Already in the first weeks of a newborn’s life, small crusts can be seen on his head or in the upper part of his face. yellow, greasy to the touch and completely unaesthetic from a visual point of view. This is a seborrheic crust, also called “milk crust” or “cradle cap”.

This phenomenon, characteristic of every third baby, is practically harmless and is in no way related to the child’s health or lack of hygiene.
Even if you don't do anything with them, In the vast majority of babies, the crusts completely disappear on their own by 9-12 months . However, the main problem with seborrheic crust is that it is not aesthetically pleasing. In addition, it may contain bacteria or fungus.

Therefore, most parents prefer to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Why do crusts appear?

The appearance of a seborrheic crust on the head of infants is a common phenomenon, regardless of whether the child has hair or not yet.

The main reason for their appearance is a natural process that occurs by itself. The point is the very delicate and sensitive skin of newborns, the unregulated process of thermoregulation and the peculiarities of the functioning of glands such as sebaceous and sweat glands , normal operation which will begin by 5-7 years. Until this happens and the processes are not regulated, these pale yellow crusts form on the babies’ heads.

In addition, some actions of overly caring parents can contribute to the formation and development of seborrheic crusts.

What are these actions?

• Excessive wrapping of infants . If you constantly wrap up a child in a warm room and put caps and caps on him endlessly, the sweat glands begin to work more actively, as a result, the formation of crusts is inevitable.
• Excessive washing with products household chemicals . Even the safest cosmetics for the care of infants, if used too often, can aggravate the situation rather than eliminate the problem.

Getting rid of seborrheic crusts

Despite the fact that the presence of seborrheic crusts on the head of a newborn is not a disease, they still should not be ignored.

The first thing that needs to be done in the fight against them is to rule out an allergic reaction that may be related to nutrition. For example, this could be a reaction to an adapted milk formula or, if the child is on breastfeeding. So it's allergic dangerous products Mom should exclude it from her diet.

If parents know for sure that an ugly crust covering the child’s head is not a consequence of an allergy, then a number of measures can be taken to combat it.

1. Stop wrapping up your child . If the room is warm and the air temperature does not drop below 24 degrees, there is no need to dress the child warmly. Just like there is no need to constantly keep your baby in hats and caps.
2. Minimize or completely stop using any cosmetic care products . If you really want to wash your child’s hair, then the best remedy than usual baby soap, cannot be found, and then this should be done no more than once a week.
3. If your baby is lucky and was born with a full head of hair, you will have to start using a comb . It should be special - for children, so that the bristles are made only from natural materials.

How do you get rid of the problem in most cases?

• Step 1 - soften the crusts before bathing

To do this, use regular vegetable, olive or baby cosmetic oil, Vaseline or salicylic ointment. One of these products is applied to the scalp, then a cotton cap is put on and left on the head for about one hour.

After this time, the cap is removed, and the head is very carefully combed or smoothed with a comb-brush with soft bristles, without rubbing or pressing on the comb.

• Step 2 - wash your hair using soap or baby shampoo

There is no need to try to get rid of crusts in one procedure. Just like you don’t need to soap your hair several times during one bath.

The fight against seborrheic crusts is a case where any haste is useless, and patience and systematicity will lead to a good result.

• Step 3 is the final stage in the procedure

At this stage, after the hair has dried, the baby’s head is carefully and carefully combed. First, with a comb with blunt teeth (they will “scrape off” some crusts), then with a brush (and it will “sweep” the loose scales out of the hair).

As already mentioned, there is no need to be too zealous in trying to get rid of ugly growths on a child’s head. It is recommended to carry out this procedure no more than once a week.

In most cases, these measures are enough for the crusts to gradually disappear.

If this does not happen and the situation only worsens, this may already be a reason to contact a doctor who can clearly determine the real reason their occurrence and give recommendations on how to get rid of crusts once and for all.

Prohibited tricks

There is still no consensus among doctors about whether it is necessary to specifically remove seborrheic tumors from the baby’s head or whether it is enough to simply maintain the child’s hygiene and wait until all the crusts “fall off” on their own.

There are actually few restrictions, and they are related to the ban on “scraping” crusts from the child’s head with any hard objects or nails. These actions can harm the baby, injure the skin, and cause pain to the child.

Parents need to learn once and for all that, no matter how much they would like to speed up the process of getting rid of unaesthetic growths, applying any mechanical force is prohibited.

Special products to combat seborrheic crusts

The simplest and available means fight against crusts are vegetable, olive, burdock or baby cosmetic oils and regular baby soap. They have proven themselves to be the most reliable and safe.

However, if parents prefer to use only modern cosmetics to care for their baby, they need to pay attention to a number of products.

• Baby creams and shampoos of the Mustela brand.
• Children's shampoo "Biolane".
• Special baby oil “BabyBorn” , designed to remove seborrheic crust of any degree of complexity.

For example, among cosmetic products of the Mustela brand STELAKER cream is especially popular. The manufacturer assures that this product is intended to remove seborrheic crusts, due to which it is possible to short terms remove a defect on the skin.

Shampoo "Biolane" It is very popular among modern parents; it moisturizes the baby’s skin, softens the crusts and facilitates the process of removing them.

BabyBorn oil - special cosmetic product with a highly specialized spectrum of action. It is positioned as a product that has no analogues on the domestic cosmetic market, and is intended to combat seborrheic crusts in newborns. The oil contains components that not only help remove crusts, but also prevent their new appearance.

As is already known, seborrheic crust on the skin of babies is a widespread phenomenon and is not a disease. With proper attention and care, in most cases, any parents can cope with this problem.

The main thing is to take everything on time necessary measures, and there will be one less problem in the difficult task of caring for a newborn baby!

Crusts on a baby's head are a very common occurrence. Most parents face it. However, there is no cause for concern in this case. These formations are a consequence of natural processes; they do not threaten the baby’s health and do not cause him any discomfort. Their only drawback is that they are unsightly. appearance. The formation of such crusts is due to the following factors:

• The body's thermoregulation has not yet been established;
• the work of the sweat and sebaceous glands is not regulated;
• the body's water balance is unstable;
• the skin is too delicate and sensitive.

Of course, you can get rid of them if you wish, the main thing is to do it correctly. Otherwise, you can damage the child’s skin, cause infection, etc. But even if you do not take any measures to remove these dry growths, over time they will go away on their own. Moreover, they will not significantly affect either hair growth or oxygen access to the skin. The main thing is to note the appearance of other symptoms - redness and swelling in the back and front of the neck.

Education mechanism

Although crusts on a child’s head in the first months of life are considered completely natural, some parental actions can still provoke this process. To understand what actions we are talking about, you need to know what the crusts are made of and how they are formed. The active secretion of sweat and sebum promotes their mixing with the smallest particles of the epidermis that exfoliate from the surface of the skin. This mixture subsequently dries and forms the same crusts of white, yellow or brown color.

Some fragments of the resulting plates peel off and are removed on their own. The main mass adheres tightly to the surface of the head. They are usually localized in the area of ​​the fontanelle, forehead and crown. Accordingly, the following reasons can lead to the formation of a crust on the head of young children:

• stimulation of sebum production due to improper diet mothers while breastfeeding (salted, smoked foods, spices);
• excessive wrapping of the child, systematic wearing of hats, overheating;
• washing your hair too often;
• using soaps and shampoos of poor quality that can irritate the child’s skin.

If a child, in addition to crusts on the head, has other unpleasant signs, for example, redness of the skin, rash, etc., it is very likely that the cause is improper (inappropriate) nutrition. When it comes to breastfeeding, the mother needs to reconsider her diet. If the child is on artificial feeding, the mixture should be changed. In any case, you need to treat any species very carefully!

Crusts on a child's head photo

How to get rid of it?

If parents decide in favor of removing the crusts, not wanting to wait for them to go away on their own, they must comply with a number of requirements so as not to harm the child. Otherwise, instead of aesthetic discomfort, you can get a serious problem that threatens the baby’s health. In this case, we are talking about damage to the integrity of the skin and the subsequent introduction of pathogenic microflora into the wound.

It must be remembered that in the first months of life a child has no protection other than the immunity of the mother received during intrauterine development. Therefore, the baby cannot fight pathogenic activity on its own. And if the smallest abrasions on the head get pathogenic bacteria, a focus of inflammation may form in this area, which is extremely dangerous for the health and even the life of the baby.

To remove crusts on the scalp of children safely, effectively and correctly, you must follow these steps:

1. Prepare the crusts for removal. To do this, an hour before bathing, you need to apply a layer of Vaseline or pre-boiled and cooled vegetable oil on them. Then put on a flannel cap.
2. After an hour, remove the cap and gently, using massaging movements, comb the baby’s head with a brush with natural bristles. While combing, do not press on the skin and do not scrape off the crusts.
3. Start swimming. During the washing process, use baby shampoo to remove any remaining fatty base (vaseline or oil) and fragments of crusts, which will have partially come off by this time.
4. Dry the child's head with a towel and brush it again with a clean brush. Some crust flakes are removed at this stage.

This procedure will have to be repeated several times, since it will not be possible to remove all the stuck together plates at the same time. It is not recommended to make additional efforts in the form of more frequent bathing and persistent brushing. Such measures will only provoke sebaceous glands for more active work. In addition, the baby's delicate skin may be damaged.

If the crusts on the head after the procedures performed (as well as in the absence of any) begin to change, for example, change color, increase in area, or cause discomfort to the child, you should immediately consult a doctor. With the natural formation of crusts, there is no danger to the baby.

The crusts on the baby's head are not of any kind dangerous disease, but it would be wrong to completely ignore them. The best solution Problems can be addressed by gradual and careful removal of crusts using special protective equipment, in combination with measures to prevent their occurrence.

Seborrheic crusts, why they form

Crusts on a baby's head are a very common occurrence; they can be yellowish or milky. Such manifestations occur when the baby is only a few weeks old. You can usually notice them in the area of ​​the crown, forehead and fontanelle.

Such crusts on a child’s head should not be regarded as a symptom of any disease. Mothers need to understand that the appearance of crusts is the awakening of the newborn’s functional adaptation after birth.

There is no need to be afraid of the appearance of such scales on a child’s head: they will not cause damage to the body, and their skin will not suffer from them. Similar processes appear regardless of external factors, because their reason lies in high activity sebaceous glands.

Exocrine glands (sebaceous) work intensively under the influence of androgens. These hormones enter the baby’s body during intrauterine development with the mother’s blood, and the born child acquires them through breast milk.

Over a period of time, the baby’s body will be freed from androgens. This period of time in medicine is called hormonal crisis. It lasts only a few months. Milky crust on the head with good care As a rule, it disappears on its own after some time without outside intervention.

Signs of seborrheic crusts

The affected areas of the head are characterized by the following manifestations:

• A thick seborrheic crust on a child’s head. In some cases, it is observed on the eyebrows and eyelids.
• Sebaceous inflammations on the skin, dotted with yellowish or milky scales.
• Presence of dandruff on the baby's head.

What crusts look like on a child’s head - Photo:

How to completely remove crusts on a newborn’s head

We must not forget that these manifestations form only on the surface of the skin and do not at all affect its health. If you don't touch them, they will disappear on their own over time, you just need to be patient. But almost all mothers try to rid their babies of them as early as possible.

Under no circumstances should the milky crust be torn off or picked with your nails - this is unpleasant and even painful for the child. There is every chance of unsightly scars remaining in the scale area, because a child’s skin is very sensitive and vulnerable. Similar method It is impossible to get rid of the crusts forever; they will appear again and again. And torn scabs leave behind small wounds into which infection can easily penetrate, so the risk is quite real dermatological disease caused by skin inflammation.

For a more harmless removal of scabs from the baby’s scalp, you should follow some rules and act on the dermis very carefully. Rough seborrheic crusts should be prepared for removal - softened well. For this you can use boiled oil (almond, burdock, jojoba, etc.) or simple Vaseline. Gently lightly massaging the scalp helps soften the crusts and remove them well from the scalp.

The procedure for removing crusts includes a number of steps:

1. Apply a little oil to your fingers and gently rub into your baby's scalp. Rub in circles with light pressure. Leave the oil on your child's head for 15 minutes. You can put a hat on the baby's head during this time. The oil will be absorbed and help make the crusts loose, which will make them much easier to remove.
2. Use a special soft brush to gently massage your baby's scalp in a circular motion. This will peel off the scales, making them easy to remove from your hair.
3. Lather the baby's head with shampoo and leave it on while bathing. This will make it possible to neutralize the oil, then you can easily wash it off.
4. At the end of bathing, you need to wipe the baby with a clean towel and carefully comb the hairs again with a soft brush.

The crusts on the child’s head will begin to disappear gradually after similar procedures. Therefore, they need to be repeated from time to time, but this should be done infrequently - maximum twice every 7 days.

How to remove a crust on a baby’s head with medicated shampoos

Ask your pediatrician what shampoos are available to remove crusts on a baby’s head. If you are using a special medicated shampoo for seborrheic crusts, lightly apply it to them and wait two minutes. Next, carefully rinse off the drug, and you can repeat the procedure again. After the first use, the entire process of washing your hair with this shampoo can be repeated once a month until the crusts are completely eliminated.

A good medicated shampoo must:

• have a soft detergent base and do not contain harmful additives;
• do not disturb the balance of skin microflora;
• contain elements to increase the barrier functions of the skin and an intense effective substance to combat crusts on the scalp.

Combs for newborns

A special brush is suitable not only for combing, but also for a small head massage. The natural bristles of this brush do not irritate the sensitive and receptive skin of the child.

A comb is needed to remove scabs on a baby's head. This comb typically has fine teeth with rounded tips. A comb like this is perfect for caring for thin hair; it can help detangle matted hair.

Preventive measures

Crusts on a child’s head are sometimes a manifestation of an allergy to a certain milk formula. If, at the same time, the baby develops reddish rashes on the face, be sure to consult a doctor. He will tell you how to switch to the formula that is most suitable for your baby.

1. Use a humidifier in your children's room to maintain suitable air humidity.
2. Moisturize your child's scalp with special creams after washing. Use ointments or lotions specifically formulated for sensitive skin infants.
3. Do not overuse hair detergents.
4. Do not buy hats and synthetic underwear for your baby.
5. Wear clean hats for your baby at all times.
6. Do not use a hairdryer to dry your baby's hair.
7. Watch your own diet if you are breastfeeding your baby.

If, after carrying out absolutely all the required hygienic procedures, the crusts on the baby’s head do not go away, and there are more of them, then you definitely need to consult a pediatrician who will prescribe the optimal therapy for your baby.

Scabs and milky crusts on a child’s head always cause concern for the parent. This problem is widespread - almost half of babies have it to one degree or another. These skin manifestations are not a disease if we're talking about about infants up to 4 months. If seborrhea manifests itself later, this is already a variant of dermatitis that needs treatment.

Features of the disease

Seborrhea is inflammatory process, occurring with the involvement of the sebaceous glands. It can be of allergic and non-allergic origin. The cells of the sebaceous glands, sebocytes, produce the skin's fatty secretion - lard. The appearance of crusts is due to the fact that yeast-like fungi from the Malassezia furfur family settle on the surface of the skin, which actively feeds on the products of the sebaceous glands. One of the varieties causes seborrhea of ​​the scalp, the other - the rest of the skin.

Photo of seborrhea in children on the head

In infants, the epidermis is still poorly developed, and the work of the sweat and sebaceous glands is just being adjusted. Most often, the sebaceous glands work too actively, and the sweat glands are not yet enough. As a result, the skin becomes easily vulnerable to any factors, including infections and various fungi.

Causes of crusts

Experts have not yet definitively determined what causes seborrheic dermatitis in infants. However, the main reasons are believed to be:

• non-compliance with nutritional rules;
• overheating of the skin;
• sweating;
• reaction to hygiene products;
• failure to comply with hygiene rules.

One version says that the activation of the sebaceous glands in the first weeks of life is caused by androgens hormones that entered the child’s body during pregnancy. The process of removing hormones and, accordingly, normalizing the functioning of the sebaceous glands takes some time. During this period, the baby develops milky crusts on the skin.

Overheating of the scalp due to improperly selected clothing and increased sweating leads to the fact that fungal pathogens begin to multiply on the baby’s skin, which cause inflammation. The colonization of the skin occurs immediately after the birth of the child. However, fungi do not normally cause skin damage. And only when it is weakened, crusts appear.

Immaturity digestive system also provokes the development of dermatitis. While the body does not produce the required amount of enzymes, new foods can cause skin rashes. A lack of vitamins B and PP in breast milk can lead to the baby suffering from the appearance of milk crusts.

Using age-inappropriate shampoos can also cause inflammation skin. Some parents become overly zealous about hygiene, washing their child’s hair every day. In this case, even the use of the most gentle means will cause seborrhea. Rare washing is also unhealthy and causes exactly the same symptoms.

Sometimes infant seborrhea is provoked by infectious diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy, various congenital anomalies, pathologies and immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract.

In children over 2-3 years old, crusts on the head can cause:

• allergic reactions;
• stress;
• medicines;
• eating disorders;
• dysbacteriosis and malabsorption nutrients in the intestines;
• infrequent hair washing or use detergents not by age.

IN adolescence Seborrhea of ​​the scalp is caused by:

1. Hormonal changes.
2. Stress.
3. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Poor nutrition.

At any age, overheating of the skin causes activation of the sebaceous glands. This inevitably leads to the appearance of crusts.

Heredity plays virtually no role. Numerous studies have shown that the appearance of crusts in a newborn has nothing to do with whether similar phenomena with his parents in childhood.

Symptoms

In the photo there are crusts on the baby's head

The leading symptom is the appearance of greasy yellowish or whitish crusts on the scalp. They can be located in patches or cover the entire surface of the scalp. The scab consists of a large number of scales resembling dandruff. Sometimes seborrheic dermatitis can affect the bends of the limbs, abdomen, eyebrows, and groin area.

A scab can appear as early as 2-3 weeks of a child’s life. Sometimes they spread to the eyebrows, forehead, behind-the-ear areas, and cheeks. The scales are easily separated from the skin. In children over 3 years old, seborrhea can occur in oily, dry and mixed type. At fat type scales form crusts around hair follicles. When dry, they are scattered over the entire surface of the head, forming grayish crusts. In this case, the hair underneath breaks and falls out. In adolescence, these two forms combine with each other, forming a mixed form.

Important: Unlike other types skin lesions seborrheic dermatitis does not cause itching, discomfort, pain or irritation.

If the scales are separated with difficulty, and wounds remain after them, then there is a completely different skin lesion that requires special treatment. Since infant seborrheic dermatitis does not cause itching, there should be no scratching. If they are present, most likely it is a seborrheic type of atopic or allergic dermatitis. Seboric dermatitis differs from psoriasis in that psoriasis has a rash that is not covered with scales.

With a mild course, there are only crusts on the head. In moderate cases, lesions appear on other parts of the body. In case of severe severe course Desquamate erythroderma may develop, in which developmental delays and diarrhea will be noted.

Diagnostics

Seborrheic dermatitis must be differentiated from atopic and allergic dermatitis. In adolescence, it can be confused with psoriasis. The diagnosis is made based on examination. A blood test does not show the presence of antibodies and immunoglobulin E.

Treatment of seborrheic crusts in children

Scabs on the head look untidy and frighten parents, but they are completely harmless to the child’s health. There is an opinion among people that if the scab is not removed, then the child’s hair will not grow. This is wrong. Seborrheic dermatitis does not damage the hair follicles in any way.

Classic seborrheic dermatitis in infants goes away on its own by three months, or in extreme cases by six months to a year. However, this does not mean that there is no need to fight scabs, because an untidy appearance of the head does not make the child beautiful. Moreover, in large quantities crusts can already cause discomfort.

Do not pick out the crusts and comb them out with sharp combs. This can damage the skin and cause infection.

The simplest and effective way– combing. To do this, two hours before the expected time of bathing, the crusts are generously lubricated with oil. This can be a special oil for baby skin care or any vegetable oil, preferably olive or almond. Next, a cap is put on the baby’s head. In 2 hours the crusts become soft.

During bathing, wash your hair as usual. Then the skin is blotted and the crusts are carefully combed out with a comb with blunt, rounded teeth. Can be used to wash hair special shampoos from crusts. Mustela and other manufacturers have such lines. If there are a lot of crusts, then next swim the procedure will have to be repeated. The hair of older children can be washed with antiseborrheic agents such as Nizoral, Quelual. From the folk, but very effective means, you can recommend tar soap.

As a rule, drug treatment not required. Only in severe cases after four years can fluconazole or metronidazole be used. No pills in preschool age are not assigned. If the course is prolonged, older children may benefit from Zinocap and Pimafucort ointments.

Prevention

In order to get rid of seborrheic dermatitis or prevent its development, you must follow some rules. First of all, there is no need to bundle up your child or put clothes on him that are out of season. Secondly, walks and air baths will be useful. Thirdly, bed linen should be cotton or linen, pillows should be made of natural materials.

Antihistamines and antibacterial drugs, antifungal ointments used together with vitamin complexes for chronic forms seborrheic dermatitis in children over 4-5 years of age and in adolescents.

Diet for children

Proper nutrition will help you get rid of the scabs faster. For infants, it is important to follow the schedule for introducing complementary foods and exclude foods that can cause allergies. Older children are recommended to exclude from the diet:

• carbonated drinks;
• sweets;
• nuts;
• smoked meats, pickles, marinades;
• fast food;
• chocolate;

Forecast

Seborrheic dermatitis in infants, as a rule, goes away without a trace and does not lead to further allergic diseases. If it is detected in children over 7 years of age, it can then be complicated by atopic dermatitis, allergic reactions or erythroderma. But in most cases, with adequate therapy, skin problems completely disappear by adulthood.

Scalp problems occur frequently in children. You shouldn’t be afraid of this: these layers look unsightly, but do not cause much discomfort to babies. However, they need to be treated to prevent the disease from developing. To do this, you first need to find out the reasons for the appearance of crusts on the head.

Crusts on a child’s head: causes

The main reason for the formation of crusts is the so-called seborrheic dermatitis. Children's skin is very delicate, so they are prone to skin disorders. In young children, the sebaceous glands are actively working and do not sweat enough, but as the baby grows, the situation normalizes.
Seborrhea often occurs in infants, but sometimes children under 14 years of age also suffer from it. It can be caused by various factors:

• Fluctuations in hormonal levels.
• Hereditary predisposition (sometimes this disease can be transmitted from parents).
• Lack of vitamins in the body, especially vitamin B.
• Irregularities at work nervous system or thyroid gland(in older children).
• Overheating of the head or, conversely, hypothermia.

The reasons for the development of seborrhea should also be looked for among the products that are used to wash the child: they may contain allergic additives.

As for the lesions, they can occur in different ways, since they depend on the location of the sebaceous glands. Depending on the form of seborrheic dermatitis, your baby may also develop bald spots or red spots.

Crusts on the head of a 5 year old child

It also happens that children do not have crusts in infancy, but later, for example, at the age of five, they appear. Such peeling is very frightening for caring parents, but they can occur for natural reasons.

Their appearance can be caused by improper hygiene, disruption of the sebaceous glands caused by infectious diseases mother during pregnancy, or problems with hormones. Usually the crust is very dense and has a gray or yellowish tint. You should not try to remove it so as not to damage the skin.

The best way to deal with the problem is to use well-sterilized oil, which you need to carefully lubricate the affected areas, then put on a cap and leave for 15-20 minutes. Vaseline or salicylic ointment are also suitable for this purpose. At the end of the procedure, you need to wash the child’s hair well and remove the remaining crusts. A comb made of natural material with sparse teeth is suitable for combing, and you can remove any remaining crusts with a soft brush.

How to remove crusts on a child's head

The main way you can’t do without in the fight against scabs is combing. In addition, you will need a special product, such as a children's exfoliating cream. The child's head should be washed well, patted with a towel and applied to the entire surface of the head. The cream should be left on the head overnight under a cap made of natural material. In the morning, you should comb out all the crusts well, rinse and dry your hair.

If this does not help, it is better to consult a doctor who will examine the child and prescribe therapeutic treatment.

To avoid relapse, great attention should be paid to the prevention of dermatitis. Try using a special antiseborrheic shampoo, it helps reduce the activity of the fungus and relieve skin inflammation.

In addition, you should avoid too frequent washing heads. This causes dry skin, which activates the sebaceous glands and can cause thickening of the crusts.

Don't wrap your children up too much warm clothes when it is not necessary: ​​sweating can trigger the development of seborrhea.

It is very important to regularly examine the child’s head for flaking, itching, allergic reactions. Together with your pediatrician, you should select a good drying cream for your child.

Since the appearance of dermatitis is sometimes associated with allergies, it is recommended to create a special diet. It is necessary to exclude from the menu foods that cause a negative reaction in the body: fatty foods, sweet, flour. It is imperative to increase your consumption of foods containing vitamins A, B and C.

Timely treatment and regular prevention will help your child get rid of this disease.

Why does a crust appear on a child's head? This question worries parents. Many mothers are upset when they see a greasy yellow crust on the crown of their baby. The layering peels off and sticks to the hair, but can be removed quite easily. People call this condition “cradle cap,” but the official name is seborrheic dermatitis. A crust on a child’s head is nothing more than a severe form of dandruff. The child does not feel discomfort, but parents are worried, as dermatitis spoils the baby’s attractiveness.

Why do crusts form on a child’s head? Sometimes seborrheic dermatitis can cover the entire scalp of a baby, spreading to the face, ears, nose, armpits and groin areas. Everywhere except the head and eyebrows, the condition is called seborrheic eczema.

Development of the disease

Seborrheic dermatitis is very common in infants younger than 8 months. Most often, unaesthetic yellow crusts appear on the baby’s head in 1-2 months of life. Medical name“cradle cap” - gneiss. The disease lasts from several weeks to several months.

Parents sometimes discover oily layers under the hair of preschool and even younger children school age. Although it looks unsightly, it does not harm the child, there is no itching or other discomfort. However, attempts to remove the crust in children over 3 years of age give the child unpleasant sensations.

Doctors distinguish three degrees of development of the disease: mild, moderate and severe. The latter is usually combined with the general feeling unwell child - dysbacteriosis, vomiting, anemia, insomnia. This condition is observed in children deprived of normal care.

Main reasons

Causes of seborrhea:

1. Action of maternal hormones. These substances remain in the child's body from the prenatal period. They increase sebaceous secretions, and dead skin cells stick together on the crown of the head.
2. Hereditary allergies, especially such as eczema.
3. Dysbacteriosis. Gastrointestinal disorders provoke malfunctions of the sebaceous glands.
4. Development of yeast fungus on the scalp.
5. Lack of vitamin B in the body.
6. Difficult pregnancy of a mother with metabolic disorders.
7. Maternal use of antibiotics during pregnancy.
8. Poor hygiene, insufficient child care.
9. Bad living conditions- dust, gas contamination, etc.
10. Wrong clothes. Too warm hats or wearing a hat in a heated room cause heavy sweating scalp.
11. Wrong selection of shampoo.

Seborrhea in children and adolescents

Dermatologists distinguish 4 types of seborrhea in children:

1. Fat. Large flakes of dead skin and sebum stick together at the roots of the hair. In infants, with careless care, this form leads to the development of fungal infections. Teenagers can suffer at the same time oily seborrhea and acne.
2. Dry. Individual skin particles are scattered across the entire surface of the head. They stick together into yellow or gray crusts. May be accompanied by a reddish rash on the body and loss of some hair.
3. Mixed. A combination of two forms: on the hair - dry, on the skin of the face - oily. Not observed in infants and children under 13 years of age;
4. Physiological. It is typical for adolescents, and, as a rule, is a continuation of the “cradle cap” in infancy.

Treatment methods

Mothers of infants are wondering whether seborrheic crusts need to be removed? In addition to aesthetic reasons, there is also a health problem. The accumulation of fat deposits on the scalp isolates the skin from air, causing hair roots to suffer. So that the child does not have brittle problems in the future rare hair, it is necessary to periodically clean his head of deposits.

Methods for removing crusts:

1. Wash your child's hair regularly. Do not use regular baby shampoos. Sold in pharmacies special means against seborrhea, for example, La-Cri, Emolium. These shampoos do not contain dyes or perfumes. They are created using a special “no tears” technology and can be used for babies from the moment of birth. The medicinal ingredients of shampoos are salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc. The shampoo should be left on the hair for 2 minutes and then rinsed off.
2. After washing, you need to rub baby oil into the baby’s skin, almond oil or just vegetable oil. If the crust on the head has become very hard, you can leave the oil overnight. In the morning, the lagging flakes are cleaned out soft brush.
3. Baths with medicinal herbs- chamomile, string, nettle if the child does not have allergies.
4. Very good action provides coconut oil. This product does not require preheating. You need to remove the oil from the refrigerator, leave it at room temperature for half an hour and rub a small amount into the baby’s scalp before bathing;
5. Tea tree oil has a similar effect.
6. You can lubricate the baby's head with Vaseline.
7. Many mothers use their own breast milk as a means of softening the crusts. It should be applied to the child's head before bathing.
8. Any oil must be washed off very carefully. Excess of it can worsen the condition;
9. All hygiene procedures should be carried out no more than 2 times a week.
10. Do not remove scales from the baby’s head with a fingernail or other hard objects. Sometimes the seborrheic film sticks to the head too tightly. Picking can damage your baby's delicate skin, causing infection and inflammation.

Cannot be used to lubricate the baby's head olive oil. Its smell may irritate the baby. For children over 3 years old, you can take olive oil and use it at night.

You should act very carefully in the fontanelle area. To remove crusts, pediatricians advise using a special baby comb with short, fine teeth.

Head cleansing should be done when the baby is good mood, smiles. Seborrheic crusts do not bother the baby, but the removal procedure is not very pleasant for him.

If the skin under the cradle cap is red and swollen, the child should be taken to the doctor. An even more serious condition is bleeding cracks, a rash on the head spreading to the face, and a rise in temperature above 37°. This may indicate exposure to an infection. The doctor will prescribe antifungal cream or a course of antibiotics.

Seborrheic dermatitis may disappear and return within a few months. Preventive measures should be carried out for several more months after the child has recovered.

Seborrheic dermatitis in children over one year of age

As a rule, the milk crust disappears forever after 4 months of life. But sometimes such problems remain or fade away for a while, recurring after a year. There are known cases of seborrhea at 4, 5 and even 10 years of age.

If the baby suffered from this disease after six months, parents should carry out preventive procedures from time to time. The most important of them is preventing the development of yeast fungus on the scalp. To do this, you should always have Sabulex or Nizoral medicated shampoo in your bathroom. Once a month you should wash your hair with an antiseborrheic agent.

You should consult a doctor if:

• parents discovered crusts in the child after a year;
• the baby often scratches his head;
• large greasy scales are noticeable on the hair.

This condition can be caused bacterial infection. In this case, the child is prescribed antibiotics penicillin group, injections of vitamin B and glucose. Also useful ascorbic acid to boost immunity. Local treatment may include steroid creams or antifungal ointments. Useful zinc ointment, which dries and relieves inflammation.

Crusts on a child’s head go away without any complications if the parents provide the child with proper hygienic conditions. But they may be the first signals about serious problems metabolism, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, diathesis.

If crusting is combined with abnormal weight gain, Leiner's disease may be suspected. Attentive parents should show their child to specialists in a timely manner if his condition deviates from the norm.

The main reason for crusts is quite simple. The thing is that newborns have very delicate skin, which in itself predisposes to the appearance of any skin disorders. And now to the low ones protective properties skin, add a violation of thermoregulation or water balance of tissues and conditions for the occurrence similar problem intensify even more.

But all this only creates favorable conditions, and crusts appear due to the peculiarities of the sebaceous and sweat glands. In infants, the former work too actively, while the latter are still too densely located, and their number is much greater than in older children or adults. But they will begin to work normally only by the age of 7. As a result, milky (also known as seborrheic) crusts appear.

In a nutshell, the reason lies in the insufficient functioning of the sweat glands and the excessive functioning of the sebaceous glands. All this is inherent in nature and does not depend on any extraneous factors. But there are other causes of seborrheic crusts that are caused by improper care:

• Overheating, as it leads to increased sweating.
• Shampoo. This means if it is chosen incorrectly. Ideally, its composition should be as close to natural as possible and not contain a variety of fragrances, dyes and other chemicals.
• Frequent hair washing, which washes away the already thin protective layer and causes dry skin. Which in turn stimulates the work of the sebaceous glands even more, and the child’s crusts only become thicker. On this issue, we recommend that you read the article: how often should you bathe a newborn.
• Allergy. Children with this diagnosis have reduced immunity, which significantly increases the likelihood of milk crusts appearing.

How to get rid of seborrheic crusts

A crust on a child’s head is not a disease, but this does not give us the right to ignore the problem and pretend that everything is fine. Start with allergies, if there are none, then all you need to do to get rid of milk crusts is to follow basic rules of personal hygiene:

• Don't bundle up your child. Please note that this has already been written about more than once, and not only in relation to the appearance of seborrheic crusts. And you especially don’t need to be zealous if you and your baby are indoors and not outdoors. This also includes children's hats; if your child's head constantly sweats, change it to a lighter one.
• Use shampoos only for natural basis, and even then, no more than twice a week.
• A child's comb should have natural bristles.
• Read and follow the rules for caring for your child's hair.

As a matter of fact, this alone is enough for the crusts on the newborn’s head to gradually begin to disappear. If this does not happen and they become even more severe, it would be better to seek help from a doctor who will help you find the cause and tell you how to get rid of them.

How to remove milk crusts

Please note that seborrheic crusts cannot be removed with a sharp comb or fingernail. This way you will only hurt the baby and damage the scalp. There are more gentle methods for this:

1. Soften

About an hour before bathing, lubricate the crusts on the child’s head with sterile vegetable oil, Vaseline or salicylic ointment. After this, put a cotton cap on your baby, and after an hour, remove it and gently massage the scalp. To do this, use a comb with natural bristles.

2. Wash off

Milk crusts will gradually be washed off when washing your hair. But just remember that you don’t need to lather your hair again and, especially, try to wash it all off in one bath.

3. Comb

After bathing, when the hair begins to dry, it’s time to comb your hair. Gently comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb and then with a soft brush. This will help remove any remaining crusts. But keep in mind this procedure should not be repeated more than once a week.

Prevention of crusts on a child’s head

They all follow from the points listed above, but if we summarize, we get the following: observe the rules of hygiene, regularly comb the baby’s hair and watch the length of the hair, make sure that the child does not have allergies.