Your child can develop dry scalp for a number of reasons. Dry scalp can cause your child discomfort and pain. If your child's dry scalp does not improve or seems to get worse, contact his pediatrician or dermatologist, as dry scalp can cause permanent damage to your child's hair follicles and lead to scarring.
Identification
Your child can develop red, raised patches of thick skin if his dry scalp is severe enough. The area may appear red or the dry skin can have a white, flaky appearance. The affected area can be a small section of skin or large patch covering his entire scalp.
Types
Dry skin of the scalp can result from sunburn, psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. Certain conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis are genetic, while other conditions such as sunburn are not hereditary. In certain instances, your child can develop a dry scalp from using the wrong shampoo or over-washing or blow-drying her hair.
Effects
Dry scalp can cause many problems for your child such as itching, burning, cracking and bleeding. Your child may scratch the area of dry skin so much that it causes the cracking of skin, which can lead to bleeding. Depending upon the cause of your child's dry scalp, the affected area can be a small section of skin or it can cover his entire head. Your child may also have flakes of dry skin in his hair or on his clothing.
Warning
If your child has dry scalp and you notice that the affected area has oozing pus draining from the infected area or has a yellow or green discharge leaking out of broken skin, this might indicate an infection is present. Do not attempt to treat infections at home on your own, as it may worsen your child's condition.
Considerations
If left untreated or it becomes severe enough, your child may develop an infection or have problems focusing on normal everyday tasks, according to PsoriasisNet. Seek care from your child's pediatrician or dermatologist to determine the cause of the dry scalp and the best possible treatment option. If your child's condition does not improve after seeking medical care, your child may need a follow-up visit.
