Index
When we think of a little baby we instantly think of a tiny cutie in our arms that exhales a wonderful and own smell. But these cuties need a lot of care to always be clean and smelling like every baby should be. Included in this care are the hair and the head that must be properly treated and even then they are not always immune from the milk crust. The milk crust also popularly known for baby’s dandruff or pediatricians as seborrheic dermatitis is a very common condition in babies. It is produced in the fatter regions of the body and is generated by the sebaceous glands releasing large amounts of fatty secretions that cause crusts on the baby’s scalp.
It is not for lack of hygiene that the milky crust appears and not only on the head it can appear. There are cases where the scabs extend to the ears, eyebrows and nose. It is not a contagious problem, but it can be quite uncomfortable for the baby as it can cause itching and irritation. So the sooner the crust problem is treated, the less discomfort your baby will have. Care for treatment is simple and can be performed daily without major inconvenience. With the help of a little mineral oil or oil suitable for use on babies with a cotton pad, it should be spread over the affected area of the milk crust.
Let it act for a few minutes in order for the crusts to soften. If the scabs are too thick, you can also use liquid petroleum jelly with the help of a towel to soften even faster. When you see that they are already soft, wash the baby’s head with preferably neutral shampoo and with the help of a soft bristle comb. Swipe in all directions and gently so it doesn’t hurt your baby’s scalp. Do not forget to rinse your head well and remove any residue that was left on the wires. The procedure should be repeated at least 3x a week so that the entire scalp is perfectly clean.
The milk crust problem usually occurs in the first days of life and persists on average until nine months of age. But if even after all the indicated care, the problem continues to aggravate causing total irritability for the baby, consult a pediatrician who will assess the condition and indicate the appropriate solution.
Seborrheic dermatitis na Face
As already mentioned above, babies may have problems with head dermatitis and some other areas considered oily. But there are some more aggravating cases where seborrheic dermatitis affects the baby’s and child’s face area, causing great irritability and discomfort. The treatment for removal is similar to that of the scalp, mineral oil or baby oil should be used with the help of cotton to moisten the crusts, but as it is a delicate area, it must be removed during the bath with the tips of the fingers delicately. After bathing, dry with a soft towel and taking care not to hurt the baby.
A very important warning is that the scabs should never be removed with the help of the nail, as the problem can get even worse causing an infection on the skin. Some cases end up getting so bad that they can only be solved with the use of antibiotics and ointments based on low and medium potency corticosteroids. Remembering that any medication, whether oral or in cream, should only be used under medical prescription and after evaluation of the condition.
See also: Baby Skin Allergy – What Can It Be?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
