Children and Dandruff

Dandruff commonly starts to occur among teenagers, probably due to the connection between hormones and over production of body oils or sebum.  This can then continue all the way through adulthood if not managed correctly.  Less common is the occurrence of dandruff in children, but it does happen.  There are also however, some conditions that cause dandruff that are more common in children.  Either way, it shouldn’t be a major problem most of the time.  Whatever is causing the dandruff in your child, there is a treatment regimen for it.  So don’t worry, as we will get down to the possible causes of your child’s situation. 

Sometimes, it is merely a case of improper hygiene.  Children love to get down and dirty in the playground, especially if they are little boys.  To make matters worse, they hate taking baths and it can be difficult to make them do so.  It is important for you to help your child overcome this problem, and make them understand the importance of taking a proper bath.  If you suspect they just wet their hair or not rinse their shampoo off properly, then a little supervision is all that is required.  If proper hygiene is not enough, then there are other signs and problems that can be checked.  Your child’s itching may not even be dandruff at all.

It is common for children to get head lice at least once their lives exactly because of their playing habits.  Contracting head lice is as easy bumping heads.  Whatever the cause, it is important not to mistake your child’s itching for dandruff if a louse infestation is the problem.  This is a common mistake, and can be easily corrected by checking their hair, and clothes for flakes that remove easily.  If lice is the problem, then another treatment plan should be considered and maybe a trip to the doctor.

Back to dandruff however, one condition common in very young babies and children is called cradle cap.  In adults, this is called seborrheic dermatitis and occurs in areas with high sebum production.  This is why it is rare in babies as they do not produce much sebum.  One theory suggests that the overproduction of hormones in the mother transfers to the child causing more sebum.  It is not a huge problem, though, as it normally goes away on its own.  If it becomes too itchy for your child or the condition gets worse, then pouring baby oil over the scalp should help, followed by a prescription shampoo.

Another condition common in children is scalp ringworm.  Check for a ring-like redness on your child’s scalp. If it is present, then that should be the cause of flaking and irritation.  Bleeding and hair loss may even occur, so consult for the right anti fungal medication.  If the cause of dandruff and itching is none of the above, then it might boil down to a junk food rich diet, which is unsurprising in children.  A poor diet can cause dandruff, so as difficult as this is to accomplish, lessen their fat intake and up the vegetable consumption. 

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