If you see your child continually scratching his head, take a look at his scalp. Check beneath his hair for patches of flaky, reddened or scaly skin. If the irritiation isn't caused by a simple insect bite or other temporary irritant, he may have a fungal infection or dermatitis, both of which are easily diagnosed by a pediatrician and treatable with medication.
Features
The skin of your scalp is much thicker than the skin of your face. According to Dr. Christopher Rowland Payne of The London Clinic, only your heels, back and the balls of your feet are thicker. This thick skin supplies your hair follicles with blood---and that increased bloodflow, Payne says, may be the reason the scalp falls prey to conditions like psoriasis and dandruff. An increased bloodflow speeds up the rate at which your skin sheds, but your skin cells are genetically programmed to stick together for a certain length of time. If they shed before that pre-set time, they often shed in clumps or flakes.
Fungal Infection
A fungal infection called ringworm may be to blame for your child's flaky scalp. It's most often seen in children, caused by fungi that spread through contact with an infected person, animal or simple household object like a towel or brush. According to MayoClinic.com, the fungi cause hair to become too brittle to withstand daily wear and tear, usually resulting in hair loss. Where the hair is lost, you'll see small patches of flaky, scaly skin that take on a reddish, gray or black color.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
If a fungal infection isn't to blame, your child may have seborrheic dermatitis, a rash-like skin eruption that usually affects the scalp or face. According to the New Zealand Dermatological Society, dandruff is actually a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. To diagnose it, doctors look for pinkish colored patches with yellow or white flakes of skin. In babies, seborrheic dermatitis is known as "cradle cap," but the New Zealand Dermatological Society reports that scientists don't know whether infantile seborrheic dermatitis is linked to the adult version of the condition.
Considerations
These scalp conditions are not caused by a lack of hygiene, so don't be quick to blame a flaky scalp on your child's grooming habits. Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, for example, erupt when the skin reacts to a yeast called Malassezia. Although this yeast lives in the skin and regularly produces irritants, you'll only develop dermatitis if your resistance is lowered due to stress or illness. Ringworm, on the other hand, spreads via contact with an infected person or substance.
Treatment
Your doctor may prescribe oral medication, topical medication, lifestyle adaptations or a combination of all of these. MayoClinic.com reports that ringworm can be treated with six weeks of oral medication. Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff need topical attention with medicated shampoos and steroid creams for the scalp. Payne also cites lifestyle factors that can increase bloodflow to the scalp as well as risk for the above conditions; these include being overweight, eating spicy food and treating the scalp roughly with too much blowdrying or brushing.
