Seborrheic dermatitis in infants is a very common dermatological problem. Most cases of seborrheic dermatitis are not dangerous but make children uncomfortable, fussy, and affect their daily activities. The following article will provide readers with detailed information about the symptoms and effective treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in infants.

When they are born, the fragile skin of infants has not yet had time to fully develop and adapt to the external environment, so it is very susceptible to problems such as irritation and dermatitis. Of which, seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most common problems. Accordingly, up to 10% of infants under 1 month old and about 70% of infants under 3 months old have seborrheic dermatitis.

Although seborrheic dermatitis in infants is not too dangerous, if not treated properly, it will cause many consequences. Therefore, it is very necessary to have a firm grasp of the knowledge of recognizing and treating seborrheic dermatitis to avoid mistakes in the process of caring for children.

Signs of seborrheic dermatitis in infants

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common dermatological condition that occurs when the sebaceous skin area becomes inflamed. This condition can occur at any age, even in infants. Seborrheic dermatitis is usually benign but causes itching, discomfort and significantly affects aesthetics. Seborrheic dermatitis usually begins when the baby is 2 weeks old and gradually disappears after a few months if the skin area is properly cared for. However, there are still many cases of prolonged seborrheic dermatitis that require treatment with active medical intervention.

Seborrheic dermatitis can occur in many different areas of the skin.

Seborrheic dermatitis can occur in many different skin areas such as the scalp, face, neck, back, thighs, buttocks, etc. Of which, seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp (also known as cradle cap) and face is the most common.

Parents can recognize seborrheic dermatitis in infants through typical signs such as erythema, flaking or thick scales on the scalp and face. These scaly areas are often clearly limited to healthy skin, concentrated on the scalp, face, eyebrows, behind the ears, neck, armpits, groin, etc. The flaky patches can cause itching, a feeling of wetness like there is a greasy discharge that makes the hair sticky. Some cases of seborrheic dermatitis in infants also cause hair loss.

What are the causes of seborrheic dermatitis in infants?

To date, the cause of seborrheic dermatitis has not been specifically identified. However, many experts believe that seborrheic dermatitis may be due to the following factors:

• Maternal hormones: In addition to receiving nutrients, the fetus also receives hormones from the mother during pregnancy. These hormones are the factors that cause the body to increase oil production on the skin, leading to seborrheic dermatitis.
• Yeast: Active sebaceous glands along with wet sweat will create favorable conditions for yeast and bacteria to grow, causing dermatitis.
• Intolerance to lactose in milk: In some cases, children are intolerant to lactose in milk and dairy products, causing skin irritation and inflammation.
• Family history: If parents have a history of skin diseases, this is also one of the causes that increases the risk of seborrheic dermatitis in infants.

Children can get seborrheic dermatitis due to hormones from the mother during pregnancy.

How to care for and treat seborrheic dermatitis in infants?

Depending on the condition of seborrheic dermatitis in infants, the doctor will give different treatment regimens. Some commonly applied measures include using shampoo and topical medications to control scalp scales. In case of secondary infection, antibiotics may be needed. Therefore, parents should absolutely not arbitrarily use folk remedies or buy medications to apply to children.

Washing your hair properly will help soften and gradually remove the scales on the skin.

In addition, parents need to take some home care measures such as:

• Clean the skin area with seborrheic dermatitis properly with mild shampoo and shower gel.
• Wash your baby’s hair daily and apply emollient oil to the scales on the skin before washing. This will help the scales to peel off more easily. Note, it is necessary to completely clean the baby’s skin after using emollient oil to avoid the inflammation that can become serious.
• Remove the scales on the baby’s scalp by using a soft-bristled brush specifically for babies.
• Increase skin moisture to help reduce dryness and flaking. At the same time, help restore skin cells damaged by inflammation.
• Limit actions that damage the delicate skin of infants such as shaving, scratching the scales. When washing or massaging the baby, do it gently to avoid damaging the baby’s skin.
• Make sure the baby gets enough sleep every day, limit stress to limit the outbreak of seborrheic dermatitis symptoms.
• Regularly trim your child’s nails or wear gloves to limit the child from scratching and damaging the skin.
• For children who have started eating solid foods, avoid giving them foods that can easily cause irritation because they can make seborrheic dermatitis worse.

Here is some information about seborrheic dermatitis in infants. Hopefully, the above article will help parents gain more knowledge about this condition, reduce anxiety and have a scientific way to care for children with seborrheic dermatitis.