What to do if your three-year-old baby has dandruff

Dandruff is a common problem for babies, but it is not a normal problem. This may indicate that the child has been infected with bacteria and needs to be treated promptly. If not treated in time, it will have a certain impact on the child's scalp health and even the skin health of other parts of the body. Next, I will introduce to you how to deal with baby’s dandruff!

1. What to do if your baby has dandruff

Dandruff, also known as pityriasis capitis, is caused by infection with Pityrosporum ovale, a resident parasite in the human body. The massive reproduction of Malassezia on the scalp causes excessive proliferation of the stratum corneum of the scalp, thereby promoting abnormal shedding of stratum corneum cells in the form of white or gray scales. The shed scales are dandruff. The scalp bacteria rate in the normal population is as high as about 50%. The main symptoms of dandruff are scalp itching, dandruff-like shedding of the scalp layers, and sometimes erythema or folliculitis.

The most commonly used medicine for treating dandruff is to wash your hair with 2% ketocarbazole shampoo. When washing your hair, rinse it with clean water first, then apply 2% ketocarbazole shampoo, and rinse the medicine off after about 10 minutes. In addition, towels and washbasins used by children should also be frequently washed with boiling water and exposed to the sun. To prevent reinfection, it is best to buy a set of hairdressing tools yourself, cut your child's hair at home, and try to go to the barber shop as little as possible. Because the hairdressing tools, towels, etc. in the barber shop are shared, if they are not disinfected immediately after each use, cross-infection will occur.

2. What is the cause of dandruff?

Dandruff is caused by the destruction of the ecological balance of the scalp. In fact, a healthy scalp ecological environment is maintained by three major balances: oil, flora, and metabolic balance. When the oil secretion of the scalp is unbalanced, the scalp will become oily; when the scalp flora environment is unbalanced and harmful bacteria multiply in large numbers, itching will occur; and when the scalp stratum corneum metabolizes too quickly and falls off, dandruff is formed.

The scalp is the natural barrier of the head, the most important command and control center of the human body. Its fragility and sensitivity are second only to the eyelids. It can be said that a single move can affect the entire body. Scalp problems should not be underestimated and they also require health management. Only by comprehensive, systematic and scientific conditioning and maintenance of the scalp can we eliminate scalp problems such as oily scalp from the root and maintain the health of the scalp.

3. The mechanism of dandruff generation

Physiological dandruff is produced by the constant metabolism of our skin, scalp, and epidermal cells. The scalp is smooth and usually no obvious dandruff can be seen.

Pathological desquamation is a series of clinical diseases caused by excessive proliferation of scalp epithelial cells. Clinically, we classify different diseases according to the amount of dandruff and the shape of the skin lesions.

1. Seborrheic dermatitis: Seborrheic dermatitis is the main cause of dandruff. It often occurs in adults and manifests as thick, oily secretions on the scalp or dry hair.

2. Tinea capitis: It is generally thicker and more tightly attached to the scalp, and the surface is covered with silvery white scales, which are often distributed in patches.

3. Psoriasis: It is caused by microbial infection of the scalp and hair, manifested as dandruff and hair damage. In severe cases, it may be accompanied by inflammatory reactions. It is common in children and is mostly caused by poor hygiene habits.

4. Atopic dermatitis: manifested as diffuse dry dandruff on the scalp. It is common in children, usually accompanied by dry skin or eczema all over the body.