Dandruff, also known as seborrheic dermatitis, is a common chronic scalp condition that can affect people of all ages, from childhood all the way through adulthood. Juveniles, especially teenagers, can be prone to dandruff due to the effects of puberty and hormones on the natural sebum production of the scalp. Regardless of the cause, dandruff can be embarrassing for a child or teenager, making it important to take the right steps to correct the skin problem.
Symptoms
Symptoms of juvenile dandruff are the same as adult dandruff. You may see your child regularly scratching his scalp, accompanied by excess white or yellow flakes falling from his head. These flakes may look oily and will typically be visible on your child's clothing, especially if he is wearing darker colors.
Causes
Juvenile dandruff can be caused by many circumstances. One of the most common causes for juvenile dandruff is an oily scalp. As puberty occurs and hormones affect sebum production on the scalp, excess oil can cause skin irritation, leading to itching and scaly skin. Other causes of dandruff can include dry skin, poor hygiene (especially not shampooing enough), other skin disorders (such as psoriasis and eczema) and irritation due to the overgrowth of a fungus called malassezia.
OTC Treatment
One of the first lines of treatment for juvenile dandruff are over-the-counter remedies. For example, a dandruff shampoo with zinc pyrithione or ketoconazolecan help kill off colonies of the malassezia fungus. Dandruff shampoos with selenium sulfide or tar can help slow the rate at which scalp skin cells shed, reducing your child's dandruff. Shampoo in general works as a surfactant to remove sebum oil from the hair strands and scalp, which can help reduce juvenile dandruff due to oil buildup.
Prescription Treatment
When over-the-counter treatments are unsuccessful, your child's doctor or dermatologist may prescribe a more powerful prescription treatment. For example, your child may be prescribed a shampoo with prescription levels of ketoconazole to help treat serious cases of acne that are due to fungal infection. Another common prescription option are steroid-based shampoos, which reduce the inflammation and itching associated with serious cases of dandruff.
Natural Alternatives
Natural alternative remedies may also be employed to fight juvenile dandruff if you are unsure about using over-the-counter or prescription products on your child's skin. Vinegar is one of the most widely used natural remedies for dandruff as it works as a natural antifungal solution against the malassezia fungus. Tea tree oil is also a natural antifungal substance that has been used to treat dandruff.
