Children's dandruff

Children's dandruff is something that, together with lice and nits, causes discomfort on the scalp of our little ones and it is something that we must observe very carefully. At the slightest sign of itching, wounds or 'snowflakes' on clothing, you should go to your trusted dermatologist and apply treatment.

First, let's learn a little more about this condition:

Dandruff also called seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin where the sebaceous glands are located that produces an oily substance that 'plugs' with a mostly white or yellowish crust the skin space it comprises. It is commonly seen on the scalp and can appear at an early age as in the case of newborns with the 'cradle cap' that some babies tend to have.

There are two reasons why dandruff is present in our children:

An exacerbated production of sebum in the glands and hair follicles.

A kind of yeast in the skin.

Stress, the cold winter, some hair hygiene products can worsen the dandruff present on the scalp of our children, however it is important to remember that it is NOT CONTAGIOUS and that the treatments will depend on the degree of severity of the dandruff attack.

The dermatologist after checking the scalp to see the extent of the seborrheic dermatitis, will evaluate if there is any wound, scab or open welt that requires special care with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and topical medicine to proceed to prescribe a special shampoo, usually over-the-counter, to treat the little one.

These shampoos usually have the following active ingredients:

 

● 1% selenium sulfide shampoo.

● zinc pyrithione shampoo

● coal tar shampoo

● ketoconazole shampoo

 

The physician will indicate the frequency of use, as well as the amount to be applied and the length of time to be subjected to treatment. Remember that some of these products increase sensitivity to the sun, so it is advisable to protect the scalp of small children.

It is important to observe the hair hygiene of our children, wash their brushes and combs periodically, teach them the habit of taking care of their hair, do not scratch the crusts and tell mom or dad if they feel itching or any discomfort.

Remember that dandruff can appear in other areas of the body, can worsen or take time to react to certain active ingredients, so constant monitoring of the condition will help to attack it in time.

There are some grandmother's tricks that are recommended in these cases, among them, hair massages to relieve pain, decongest the cells and help the shampoo or product to penetrate in a better way. Also, the use of essential oils such as lavender that soothe and reduce inflammation. You can also make a paste or mask with baking soda and apply it for fifteen minutes on the scalp and then rinse thoroughly.

Once the crisis stage is over, it will be good to do periodic maintenance at least once a week.