School-age children have a larger social sphere that can impact their health and lead parents scrambling for solutions. Parents reviewing anti-dandruff shampoos and remedies may first need to determine the onset, duration and quality of their child's dandruff to clarify the situation. Diligent and patient parents can relieve their child's discomfort with mild to moderate intervention.
About Dandruff
According to the National Institutes for Health, dandruff is due to excess of two naturally occurring elements: sebum (skin oil) and yeast (known as malassezia). Sebum moisturizes the skin and keeps it flexible. The yeast eats the oil to prevent excess buildup and clogged pores. However, in excess, the yeast eats too much of the sebum, leading to dry, irritated skin. The troubled skin speeds up its typical process of regeneration, and the excess skin cells build up and flake off.
Dandruff and Allergies
Children may have allergies to cosmetic or laundry products or to materials in hats or hair-care items. Allergic reactions may include skin redness, irritation, and itchy and flaking skin. Ironically, anti-dandruff shampoos may be overly strong and further irritate the skin of children. Children may need to see a dermatologist to receive a specially formulated product.
Dandruff and Skin Conditions
Dandruff may be an extension of skin conditions such as eczema, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Eczema presents as patches of dry, scaly skin that typically occur on the face, in the bend of the elbow and behind the knees. Whenever possible, parents should discourage scratching itchy areas, which can lead to skin inflammation.
Dandruff and Diseases
Parents also should determine whether a child's itchy, flaking scalp is due to lice or ringworm, two highly contagious but treatable skin diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents seat their child in a well-lit room, part their hair and observe the scalp. Lice will move away from the light. By comparison, dandruff with scaly patches and concurrent hair loss may be ringworm, another contagious skin disease. The AAP warns that home remedies for lice have not been proven and parents should obtain professional medical advice for both conditions.
Dandruff and Puberty
During puberty, the glands at the base of each hair follicle produce even more oil, states the Children, Youth, and Women Health Service. The oil binds skin cells together, so the lost skin is larger and more noticeable. During puberty, boys tend to have more oily skin and be more prone to dandruff than girls, the agency notes.
Dandruff Strategies
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends using anti-dandruff shampoos. Part the child's hair into sections and apply a small dab of shampoo, massaging it directly into the scalp. NIH notes that dandruff may improve after outdoor exercise and activity, due to exposure to the sun. Alternatively, the health website Babycenter.com suggests washing hair daily with a mild shampoo and brushing the hair before washing to loosen the extra flakes. The website also cautions parents to avoid oily hair conditioners and styling products, which may exacerbate skin irritation.
