Peeling of the scalp in infants at 2-3 months
If the crusts on the head have no odor, there is no inflammation, this is considered normal
Parents should not panic or sound the alarm if they see that their baby’s head is peeling - this is a natural phenomenon. An exception may be the case when dryness is accompanied by other alarming symptoms.
The child developed for nine months surrounded by liquid, and after birth found himself in an air space. His skin begins to gradually adapt to the new environment. Dryness is a peculiar reaction.
Also, crusts appear against the background of active work of the sebaceous gland. Infants have much more sebaceous secretions, as they have a protective function. Block the penetration of infections, harmful bacteria and various viruses. By the age of one year, the performance of the gland is normalized and the unpleasant symptoms disappear without a trace or consequences.
Peeling skin in the groin of a newborn
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Fungus in baby's groin
After birth, the baby's skin adapts to the environment for a certain period of time. It reacts to new conditions by peeling, and the top layer of the epidermis can peel off from the palms, feet or other parts of the body. More attention should be paid to the appearance of such lesions in the groin area.
Postpartum adaptation may hide a fungus, which requires complex treatment and can provoke inflammation of the child’s genitourinary system. If you find that your child has peeling skin in the groin folds, it is advisable to immediately contact a pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist.
How to identify the pathogen
It is almost impossible not to notice peeling, but there are still certain criteria that help to accurately identify the problem. Symptoms that are considered normal:
- the presence of a white or yellow crust;
- absence of any odor;
- problem areas make you want to scratch;
- the flaked pieces of skin resemble dandruff.
If you have any disease, slight swelling and redness may appear. In some cases, ignoring the symptoms can lead to the crust moving from the head to other parts of the body. Situations like this require medical attention.
Features of the influence of external and internal factors
After bathing, the crusts are gradually combed out
Various factors can provoke the appearance of dry crusts. It is worth considering each case separately. External reasons include:
- Detergents. Soap and other care products contain a high content of chemicals and alkali. These components negatively affect the skin and cause excessive dryness. You should not resort to washing with soap and shampoo every day.
- Increased sweating occurs due to excessive wrapping. The child sweats, the hair becomes damp, irritation and flaking appear.
- Sun rays in large quantities negatively affect the baby’s skin, causing burns, which are accompanied by peeling. At sea, during walks, you should avoid direct contact with the sun.
- Synthetic bedding is the main irritant to a child's delicate skin. Only products made from natural, undyed fabric are suitable for babies.
- Powders and conditioners used when washing children's clothes can remain in the fabric, they provoke the appearance of peeling. It is worth giving preference to high-quality detergents that are designed specifically for children.
To make the scales separate faster, use an oil gel or cream
Dryness is often caused by other irritants, which are more difficult to identify. A newborn’s head peels for the following reasons:
- Allergy. The mother needs to carefully monitor her diet, as she has a physiological connection with the baby. While breastfeeding, do not consume potential allergens: citrus fruits, chocolate, bee honey and seafood, otherwise all this will immediately affect the baby’s skin.
- Individual intolerance to formula milk if the child is artificially fed. It’s worth trying a different brand, since the problem cannot be solved without removing the main irritant.
- Fungal diseases are very often accompanied by peeling, but the disease is rarely found in newborns; children from two years of age are more likely to experience it. The exception is congenital ichthyosis. Both problems require drug treatment.
- Intestinal problems and helminthiasis. With these pathologies, additional symptoms appear: redness, itching and rash.
Vitamin deficiency is also an internal cause of skin problems. This situation requires contacting a pediatrician. Giving vitamin complexes to a child on your own is strictly prohibited.
Moisturizer and minimal makeup
The main reasons are the baby’s adaptation to the environment. In the mother’s womb it was warm, moist, and the baby’s skin was protected – covered with natural lubricant. Having been born, the baby finds itself in an aggressive environment, and the skin, like the entire body, goes through an adaptation period, which is often characterized by peeling. Over time, the child will get used to clothes and dry air, and his skin will become smooth and silky. The main thing for parents is to follow the rules of hygiene: wash the baby and moisturize his skin after each bath with a special baby cream or lotion.
It is also important to monitor the general condition of the skin. If your child’s skin is simply peeling, but there is no redness or itching, then you don’t have to worry. This symptom will soon disappear. And if there is redness, it is better to seek advice from a specialist. Improper care often leads to the fact that the baby's skin begins to peel off. You should not add potassium permanganate solution, which is often used by young mothers, to a newborn’s bath. It dries out the skin very much. It is necessary to bathe the child in ordinary boiled water, and only on the recommendation of a doctor can a solution of certain herbs be added to the bath.
Because even such a harmless, at first glance, plant as chamomile is not suitable for all newborns; many have a severe allergy to it, which also manifests itself in problems with the skin. In addition, you should not be overzealous with the use of hygiene products.
It is enough to bathe the baby with special foam, soap or shampoo once a week. On other days, regular water is enough.
It often happens that babies are allergic to various bathing products. It is better to purchase them at a pharmacy.
Is it necessary to remove crusts from a baby's head?
If the skin becomes infected, antifungal ointments must be used.
The crusts, as a rule, go away on their own by one year, so there is no need to do anything to eliminate them. According to pediatrician Komarovsky, measures should be taken in the following cases:
- suppuration forms;
- an unpleasant odor appears;
- a weeping surface is formed with the release of ichor;
- there is redness and swelling around the crust.
These symptoms indicate that an infection has penetrated the skin. These cases require contacting a clinic.
Treatment for peeling skin
Seborrheic dermatitis requires longer treatment
Peeling needs to be treated if it is caused by any disease. All other cases do not need this; it is enough to carry out the treatment twice a day. You can use the old proven method:
- boil vegetable oil;
- cool it down;
- wipe problem areas on the head with a cotton pad soaked in oil.
The pharmacy has a wide selection of cosmetic mixtures for treating peeling skin. You can choose the oil taking into account your skin characteristics and individual intolerances.
Prevention of flaking of the scalp in infants
Preventive measures include strict adherence to the rules of hygiene and care.
- Do not use regular soap or gel for adults when bathing a newborn. It is better to use baby soap; it does not contain irritants or other substances dangerous to the baby.
- Water is pre-cleaned from chlorine, this is done by boiling, filtering or settling for several days. It is recommended to add herbal infusions as an emollient.
- After bathing, the head and body are dried with a soft towel, and the skin is treated with baby powder or special oil. If there is peeling on the baby's head, the crusts are combed out; for this you will need a soft brush without sharp metal teeth.
It is important to maintain a microclimate in the children's room that is comfortable for a newborn to live in. The temperature should be between 20-22 degrees, optimal humidity from 50 to 70%.
Causes of peeling
We have identified three main external factors that can cause a newborn to have severely flaky skin on the body and face.
- Dry air
. Too dry indoor air can not only cause peeling of the skin on a newborn’s body, but also cause constant thirst and increased secretion of mucus from the nasal passages. Dry skin in a newborn after birth is more susceptible to damage and pathogens.
What to do?
The air humidity in the room where the newborn is constantly located should be 55–70%. You can correct the situation by using a humidifier. If you don’t currently have a humidifier, you can place containers of water in the room, spray water from a spray bottle, and hang wet diapers. The main thing is to maintain adequate hydration. Air humidity is measured with a hygrometer. They are built into many humidifier models.
- Improper care
. Caring parents often begin to bathe their newborns in herbal infusions, a solution of potassium permanganate, or use soap with each bath. All these products dry out baby's skin, making it more vulnerable, including peeling, after which the baby's skin peels off.
What to do?
An infant should be bathed in boiled water, without adding herbal decoctions, infusions, potassium permanganate, or aromatic additives. Baby soap can be used no more than once a week. Be sure to pay attention to the skin reaction after such a bath. Later, when the child’s body adapts to external factors, decoctions of medicinal herbs can be added, provided that the child does not have an allergic reaction.
- Weather
. Wind, sun, rain - all this can cause peeling after a walk. If peeling occurs on the face, it is most likely a reaction to the weather.
What to do?
Provide protection from wind and sun while walking - a stroller with a deep canopy, a sun cape, rain film, closed clothing for the season - all this will help to avoid unwanted external influences during the baby’s adaptation period. If your newborn has peeling skin on his body, you can lubricate the exposed areas of the body with peach or olive oil before a walk. You need to go outside after the oil has been absorbed into the skin.
