How To Treat Eczema On Toddlers Scalp

When To See A Doctor Or Healthcare Provider

Scalp eczema may be chronic, but patients can successfully manage symptoms with the proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

If your condition is disrupting your life or causing you to be uncomfortable, embarrassed, or anxious, call your primary care provider or a provider specializing in skin conditions and make an appointment to be evaluated.

If your scalp begins to display red streaks, ooze pus, or crust over, that may be a sign of an infection that requires immediate medical intervention to address.

Also, if you have itchy skin and begin to develop a fever, tightness in your chest, cough, wheeze, begin to lose your voice, or have swelling or tingling in your face, tongue, lips, or throat, you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Dry Scalp Vs Cradle Cap

While a dry scalp may be noticeably drier, with white colored scales, cradle cap tends to cause oilier and crusty-looking scales. Cradle cap also tends to be yellowish or red in color.

Also, while cradle cap symptoms may appear on your babys face, not all underlying causes of dry scalp will spread to other parts of the body.

Once youve identified the cause of your babys dry scalp, its usually treatable at home.

Signs And Symptoms Of Toddler Eczema

Dermatologists have a saying: If its not itchy, its not eczema. These are some of the other hallmarks of eczema in toddlers:

• Dry, scaly, rough patches of skin that may appear red and inflamed
• Rash, which may have small, raised bumps that bleed or ooze when scratched
• Skin that becomes thick, dark, and leathery when excessively scratched

Eczema can occur on any part of the body, but in toddlers, its most likely to appear:

• In the creases of the knees and elbows
• On the wrists, hands, and ankles
• Around the mouth and eyelids

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Instructions To Soak And Seal

Dont limit moisturizing to just bath time. Slather it on your child throughout the day whenever their skin starts to itch or feel dry. Try using an ointment or a cream rather than a lotion and apply it with your palms, stroking lightly in a downward direction.

How Can You Help A Toddler With Their Eczema

Helping your toddler deal with the itch can go a long way in helping them manage their eczema. When you notice your toddler scratching, distract them with another activity, particularly one that keeps their hands busy, like coloring.

You can also try wet wrapping the affected skin to help alleviate the itch and keep little hands from getting at the rash.

Wet wrapping involves wrapping the skin with a cloth or bandage dressing thats first moistened with warm water. When the wrap is in place, apply a dry cloth or dressing over the wet one.

Clothing can act as another barrier between your child and their eczema. If your child has eczema around their elbows, dress them in long sleeves when possible. If its on their legs, try long pants.

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What Are Some Of The Common Symptoms

It is important that one should be able to identify some of the common symptoms of scalp eczema. While eczema may be caused due to dry, flaky skin it is also possible that it may affect areas that are oily like the nose, face, and eyelids. This may cause a discoloration of the affected area as well.

Will My Baby Have Eczema All Her Life

In some babies with atopic dermatitis, the condition stays put. But, fortunately, eczema clears up in many babies by the time they turn 4 years old.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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How Can Parents Help

Help prevent or treat eczema by keeping your child’s skin from getting dry or itchy and avoiding triggers that cause flare-ups. Try these suggestions:

• Kids should take short baths or showers in warm water. Use mild unscented soaps or non-soap cleansers and pat the skin dry before putting on cream or ointment. Teens should use unscented makeup and oil-free facial moisturizers.
• Ask your doctor if it’s OK to use oatmeal soaking products in the bath to help control itching.
• Kids should wear soft clothes that “breathe,” such as those made from cotton. Wool or polyester may be too harsh or irritating.
• Keep your child’s fingernails short to prevent skin damage from scratching. Try having your child wear comfortable, light gloves to bed if scratching at night is a problem.
• Kids should avoid becoming overheated, which can lead to flare-ups.
• Kids should drink plenty of water, which adds moisture to the skin.
• Get rid of known allergens in your household and help your child avoid others, like pollen, mold, and tobacco smoke.
• Stress can make eczema worse. Help your child find ways to deal with stress .

What Causes Or Triggers Atopic Dermatitis On The Head

Psoriasis

Like Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition which is likely also to be genetic and linked to a compromised immune system. Rare in babies and children, Psoriasis most commonly effects adults and appears on the scalp. It is distinctive in appearance with inflamed skin overlaid by silvery scales. In severe cases it can cause hair loss. Find out more in Psoriasis.

Contact Dermatitis:

Contact Dermatitis is caused by skin reacting to something external that it is, or has been, in contact with. Contact Dermatitis on the scalp is caused by a reaction to the chemicals in some shampoos, hair dyes or other hair grooming products. It may be that you are allergic to those ingredients or that they just irritate your skin.

Though not a skin condition, another common cause of an itchy scalp in children between the ages of three and twelve is head lice. Extremely contagious, lice are easy to treat and, once diagnosed , your pharmacist will be able to recommend an appropriate treatment.

You can find out more about the symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis, and about how they differ on different parts of the body, in Facial Atopic Dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis on the eyelids, Atopic Dermatitis on the hands and Atopic Dermatitis on different parts of the body.

If you are in any doubt as to which condition you have, or your or your childs skin is in any way troubling you, consult your doctor for a diagnosis and for treatment advice.

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Key Points About Atopic Dermatitis In Children

• Atopic dermatitis is a long-term skin condition. It’s common in babies and children.

• A child with allergies or family members with atopic dermatitis has a higher chance of having atopic dermatitis.

• Itching, dryness, and redness are common symptoms.

• The goals of treatment are to ease itching and inflammation of the skin, increase moisture, and prevent infection.

• Staying away from triggers is important to manage the condition.

• It usually gets better or goes away as a child gets older.

Prevention Of Scalp Eczema

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that any intervention will decrease the chances of having scalp eczema in babies. Regardless, general practices such as maintaining good hygiene of the baby, keeping baby in good health, avoiding contact with any allergen, etc. can help prevent eczema flare ups to some extent.

Some doctors advise avoiding shampoo for children under one year. There is concern that it can dry and irritate the skin. If you decide to get shampoo for our child, make sure its a gentle shampoo and works well with eczema. I personally use the Mustela Foam Shampoo, which works well for my child and it is very gentle. Of course, talk to your physician first.

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How To Help Prevent Scalp Eczema Flare

The severity of seborrheic dermatitis may be lessened by controlling risk factors and triggers, and taking care of the skin.

To manage scalp eczema and help prevent flare-ups, do your best to follow these recommendations:

• Avoid exposure to any suspected irritants and allergens.
• Clean your scalp thoroughly, but avoid drying it out by using only a quarter-sized dollop of a gentle shampoo and warm, never hot, water.
• Manage stress well.
• Shampoo your hair after sweating heavily, such as after a workout, since perspiration can be a trigger.

Scalp eczema often responds to treatment, but it also often returns. For some people, exposure to the sun may improve symptoms.

Be on the lookout for signs of a flare-up and start treatment right away.

What Is Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is a harmless skin condition that appears as yellow scaly patches surrounded by a red rash on the scalp of babies. About 7 out of 10 babies develop cradle cap between two and six weeks of birth.

Your baby is not in any danger. Cradle cap has no negative effects on your babys general health and doesnt affect sleep or feeding. It usually disappears over a period of weeks or months and typically isnt seen after 12 months of age.

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Where On The Body Can Eczema Appear

Eczema can appear in any area where your child has come into contact with one of their triggers.

For example, if they have a grass allergy and rolled around in the backyard, they might have rashes anywhere there was exposed skin.

A child could get eczema around the outside of their mouth after eating acidic foods, like pineapple, or in the folds of their skin if they were sweating.

If your child had eczema as a baby, you might think youre a pro at identifying it. However, the symptoms of eczema in toddlers are actually different from the symptoms in babies. As kids get older, the location of their rashes can change.

Babies are prone to rashes on their faces and heads remember cradle cap? Thats a kind of eczema! Toddlers and older kids are more likely to get eczema in the following areas:

• creases of their elbows

Risk Factors And Triggers

Although anyone can develop eczema at any age, symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis most often affect infants, or people 30-60 years old.

For adults, scalp eczema can be triggered by stress, hormonal changes, exposure to cold or dry air or changing temperatures, certain medications, and exposure to strong fragrances, dyes, or other irritants.

Certain chronic diseases put you at higher risk for developing eczema:

• Wool, polyester, nylon, and nickel
• Stress
• Hormonal changes

Those who regularly work with chemicals or come into contact with cosmetics, nickel, harsh soaps, fragrances, or poison ivy are also at risk for irritant or allergic contact dermatitis.

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What Causes Atopic Dermatitis In A Child

The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is not known. But some things are linked to it. They include:

• Genes. This skin problem can be passed on from parents to a child.

• Immune system. An immune system that isnt fully developed may affect how much protection the skin can give.

• External factors. These include being in winter weather, using hot water for bathing, using soap, and being in dry, hot temperatures.

A Misdiagnosis On Our Part

When we spoke to her pediatrician about it, she corrected our diagnosis. She had mild eczema, not ringworm. When we asked the doctor about the athletes foot cream, she told us that the moisture from the cream helped the eczema calm down for a bit but that we would have to go another direction to keep the eczema under control.

Eczema is common in children from six months to five years of age, but the cause is unknown. It is not contagious and there is no cure, but you can work with your doctor to keep the symptoms under control. It affects about 20% of all children.

Because our daughter has a mild case, we do not need any prescriptions yet. We got some suggestions from the pediatrician and went on the hunt for the best products to keep our babys skin baby bum soft and healthy.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Atopic Dermatitis In A Child

Symptoms may come and go, or occur most or all of the time. Any area of the body may be affected. In babies, symptoms usually affect the face, neck, scalp, elbows, and knees. In children, symptoms usually affect the skin inside the elbows, on the back of the knees, the sides of the neck, around the mouth, and on the wrists, ankles, and hands.

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They can include:

• Dry, scaly skin

• Pale skin on the face

• Small, raised bumps that may become crusty and leak fluid if scratched

• Rough bumps on the face, upper arms, and thighs

• Darkened skin of eyelids or around the eyes

• Skin changes around the mouth, eyes, or ears

• Raised, red areas

The symptoms of atopic dermatitis can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Natural Remedies For Baby Eczema

If you need some extra help soothing babys skin, these natural eczema treatments may make things better.

• Wet a washcloth. Drape cool, wet washcloths or gauze over your babys irritated skin for five to ten minutes at a time or however long you can get your squirmy worm to cooperate.
• Try an oatmeal bath. Sprinkle a bit of uncooked oatmeal, colloidal oatmeal or even baking soda into the tub when you wash your baby. All can naturally relieve eczema and irritation.
• Combat dry air. Running a cool-mist humidifier in your baby’s bedroom can help keep her skin super-hydrated. Clean it frequently to prevent bacteria and mold buildup.
• Dress your little one in layers. Sweating can reboot the eczema cycle, and thats the last thing you want. Layers let you customize babys outfit for toasty temps.
• Ask your pediatrician about probiotics. Studies are underway to see whether probiotics may ease eczema when added to dry baby formula or served as a dietary supplement. Get your doctor to weigh in before giving it a go.

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Tips For Preventing Flare

• Learn what factors may contribute to your scalp symptoms, and limit your contact or avoid them entirely.
• Wash your hair with warm not hot or cold water. Both hot and cold water can dry out your scalp and cause irritation.
• Use gentle shampoos, conditioners, styling creams, gels, and even hair dye. If you can, choose fragrance-free versions.
• If stress is a trigger, speak with a doctor about using stress-reduction techniques. This may mean breathing exercises, meditation, or journaling.
• Avoid scratching if youre having a flare-up. This can make your symptoms worse.

Effective Home Remedies For Eczema On Scalp

Eczema is a common skin condition that affects people of all ages. It is often referred to as seborrheic dermatitis found, for the most part, on the scalp. This form of dermatitis is commonly known as dandruff. However, if one invests some time, energy, and effort, this condition can be controlled at home with the help of home remedies for eczema on the scalp.

Scalp eczema is often characterized as a stubborn form of skin condition since it may persist for years. The condition may resurface after a number of years and may disappear overnight. For this reason, it is important to manage the symptoms of this form of eczema since it is not completely curable like other conditions.

Contents

• 1.2 Home remedies for eczema on scalp

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Scalp Eczema Vs Dandruff

Dandruff is a common skin condition with symptoms limited to the scalp, hairline, eyebrows, and facial hair.

It can result in an itchy scalp or scaly, crusty patches on the skin that flake off when they are scratched.

In general, dandruff causes small, dry flakes, but not the thick, greasy patches and flakes of scalp eczema.

However, there is some overlap.

Most dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, but occasionally, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, or other skin conditions like ringworm or psoriasis cause similar symptoms.

Try The Following Home Remedy For Cradle Cap:

• National Eczema Association | 505 San Marin Drive, #B300 | Novato, CA 94945
• 415-499-3474 or 800-818-7546

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When Should I Take My Child To The Doctor For Their Eczema

If you think your child might have eczema, make an appointment with your pediatrician. A trained eye can tell the difference between eczema and other skin conditions.

Speak to your childs doctor right away if skin appears infected , if the eczema seems painful and blistered, or if it’s preventing your child from sleeping or is just generally making them miserable.