Seborrheic crusts on the head of a baby: causes, methods of removal, tips and reviews

Causes of crusts

Regardless of whether the baby was born with or without hair, plaque will appear if the parents do not follow the rules for caring for the newborn. This is due to the physiology of the child, because thermoregulatory functions develop closer to 5 years.

The baby’s skin has not learned to “breathe” correctly, and the sebaceous glands clog the pores. As a result, plaque forms on the baby's head. People call it “lullaby caps”.

The causes of seborrheic crusts on the head of a baby include the following:

Parents, showing excessive care, try to wrap up the baby to avoid colds. Even in a warm room, he is carefully dressed, and a cap is put on his head. In this case, the sebaceous glands become active, which contributes to the formation of plaque.
Seborrheic crusts on a baby's head can occur as a result of frequent bathing with the use of cosmetics that contain chemical components. Excessive exposure to the skin contributes to the malfunction of the sebaceous glands. The result is seborrhea.

If the above reasons are not observed in caring for the baby, then the appearance of crusts may be associated with allergies. Foods consumed by a nursing mother or formula milk during artificial feeding contribute to the occurrence of such a reaction.

How to remove seborrheic crusts from a baby

Despite the fact that plaque on a baby’s head is a natural process, it is not recommended to start it. Bacteria that can infect hair follicles take part in the development of seborrhea. There is an opinion that the yellow crust in the baby will go away on its own by the age of one year. However, you shouldn't wait that long.

If the parents are sure of this, then the mother should take a number of measures:

The child must be dressed in accordance with the ambient temperature. At a temperature of 24 degrees, the baby should remain without a cap. This will allow the scalp to “breathe.”
Bathing your child every day is not prohibited, but it is best to avoid using cosmetics. Parents should choose regular soap, but using it more than once a week is not recommended. It is enough to wash in herbal decoctions.
Babies born with hair need to be brushed regularly. To do this, the mother needs to buy a special baby comb made from natural materials. This will prevent the appearance of seborrheic crusts on the baby’s head, photos of which are presented in the article below.

By taking these steps, you can prevent yellow plaque from occurring in the future.

Seborrheic crust in a baby

thin crust suddenly appears on the head , which day by day becomes larger in coverage area.

A seborrheic crust occurs due to excess secretions of the sebaceous glands. As the secretions accumulate, they dry out, layer on top of each other, forming a translucent crust. From time to time it may peel off, but over time it becomes denser and difficult to remove. Sometimes a seborrheic crust makes it difficult to grow hair on the head, as well as when peeling, it removes them.

There are several reasons why the sebaceous glands begin to work excessively, causing seborrhea. One of the reasons is poor nutrition of the baby or mother (in the case of breastfeeding). If the diet of a nursing mother consists of an excessive amount of fatty foods, fried or salted, smoked, as well as a large number of sweet dishes, the baby’s body, under the influence of these products obtained through breastfeeding, begins to actively secrete sebaceous glands, which manifests itself in the form of a yellow crust on the head. Therefore, it is very important for any nursing mother to monitor the correctness and amount of food consumed. Another reason for the appearance of a seborrheic crust may be the use of baby soap , foam or shampoo that is not suitable in its composition for the baby’s skin metabolism, in particular the scalp. In this case, it is necessary to immediately change the type of product for bathing the baby.

Some mothers try to remove crusts from their baby using their nails. However, it should be noted that in this way they can harm the baby’s skin, injure it, and also allow the risk of dangerous infections entering the head wound. If the baby is also too small or weakened due to any malaise, the appearance of an infection in a wound on the scalp can also cause a serious disease called sepsis.

to remove a seborrheic crust is with vegetable oil or Vaseline: lubricate the surface of the head where the crusts are located with a sufficient layer of Vaseline or vegetable oil, secure a sterile bandage in this place. And wait about 1-2 hours before bathing the baby. Then when bathing the baby apply foam or shampoo, soap to your head, then massage thoroughly and rinse with enough water. After the bath, take a baby comb (it’s best if it’s a plastic baby comb) and carefully comb the area where the crusts are. It is recommended to comb the head in different directions so that the crusts come off better It is possible that it will not be possible to remove all the crusts at once. Then this procedure must be repeated over several days. Do not allow severe redness of the scalp while removing crusts. You can also use baby moisturizer instead of oil.

If the seborrheic crust is too dense and cannot be removed with ordinary traditional means, you can use antiseborrheic shampoo or ointment that contains sulfur salicylate.

Also avoid excessive sweating on the baby's head, which can cause crusts to form.

Do not leave any places with crusts, as over time they can grow to their former size.

Step-by-step instruction

The main recommendations include:

1-1.5 hours before bathing, lubricate the skin with oil. Usually cosmetic for children or herbal. You can use salicylic ointment or Vaseline. A cap is put on the head, which is removed after 1 hour. This will soften the sebaceous formations. Then comb it carefully so as not to injure the skin.
During bathing, the baby's head is washed with baby soap, rinsing thoroughly. Lather your hair once per bath. It is better to repeat the following procedure every other week.
When the hair is dry, you need to comb it first with a blunt-toothed comb. Then use a soft brush.

In the process of using the described actions, you cannot overdo it - even milk crusts cannot be removed the first time. But by starting to fight them, the mother starts the process of rejecting them.

Recommended products

When seborrheic crusts appear on the baby’s head, parents think about how to remove them using modern baby care products. Among the large number of varieties of such cosmetics, the most effective can be named:

BabyBorn baby soap. The product contains special oils that easily cope with seborrheic crusts.
Cream STELAKER. It is produced by Mustela. It was developed specifically to combat baby's milk crusts.
Biolane shampoo. The product removes plaque and moisturizes the skin. As a result, sebaceous formations soften.

In addition to these cosmetics, you can choose others. For them to be useful, it is necessary to carefully study the composition of the drug. After all, some remedies can cause harm, aggravating the situation. In this case, you will have to remove the crusts from the child with medications.

Therapy

How to remove seborrheic crusts from a baby? If all the parents’ efforts are unsuccessful or cause an allergy, then it is best for them to contact a pediatric dermatologist.

You should not delay visiting a doctor - the bacteria that develop in the crusts multiply quickly. Sometimes a baby develops bleeding wounds on his head.

The specialist will examine the baby, prescribe the necessary tests and other types of diagnostics. This will help establish the causes of the formation of seborrheic crusts. Only after this will appropriate treatment be carried out. It includes:

Taking antihistamines when the cause is an allergy.
If necessary, probiotics are prescribed, with the help of which the baby’s intestinal microflora is restored.
A shampoo is selected that contains medicinal products.

Sometimes the specialist also prescribes the newborn’s mother if she is breastfeeding. In this case, the course of treatment may vary in duration and largely depends on the parents’ desire to strictly follow all the doctor’s instructions.

Treatment with special means

Medical treatment of the problem cannot be avoided in two cases. The first of them is an advanced form of the disease, the second is the appearance of the problem when the child is more than 1 year old.

After the examination, the doctor may prescribe special medications and shampoo to get rid of seborrheic crusts. Such products are usually hypoallergenic, and they also have a preventive and anti-inflammatory effect.

They usually come in the form of a foam that needs to be applied to the affected areas.

Unlike oils, they should not be applied for several hours, but only for a few minutes, after which you can begin combing. The most popular children's shampoos for seborrheic dermatitis:

"Friderm tar";
"Kelual DS";
"Nizoral."

The full course of treatment with shampoos is 1.5 months. However, they should be used no more than 2 times a week. Also used for treatment are such medicinal products as Topicrem, Friederm Zinc, Saforel, Bioderma Sensibio DS.

Creams designed to get rid of seborrheic crusts in children are also used in treatment. They are usually applied at night, and can even be used on newborn babies. Today, Mustella creams are popular among young mothers. The same manufacturer also produces shampoos for babies. According to reviews from mothers, these remedies are very effective.

You can use cream and shampoo in combination.

Opinion of a famous pediatrician

Dr. Komarovsky claims that seborrheic crusts on the head of infants are an age-related feature of many babies. He associates this with hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands. The child is usually not bothered by the scabs themselves, but by the process of combing them out, which is not mandatory. If your baby has long hair, it is impossible to get rid of the crusts without a haircut.

Parents should know that the plaque on the baby’s head goes away on its own sooner or later. However, in order to comb them out, you need to give your child a haircut.

Before removing crusts on the head, they can be softened with any vegetable oil. Then use a blunt-toothed comb.

Ways to get rid of gneiss

The scales do not cause concern to the child. Over time, the appearance of new scales will decrease and they will disappear completely. Any crusts that appear are removed. This is not difficult to do, but the procedure must be performed correctly. You should comb out carefully, without causing pain to the baby, avoiding damage to the skin.

The procedure is carried out before swimming. Combing procedure:

Buy a special children's comb. Please note - the bristles must be natural. You will need a plastic comb with frequent, blunt teeth;
Prepare vegetable oil (olive, mineral), glycerin. Warm in a water bath to body temperature;
Using gentle finger movements, rub the warm oil into the scalp;
Place a thin cotton cap on your head and tie it. Leave for half an hour to soften the crusts. If the crust is dense, you can leave the oil overnight;
Remove your cap before swimming. Gently massage the comb into your scalp. The crusts cannot be torn off - the resulting wound can become an entry point for infection;
Lather the head with baby shampoo, massage, rinse. Make sure that the hygiene product does not get on the mucous membranes. After bathing, start combing out the crusts again. First, use a comb - blunt teeth remove large fragments. Small scales are removed with a brush. Avoid putting pressure on the comb, do not rub the skin, and carry out combing movements in different directions.

To completely get rid of gneiss in newborns, several procedures will be needed. It is impossible to remove all the scales at once.

To help parents, special products have been developed to help soften the crusts. Taking into account the degree of damage, use:

dermatological creams containing a minimal amount of fat;
cleansing dermatological gels, foams intended for treating large surfaces of the skin;
special regulating emulsions for large, dense crusts, which are used to lubricate the head and forehead at night.

Features of care

Choosing the right shampoo is a priority, but not the main task. Parents should not constantly wrap their child in a blanket. You should not put a hat on your baby's head if he is indoors.

Many pediatricians talk about maintaining the correct temperature regime. They are sure that overheating leads to various irritations on the skin.

Proper care of children's hair is promoted by:

Individual comb and comb. They should be soft and made from natural fabrics.
Carefully wash your hair and comb it carefully.
The use of loose elastic bands and rounded hairpins.

Proper care of your child's hair will help prevent the occurrence of seborrheic crusts on the baby's head. All the problems that arise in a baby can be overcome, and the first modest fluff will soon turn into thick and shiny curls.

Prevention

Seborrheic crusts on the face of a baby, as well as on the head, can occur regardless of the newborn’s nutrition. However, some recommendations can reduce the manifestations of pathology to a minimum. These include:

The appearance of skin reactions should alert parents and they should visit a specialist. The sooner the problem is identified, the faster you can get rid of it.
In the children's room, the air temperature should not be higher than 20-22 degrees, and the humidity should not be 50-60%. Be sure to carry out daily wet cleaning and constant ventilation of the room.
The baby should be dressed according to the weather and air temperature at home.
Parents should be especially careful when choosing baby care products. They must be of high quality and natural.
It is best to bathe your newborn every day. In this case, shampoo must be used twice a week.
A nursing woman needs to carefully monitor her diet, and it is best to follow a hypoallergenic diet.
If the child is bottle-fed, then it is necessary to choose dairy-free formulas and cereals.

An air humidifier can be of particular help in establishing the correct microclimate in the baby’s room. With its help, the problem of dry skin of the baby and its mucous membranes is solved.

Preventing the spread of crusts on the head

In order to prevent even greater spread of crusts on the baby’s head, it is important to know what is undesirable to do, namely:

Wrapping up your baby unnecessarily. If the room is warm, there is no need to put a hat on the child - this will lead to an even greater spread of crusts on the head, as the child will sweat.
Wash your baby's hair often. It is enough to wash your baby's hair with shampoo once a week. It is not at all necessary to use shampoo for daily bathing - this will also lead to an increase in the number of crusts. You can simply wash your child's head with warm, clean water without soap.
Use shampoos and soaps with a high content of perfume compositions for bathing the crumbs. Modern scented children's soaps and shampoos can cause allergic reactions in the baby and provoke peeling of the skin and the appearance of crusts on the head, even if they were not there before. In this case, you should give preference to regular solid baby soap with string or chamomile extract. But even good soap should be used no more than twice a week.

For preventative purposes, you can give your child a head massage every day with a soft comb. This will lead to a reduction in existing crusts on the baby’s head and prevent the formation of new ones. In addition, you need to monitor the humidity and temperature in the room. Excessive air humidity, as well as its dryness, can provoke the appearance of even more crusts on the baby’s head.

The same can be said about too high a temperature in the house. If the air is very humid and the room is hot, the child often sweats, and this creates a favorable environment for the spread of crusts on the baby’s head. If the air, on the contrary, is too dry, then the baby’s skin will dry out and peel, which, again, is fraught with consequences in the form of the same crusts on the baby’s head.

Parents' opinions

How to treat seborrheic crusts on the head of a baby? Parents' reviews in this case are almost the same.

Many mothers some time (30-40 minutes) before bathing lubricated the places where crusts appeared. During bathing, they were washed with shampoo and then carefully removed using a comb or comb.

If the procedure was carried out correctly, it was not repeated in the future.

Seborrheic crusts on the scalp in infants occur under the influence of many factors. With proper care, they disappear over time and do not cause any discomfort to the child.

Shampoos for crusts

There is no need to remove scabs from your baby's head every day. It is enough to do this on bathing days - 1-2 times a week. Under no circumstances should you remove dry crusts - this can easily injure the skin on the baby’s head. Some mothers, instead of Vaseline oil, use a special shampoo for crusts, which can be purchased at a pharmacy or in children's goods departments. Such shampoos soften crusts on the head no worse than Vaseline oil, but are not suitable for all infants, as they can cause allergies.

Therefore, after the first use of such shampoo, you need to carefully monitor the baby’s reaction. Shampoo, unlike oil, does not need to be applied in advance. During bathing, foam is applied to the baby's head for 3-4 minutes, then washed off with warm water, and softened crusts are removed with a comb or sponge.

Thus, crusts on the head of a newborn baby are a temporary phenomenon that does not pose any danger to the baby, and therefore does not require surgical intervention from doctors. The main thing is that the baby’s personal hygiene is maintained at the proper level, and then the baby will not have any health problems!