Dandruff, also known as seborrheic dermatitis, is typically an adult problem, causing sufferers' scalps to shed embarrassing but relatively harmless flakes. Dandruff in children is called cradle cap. Cradle cap is treatable with home remedies and usually do not require prescription medication. Children usually outgrow cradle cap in time. A conversation with your physician is required to rule out a more serious condition.
Cradle cap
Cradle cap is a crusty, scaly and often itchy rash on a child's scalp. It is a hereditary condition that is not contagious. People constantly grow new skin cells and shed old cells. Sometimes, before a child is born, hormones from his mother cross the placenta to the baby and cause his sebaceous, or oil glands, to be more active than normal. This excess oil causes him to hold onto the old skin cells, causing a layer of extra, crusty skin that flakes off like dandruff.
Brush and shampoo
Treat mild cases of dandruff by brushing her hair thoroughly with a soft towel or brush to loosen and remove flakes before shampooing. Shampoo her hair daily with a mild shampoo. If that does not work, ask your pharmacist or doctor to recommend a medicated shampoo that contains salicylic acid or tar, and use twice weekly.
Remember that these shampoos, unlike shampoos for children, are not "no tears" formulas, so be careful not to get the shampoo in your child's eyes. Continue to shampoo on other days with a mild shampoo and avoid oily styling products and conditioners, which can aggravate her dandruff.
Oil treatment
It may sound counterintuitive to add oil to a problem caused by excess oil, but pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene says that an oil treatment is sometimes helpful to loosen the dry, flaky skin caused by cradle cap. Rub a small amount of a natural, pure oil such as olive oil into the baby's scalp. Leave the oil on for 15 minutes. Comb the flakes off with a soft brush or towel, and shampoo with a gentle shampoo.
Tinea capitis
According to pediatrician Dr. Claire McCarthy, symptoms of dandruff in children could be a sign of a common fungal infection called tinea capitis. Tinea capitis, also known as ringworm, can cause yellow, scaly patches that are flaky and crusty and cause flakes that resemble dandruff, but must be treated with an oral antifungal medication. Unlike cradle cap, tinea capitis is contagious and can be spread by pets.
Other diagnosis
Other causes of itchy, flaky scalp in children include a sunburn, eczema or psoriasis. Your child may also have unrinsed, flaky shampoo residue in his hair. If this is the case, he should be instructed to use only a dime-sized amount of shampoo and to rinse it for twice as long as he spends lathering it into his hair.
