Your child may have a dry patch on his head for many reasons. He may suffer from dry skin that is caused by dry air or lack of moisture. He may also have a medical condition that requires treatment. Some medical reasons for dry scalp include cradle cap, eczema and psoriasis. Your doctor or dermatologist can assist you in determining what is causing your child’s dry scalp.
Symptoms of Dry Scalp
You may notice dry skin on your child’s head by spotting some dry flakes of skin on the scalp or hair. You may even spot some redness on her scalp. If your child’s hair is thick, you may not easily see her scalp but the dry flakes should be noticeable.
She may try to scratch at her scalp often if the dry patch is itching. Too much scratching may result in the area becoming irritated and even cracked.
Causes of Dry Scalp
There are many reasons your child may have dry patches on his head, including the following:
- dry air (lack of moisture in the air) which is common during the winter months
- cradle cap: This commonly affects infant but can continue into older childhood. Excess collection of skin cells builds up on scalp and may be yellowish in appearance.
- eczema: Affecting 10 to 20 percent of children, eczema causing itchy rashes and often requires medical treatments and preventative therapy.
- psoriasis, another skin condition that sees a build-up of dead skin cells. This skin is usually grey or silver in appearance.
Treatments for Dry Scalp
Your child may need medical treatment, depending on the cause of dry skin on his scalp. You may be able to treat it at home with moisturizing shampoos and even lotions. For more severe medical conditions, your doctor may prescribe a special shampoo and even oral treatment options.
Complications Surrounding Dry Scalp
If your child scratches the dry patch on her scalp too much, it may become infected. Infections often require medical intervention.
Prevention of Dry Scalp
Moisturizing shampoos are beneficial in bringing some moisture back onto your child’s scalp. For certain medical conditions, you may need to use prescribed medications to keep the dry patch under control and to prevent flare-ups.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
References:
MayoClinic.com. "Cradle Cap "(accessed October 25, 2010)
Royal Children’s Hospital of Melbourne. "Knowing Your Child’s Eczema "(accessed October 25, 2010)
National Psoriasis Foundation. "Specific Locations: Scalp" (accessed October 25, 2010)
Tamara Laschinsky - Health and wellness advocate, author, researcher and owner of Natural e GREEN: Natural Health & Wellness store!
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