Avoid complications, following how to treat seborrheic dermatitis in infants

The baby's scalp must be smooth and delicate. But it's common for babies whose scalps have a yellowish scab, like a scar. This disease, known as seborrheic dermatitis, certainly causes panic among the elderly.

Not only the scalp, but also the forehead, around the eyebrows and behind the ears. This condition is actually quite often found in infants under one year of age. Although the comfort of a baby is generally not shy, he still has to handle it.

Recognize the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis in infants

Head crust or seborrheic dermatitis is a common type of skin inflammation in infants. The indication is the appearance of yellowish or brownish crust on the skin with many sebaceous glands, such as the scalp and skin folds.

Crust may begin to appear in infants around two weeks old. In general, the crust is in the area of the head covered by hair. In addition to the scalp and skin folds, crust can also extend to the baby's face and skin covered by diapers.

In addition to crust, reddish skin folds and wet skin layers can also appear. Although it is worrying for parents, seborrheic dermatitis does not cause itching or pain that disturbs the comfort of the baby. His appearance will also decrease with age as your child grows.

Why does seborrheic dermatitis appear in infants?
In fact, the cause of seborrheic dermatitis in infants is unclear. Some of the suspected factors are a combination of the effects of sebaceous gland activity, metabolism of skin microflora, and the susceptibility of each individual.

Especially in neonates, the suspected cause is hyperactivity of the sebum gland due to the influence of maternal hormones during the baby's life in the womb. This sebum gland produces oil which causes the formation of dead skin cells attached to the baby's scalp.

It is also suspected that the presence of Malassezia fungus on the skin has an impact on the occurrence of seborrheic dermatitis in infants. This fungus affects the activity of the sebaceous glands to secrete fatty acids.

The Malassezia mushroom then uses saturated fatty acids as a food source and leaves unsaturated fatty acids on the surface of the skin. As a result, it will cause crust.

Seborrheic dermatitis dangerous to babies?

Although seborrheic dermatitis usually does not interfere with the comfort of the baby, there is a risk of seborrheic dermatitis rash in the skin folds or diapers if left untreated. .

In very rare cases, seborrheic dermatitis can spread and get worse. This condition can indicate the presence of Leiner disease in infants. When this happens, it is thought that immune system disorders are the cause.

Manipulation and treatment of head crust in infants

Handling to remove head crust in babies is actually not difficult. Some things parents can do include:

Apply olive oil or petrolatum to the baby's scalp and let it work for an hour. After the crust has softened, rub gently so that it falls from the skin. Parents can use their fingers or a soft bristled toothbrush to rub the crust of the baby's head.
Wash your baby every day by gently rubbing his scalp until he falls.
If baby shampoo is less effective in treating crust and you want to use shampoo containing ketoconazole in your baby, you should consult your doctor first. Likewise, if you want to use an antifungal cream that can treat seborrheic dermatitis in the skin folds and diapers.

Don't worry too much if your baby has seborrheic dermatitis, see your doctor immediately and avoid complications by keeping the skin clean and taking the easy steps above to treat crust on your head.