Are these flakes on my baby’s head dandruff?

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Don’t be alarmed if you notice flakes on your baby’s head! The most common cause of flakes on babies’ heads, eyebrows, or ears is a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis.

A more intense version of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis is a mild sloughing of the topmost layer of skin that is characterized by itching and flaking almost anywhere on the body, but particularly around oil-producing glands like

On the neck folds
Diaper area
Armpits
Head

Some cases of seborrheic dermatitis called “cradle cap,” can cause scaling, redness, yellow crusting, inflammation, or irritation. You haven’t done anything wrong if your baby develops seborrheic dermatitis. It’s not contagious or caused by inadequate care. Plus, it’s pretty easy to treat with a seborrheic dermatitis shampoo.

What If It’s Not Seborrheic Dermatitis?

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

Newborn skin peeling
Eczema
Ichthyosis
Psoriasis

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.

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
Knees

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.

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.

1 in 3 Babies Will Develop Seborrheic Dermatitis

If your baby has flakes on his head, it is most likely seborrheic dermatitis. 1 in 3 babies will develop this condition in the first year of life, which means about 1.4 million babies yearly. Seborrheic dermatitis is very easy to treat, making it a good diagnosis before jumping to more severe conditions. If your baby’s flakes worsen or worsen, consult your pediatrician.

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

Made with the active ingredient pyrithione zinc, Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo and Body Wash is designed to control seborrheic dermatitis. Happy Cappy is also:

Hypoallergenic
Fragrance-free
Non-irritating
Paraben-free

Gently wash your baby’s head daily with Happy Cappy’s Medicated Shampoo & Body Wash. Before rinsing, massage the scalp with your fingertips or a washcloth to help loosen the scales and flakes. After the scales fade, repeat the process every two to three days to help prevent a future flake build-up.

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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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What are the dandruff-like flakes on my baby’s scalp?

Flakes that look similar to those of dandruff can be caused by cradle cap on your baby’s scalp. It is a common skin condition in babies, also known as seborrheic dermatitis. It causes white and yellow flakes and crusty scales on the baby’s scalp.

What is the difference between dandruff and dry scalp flakes?

If the flakes on your or your baby’s scalp are thin and white, it could be due to a dry scalp. It is dandruff (or likely cradle cap) if you notice itching, redness, and thick yellow or white flakes.

What is the difference between cradle cap and dandruff?

Cradle cap usually causes yellow, thick, crusty scales on the scalp. It is more common in babies. The cradle cap flakes are usually oily and greasy.
However, dandruff causes small white flakes. These flakes are usually dry and easily come off from the scalp.

How do you clean a baby's flaky scalp?

To clean a baby’s flaky scalp,
1 Use a medicated shampoo to cleanse their scalp.
2 While shampooing, use your fingertips or a cradle cap brush to remove the flakes gently.
3 Wash the scalp with water to rinse out excess flakes.