment for the child.
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Reference sources: babycenter.com, mustelausa.com