What causes scabs on newborn's head?

The birth of a new life brings joy to the whole family. However, some newborns have scabs on their heads, which catches many new mothers off guard. So why do scabs appear on newborns’ heads? Will scabs on a newborn’s head affect the newborn’s development? Let’s take a look at it together below.

Generally, seborrheic dermatitis is related to the maternal estrogen being transferred to the fetus through the placenta, resulting in increased sebum in the newborn. Vitamin B2 deficiency can also lead to it. Yellow scabs on the baby's scalp generally indicate hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands. It is characterized by a oily, greasy and shiny scalp with a lot of desquamation. It is more likely to occur in areas with developed sebum. It is a chronic inflammation that occurs on the basis of sebum secretion. The lesions are bright red or yellow-red patches with greasy scales or scabs on the surface.

The formation of cradle cap is closely related to parents' fear of washing their children's hair and regarding the fontanelle as a "forbidden zone". The sebaceous glands on the baby's scalp secrete very actively. If the secretions are not cleared in time, they will accumulate with the dirt on the scalp and form a thick layer of scab over time. If the child's scalp is cleaned frequently, cradle cap will not form. By the way, touching the child's fontanelle when washing his hair will not hurt the child's brain, as the fontanelle is not a "forbidden zone".

Cleaning scabs is the focus of care. Be careful not to wash with soap. You can apply glycerin, vegetable oil or Johnson's moisturizing oil on the scab. Wait for two hours until the scab softens and then wash it with baby shampoo. After washing, you can apply ointment containing antibiotics or hormones, such as Fuqingsong or beclomethasone propionate ointment plus bran oil ointment, dehumidifying oil, 1% chloramphenicol resorcinol tincture, sulfur new cream, etc. Apply more moisturizer, wait for the scab to soften, then gently wash or wipe it off. Don't expect to remove it completely in one go. Wash it more often, do it several times, and be gentle. Don't use brute force to remove it, as that can easily hurt the baby's scalp. Don't be anxious, be patient!

Be gentle.

The above article introduces in detail the reasons why scabs appear on newborns' heads and the treatment methods for scabs on newborns' heads. I believe everyone understands. So when there is a new mother around us who is worried about scabs on her newborn's head, we must tell her not to worry and tell her the treatment method. Let her remove the scab for the baby. But new mothers should not be anxious. They must wash gently and be patient when washing the scabs on the newborn's head, otherwise it will hurt the baby.