Seborrhea is a skin disease that is characterized by the formation of whitish spots on the scalp, face, and body. The disease can be triggered by a violation of the sebaceous glands, hormonal imbalance, weakened by immunity. Seborrhea on a child’s head is diagnosed at different ages. As a rule, its symptoms are found in infants and adolescents during puberty.
Causes
If we take into account the statistical data, it follows that children of any age group may encounter seborrhea. The main provoking factor is the failure of the hormonal system. The most dangerous period is the puberty (12-16 years). Violation of the sebaceous glands may be due to:
- Puberty. At the age of 12-16 years, hormonal changes in the body occur.
- Congenital disorders of hormone production.
- Mental illness: schizophrenia, epilepsy, etc.
- Long-term use of certain medications: anabolic steroids, glucocorticosteroids, testosterone.
- Hereditary factor. Often, the causes of seborrhea of the scalp in children are associated with a genetic predisposition.
The following factors can provoke seborrheic dermatitis in newborns :
- Sweating. Many new parents make a common mistake. They confuse children when this is not necessary. Against the background of overheating, the baby has skin problems.
- Improperly balanced diet of the mother who is breastfeeding. The use of cosmetics with additives that provoke an allergic reaction.
The pathogenic effect is also characteristic of the yeast-like fungi Pityrosporum ovale. Under the influence of the above factors, their increased activity and reproduction are observed. Amid increased production of sebum, the amount of Pityrosporum ovale increases. In order to prevent seborrhea of the scalp in a child (pictured above), it is necessary to take into account what causes it and monitor its health during potentially dangerous periods (during hormonal restructuring, at the time of treatment with certain medications).
Symptomatology
It is not always possible to immediately recognize the ailment, since the clinical picture of the disease is identical to the symptoms of other skin pathologies. Often, parents confuse seborrhea on the child’s head (pictured) with dandruff. As a result, the disease takes on a neglected form, the treatment of which can last more than one month. It should be borne in mind that infant seborrhea is characterized by increased production of sebum and a change in its composition. Among the main symptoms of seborrhea on the child’s head are:
- hardening of the stratum corneum;
- shine of the skin;
- peeling;
- itchy skin;
- hair loss and weakening;
- dandruff.
The main symptom of seborrhea of the scalp is greasy yellow scaly crusts. You can find them not only in the head area, often they cover the places behind the ears, inguinal folds, bends of the arms and legs. If the disease is neglected, a number of other uncharacteristic symptoms may appear in the child. The baby has a loss of appetite, anemia, upset stool. Against the background of weakened immunity and inadequate care, infection may not be excluded. In this case, the symptoms of seborrhea will be more pronounced. It will also require long-term treatment.
Important! Many parents often confuse a healing fontanel in a child, on the surface of which a crust appears, with seborrhea. If you have doubts about the diagnosis, you should consult a pediatrician about this.
Classification
Depending on what caused the malfunction of the sebaceous glands, and the symptoms of the disease, the pathology is divided into three types.
Fatty seborrhea. The main causes of oily seborrhea on the head of a child are associated with vegetoneurosis, hormonal changes in the body. A disease proceeding in this form can manifest itself with the following symptoms:
- hair loss
- the appearance of acne, acne;
- oily sheen on the skin of the face.
Dry seborrhea. The causes of seborrhea of this type include decreased sebum production against the background of a weakened immune system, malnutrition, intense sports and excessive emotional stress. Characteristic symptoms include:
- scales of dandruff on the head;
- peeling on the face;
- dry and brittle hair.
Mixed seborrhea. With a mixed form of seborrhea, fatty and dry type symptoms may occur. If the disease is triggered by a malfunction of the sebaceous glands and an inflammatory process is observed, the doctor will diagnose seborrheic dermatitis.
Diagnostics
Treatment of seborrhea in children on the head should be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician. When the first signs of this disease appear, you should immediately contact a doctor. To make a final diagnosis, the doctor will clarify with parents what factors could provoke the ailment. In addition, you will need to pass a number of specific tests. When the final diagnosis is made, the doctor will draw up a treatment regimen for seborrhea, which may include the use of medications and folk remedies.
Possible complications
If you do not conduct timely treatment of seborrhea in children on the head, the disease can develop into a neglected form. Uncleaned sebaceous ducts will interfere with normal metabolism. Accumulation of deposits will occur in them, the wound will increase in size and begin to rot, and therefore solid abscesses will form, for which it will be necessary to take antibiotics.
Treatment
Before proceeding with the treatment of seborrhea of the scalp of a child, it is necessary to examine and make sure that there are no mechanical damage or signs of infection on the skin. If during the examination inflammatory spots, pustules and pustules were found, you should immediately consult a doctor. In the fight against seborrhea, you can use hypoallergenic shampoo and water. To remove crusts from the surface of the skin, you need to thoroughly wash your hair. Do not peel away dead areas with your nails, as this can lead to the appearance of microcracks, which will become the entrance gate to the infection. If this happens, the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics and injections of B vitamins, ascorbic acid.
As for antifungal drugs, children aged 4-5 years are contraindicated. For enteral use, the following can be prescribed:
- fungicidal preparations (enter the fight against pathogenic fungi);
- vitamins and fortifying drugs;
- biogenic stimulants;
- sedatives (in the case of neurosis and increased irritability).
For external use, you can use:
- shampoos in which zinc and antifungal agents are present;
- Vidal milk;
- sulsen soap ;
- sulfuric ointment;
- vegetable oil.
The therapeutic effect is observed from complex treatment involving physiotherapeutic procedures. As the latter fit:
- darsonvalization;
- cryomassage;
- ozone therapy.
Shampoos and creams
The following shampoos and creams can be used to treat seborrhea on the head of a 5-year-old child:
- Keto Plus. Shampoo with antifungal effect, zinc and ketoconazole are in the list of components. With it, you can remove peeling and itching, normalize the function of the sebaceous glands. The substances included in the shampoo inhibit the reproduction of dermatophytes.
- "Dermazole". The tool is presented in the form of a cream and shampoo. It has an antifungal effect. With prolonged use, the synthesis of androgens decreases. The course of treatment is 2-4 weeks.
- “Skin Cap” is a dermatoprotective agent. Available in the form of shampoo, cream, aerosol. It has an antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. This tool can also be used for children from 12 months.
Folk remedies
If seborrhea of the scalp is observed in children 2-3 years old, 15 minutes before bathing, the places with peeling should be treated with natural warm vegetable oil. A ready-made children's cosmetic product or olive oil is suitable. The same procedure must be carried out for a newborn baby. When bathing in the bath, it is recommended to add herbal infusions and decoctions. As raw materials, you can use hop cones, oak bark, tansy, chamomile.
For older children (5-10 years), special dandruff shampoos are suitable. The therapeutic effect is observed when washing the hair with soap. With seborrhea of the scalp, you need to rub diluted aloe juice, castor oil, an egg into the skin. For the treatment of seborrhea in adolescents, means for washing and shampooing with a more powerful effect can be used. An excellent result gives a mixture of onion juice, vodka and castor oil. All components are taken in equal proportions (2 tbsp. L.). Rub into the skin an hour before water procedures.
Head seborrhea in children is not considered a dangerous disease, but it needs timely and comprehensive therapy. To protect the child from this ailment, it is necessary to prevent the influence of provoking factors.
Diet
In addition to treatment using special drugs, it is also necessary to pay attention to a balanced diet. The menu should contain fresh fruits, vegetables, foods rich in fiber, dairy products. At the time of therapy, you should not give your child salty, fatty and spicy dishes. Follow the principles of proper nutrition is also necessary to prevent seborrhea.
Who to contact?
If parents suspect that the child has seborrhea, they should definitely contact the doctors. In the case of a newborn, a visit to the local pediatrician will be required. An older child can be taken to a dermatologist.
Preventative measures
To exclude seborrhea of the scalp in children, it is necessary to control the work of the sebaceous glands. First of all, it is necessary to provide skin and hair with appropriate care. If the child is sick with one of the diseases that provoke seborrhea, it is necessary to deal with their treatment on time. It is also important to prevent overdose of drugs in which testosterone, progesterone, etc. are present.
To strengthen the immune system of the child, it is necessary to undergo a course of vitamin therapy. You should not wrap your baby in warm clothes if this is not necessary, as this will lead to excessive sweating.
If a woman is breastfeeding, she should remove foods with high fat content from the diet. The menu of the child should be balanced. It is necessary to eliminate fatty, salty, flour and sweet dishes from it. Preference should be given to fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy products. As care products, hypoallergenic cosmetics can be used. Frequent and long walks in the fresh air, physical education will help strengthen the child’s health.
Particular attention should be paid to personal hygiene: regularly conduct water procedures. Despite the fact that seborrhea is not a dangerous disease, you need to be able to recognize its symptoms on time in order to see a doctor and conduct treatment in a timely manner. If the child does not have congenital pathologies and does not suffer from allergies, compliance with preventive measures will help to avoid the development of the disease.