Skip to main content

Although Not Harmful, Head Crust in Babies Must Be Cleaned

Maybe you feel surprised when you see your baby's scalp looks like there is dandruff. No need to worry, what you see is head crust which is common in newborns. Although not dangerous, but this condition still needs to be treated. Head crust or cradle cap is a general term for seborrheic dermatitis in medical terms. Laymen know him by the term dandruff which is common in children and adults.

Marked Oily Scales

The crust of the head is characterized by the appearance of layers resembling scales which are oily and yellow in color, especially on the baby's scalp. This condition can also occur around the ears, eyebrows, baby's eyelids, or in the armpits and other body folds. The cause of the appearance of head crust is not known with certainty. However, this is not caused due to poor hygiene or allergies. Head crust may be caused by hormones that the baby receives from the mother at the end of pregnancy, which stimulates many baby oil-producing glands (sebaceous). Irritation due to fungus that grows on sebum is also considered a cause of the appearance of head crust. Generally the head crust can disappear without treatment within a few weeks or several months. In some children, this condition can last up to 2-3 years old. Although not contagious and not painful or cause itching, thick head crust may be difficult to remove from the baby's scalp.

Tips for Overcoming the Baby's Head Crust

To help reduce the buildup of crust on the scalp, here's what you can do for your little one:
  • Gently rub the scalp using your fingers or cloth to shed the crust. But, don't scratch his scalp. Wash your baby's hair using baby shampoo with a mild formulation. You can also use a special shampoo crust that is sold freely at pharmacies. Always read the usage instructions before using it.
  • If the crust does not go away, the doctor can give a special recommendation of dandruff shampoo containing antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole, but its use must be adjusted. It is not recommended to use dandruff shampoo containing salicylic acid in infants because it can be absorbed through the skin. Also make sure the shampoo does not enter the baby's eyes, to avoid irritation.
  • When using shampoo, clean the crust of the head attached to the hair using a small comb with a soft brush, then rinse with water. As an alternative, you can try giving petroleoum jelly or a few drops of mineral oil on the scalp. Leave it to sink in for a few minutes, or a few hours if necessary. Then comb, then clean and wash your little one as usual. Do not leave the oil too long in your baby's hair because it will worsen the crust of his head.
  • After the crust is gone, keep your little one's hair clean by shampooing regularly every few days to prevent crust buildup.
If you have tried to prevent and treat head crust, but the crust has not disappeared, or if there are other symptoms such as itching, swelling, bleeding, or crust that has spread to the face or body, immediately ask your doctor for help with treatment.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Black lines on the belly of pregnant women, what causes it and can disappear

Pregnant women, do you have dark lines that run from the pubic area to the navel or even through the navel? The line is called the pregnancy line or linea nigra. Actually, the line was there even before pregnancy, but the color is faint invisible. Actually linea nigra is something that is natural from pregnancy. However, some pregnant women may feel disturbed and are curious when and how this line can disappear, or at least be as vague as before pregnancy. Normal Conditions of Pregnancy During pregnancy, the skin also changes as other body parts of pregnant women. Skin problems of pregnant women, including stretched skin and color can also change. The stretched skin aims to compensate for the enlarged pregnant belly and belly. Meanwhile, pregnant belly lines that turn black occur due to high levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in pregnant women. Both of these hormones stimulate melanocyte cells in the skin to produce melanin, which is a dark skin pigment. This hormo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Can the vagina return to normal after delivery

If the mother gives birth to a baby normally through the vagina, the mouth of the vagina will widen so that the baby can pass through it. Naturally the size of the vagina after childbirth can change. It's likely to feel wider, looser, softer, more open, even accompanied by bruising or swelling. Do not be ashamed, changes in vaginal size are normal, as changes in the body of the mother after giving birth. In fact, this impact can be more felt on the Mother who gave birth to a big baby. However, the swelling and opening of the vagina will begin to decrease after a few days of giving birth. Depends on Various Factors However, whether the vagina will return to its original size before giving birth depends on a number of factors, including the size of the baby's mother, the number of children she has, genetics, and whether the mother does Kegel exercises regularly or not. In fact, the size of the vagina after childbirth will return smaller, although it may not completely retu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pregnant Women How To Overcome Jet Lag Due To Long Journey

Being pregnant does not mean that you cannot travel long distances by plane. However, you must be prepared with the possibility of experiencing jet lag. Although boarding a plane for pregnant women is considered safe, you should always consult with your doctor first, especially if there are health problems or problems in pregnancy. Some airlines issue their own policies for pregnant women who will fly. If you are more than 28 weeks pregnant, you may be asked to bring a doctor's certificate, to ensure safety during the flight. Long Distance Travel Jet lag generally occurs in people who travel by plane across several time zones, which causes the body's biological rhythm to be out of line with the new destination time. The biological rhythm is a circadian rhythm that helps the body know when to sleep and be awake. Jet lag can happen to anyone, pregnant women are no exception. Jet lag symptoms usually occur around 1-2 days after you travel across two time zones. Some jet lag...
Post a Comment
Read more