Your baby's dry, flaking scalp can indicate a number of conditions, including cradle cap, eczema or infection. The cause of dryness may be difficult to pinpoint because in many cases, the symptoms of several conditions are similar. Call your pediatrician with concerns about your baby's health and use home remedies to ease itching and scaling.
Oils
The greasy characteristics of baby oil and petroleum jelly help soften hard, dry scales associated with cradle cap. Cradle cap is a baby's version of dandruff; the scalp scale looks yellow and thick and can appear either greasy or dry. The condition affects children most often before their first birthday and may be caused by the remnants of maternal hormones coursing through the baby's system. Massage your child's scalp gently with baby oil or petroleum jelly and let it sit for up to 30 minutes. Brush the softened scales out of your child's hair with a soft brush before rinsing the oil off of the scalp.
Shampoos
A variety of shampoos can be used on your baby's dry scalp to moisturize the skin and ease itching. Dandruff shampoos help control dry scaling from cradle cap, but can be too strong for daily use on a baby. Limit your use of dandruff shampoos to two times a week at the most. Shampoo your child's hair with a mild shampoo if the dryness is associated with eczema or other forms of dermatitis. Dermatitis is irritation and can stem from allergies to foods or chemicals. A fragrance-free shampoo is ideal, as scented hair care products can produce dryness and irritation when coming in contact with the scalp.
Medications
Medical conditions such as eczema and ringworm causing scalp inflammation and dryness may require prescription medications obtained through your pediatrician. Antifungal medications and shampoos can eradicate a ringworm infection on your baby's head. Cortisone creams and lotions soothe the itching and dryness of infantile eczema.
Considerations
In some cases you may not need to use anything on your baby's dry scalp but can resolve the problem through lifestyle changes. Cut back on the frequency with which you wash your baby's hair to determine if overexposure to heat and shampoo is the root of the condition. Nursing mothers can experiment with their diets to improve the condition of eczema. Food allergies can cause symptoms of dry scalp and skin in babies in response to foods consumed by the mother.
