Are these Flakes on my Baby’s Head Dandruff?

Don’t be alarmed if you notice flakes on your baby’s head! Flaking is as common in babies as it is in adults. When you first witness those white tiny flakes on your baby’s scalp, you would presume they are dandruff. But is it actually dandruff?

The truth is there are many skin conditions that can cause flakes on a baby’s scalp while the most common cause is seborrheic dermatitis. Read this blog to discover what might be causing those flakes on your baby’s scalp and how to get rid of them. 

Are those Flakes Dandruff?

The flakes you may have noticed on your baby’s scalp are a more intense version of dandruff–“seborrheic dermatitis.” This condition, more commonly known as Cradle Cap, is a mild sloughing of the topmost layer of skin that is characterized by itching and flaking that mostly appears on the scalp, however, it can also cause redness and inflammation on other parts of the body, particularly around oil-producing glands like:

• Eyebrows
• Around the nose
• Behind the ears
• In the skin folds
• Diaper area
• Armpits
• Head

Some other common symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis are:

• Scaling
• Redness 
• Crusting
• Greasy flakes
• Thick, yellow scales
• Inflammation
• Irritation 

The redness may appear as red or pink in babies with lighter skin tones and purple or brownish in babies with darker skin tones. 1 in 3 babies will develop this condition in the first year of life, which means about 1.4 million babies yearly. 

What Causes Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Now the question arises–what might be causing this oh-so-famous skin condition in babies?

Seborrheic dermatitis aka cradle cap is caused by a combination of factors such as 

• Hormonal changes
• Overproduction of sebum
• Overgrowth of Malassezia yeast

All of these factors come together to form those greasy thick flakes on your baby’s scalp.  

Don’t worry you haven’t done anything wrong if your baby develops seborrheic dermatitis. The fluctuation of hormones in the baby’s body after birth can trigger the production of sebum. Sebum is the natural oil on our skin that keeps it moisturized. 

The excess sebum provides a greasy environment to a fungus naturally present on our skin known as Malassezia yeast. This yeast feeds on the oil and grows at a much faster rate, which leads to a reaction on the skin and causes irritation, flaking, and redness associated with cradle cap. 

The good news is that it isn’t contagious or harmful to the baby’s health. Plus, it’s pretty easy to treat with a seborrheic dermatitis shampoo.

Other Conditions That Can Cause Flakes on the Baby’s Scalp

There are a few other potential causes for flakes on a baby’s head, including:

• Newborn skin peeling

It is almost universal that newborns will have thin, peeling, dry skin right after birth. However, unlike seborrheic dermatitis, newborn skin peeling won’t be concentrated in specific areas nor manifest in conjunction with thick crusting or discoloration. Also, newborn skin peeling is most common in the first 1 to 4 weeks of life, while seborrheic dermatitis mainly affects children from 1 to 12 months old.

• Eczema

If the flakes on your baby’s head were caused by eczema, there would also most likely be itchy, red, and dry spots on other parts of the body beyond the scalp, such as on the cheeks, elbows, and knees.

The itching, dryness, and irritation associated with eczema can be easily soothed by keeping the skin clean with an eczema shampoo and regularly moisturizing the skin with an eczema cream. 

• Dry Skin

Dry skin is another common skin condition that can cause flaking on the skin. It is caused when the skin lacks essential natural oil or moisture. Babies have sensitive skin which is why they are more prone to developing dry skin. 

The flakes caused by dryness are usually white in color, dry, and very small while the cradle cap flakes are thicker, greasy, and bigger. 

• Ichthyosis

Similarly, ichthyosis is a dry skin condition that occurs on large parts of the body. If it were ichthyosis, you would see flaking and dry skin on your baby’s body’s arms, legs, and even the whole trunk. It is essential to note– ichthyosis is rare.

• Psoriasis

Finally, if the head flakes were Psoriasis, you would see many other symptoms beyond flaking. Psoriasis would also cause sharply defined, red rashes with thick, white scales. Psoriasis is more common than ichthyosis but is rare in the first year after birth.

Soothe Your Baby’s Flakes

Seborrheic dermatitis, or “cradle cap,” isn’t something you cause or can prevent, but it is something you can quickly soothe. 

Medicated Shampoo

A medicated cradle cap shampoo is a great way to help calm cradle cap flaking.

One made with pyrithione zinc as an active ingredient is the best shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis. Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo and Body Wash is designed to eliminate flaking, scaling, irritation, and redness on the scalp and skin associated with seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.  It is also: 

• Hypoallergenic
• Fragrance-free
• Non-irritating
• Paraben-free 
• Sulfate-free
• Dye-free 

Gently wash your baby’s head daily with cradle cap medicated shampoo. Before rinsing, massage the scalp with your fingertips to help loosen the scales and flakes. Leave the shampoo on the baby’s scalp for a few minutes before rinsing it off. After the scales fade, repeat the process every two to three days to help prevent a future flake build-up.

Cradle Cap Brush

Most parents want to get rid of the flakes and scales fast, which is why they try to scrub them off or pick at scales. Both of these methods can be dangerous for the baby’s delicate skin. It can lead to skin damage, pain, and hair loss. 

However, you can use a soft-bristled cradle cap brush that is specially formulated for the baby’s sensitive skin to remove the flakes. Use it while the shampoo is still on the scalp, gently massage the skin in circular motions to get rid of the excess loose flakes. 

Conclusion

There are various skin conditions that can cause flakes on the baby’s scalp such as seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, Ichthyosis, psoriasis, newborn skin peeling, and dry skin. However, seborrheic dermatitis is the most common one in them, and parents often confuse it with dandruff.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a more severe form of dandruff that can cause flaking and scaling on the scalp and eyebrows, and redness and inflammation on other parts of the body. Seborrheic dermatitis when appears in babies is known as cradle cap. 

Cradle cap may look bothersome, however, managing it is quite easy. All you have to do is wash your baby’s scalp and skin regularly with a medicated shampoo for cradle cap. If desired, pair it with a cradle cap brush to gently massage their scalp and remove the excess flakes. 

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Dr. Eddie Valenzuela

Dr. Eddie Valenzuela is an award winning pediatrician and the founder and CEO of Pediatric Solutions, LLC.

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