What’s Causing the Flakes on My Kids Eyebrows?

Spotting flakes on your kid’s eyebrows might be strange and unsettling, but it doesn’t mean you have any major reason to worry. The most common causes of eyebrow flakes in children aren’t a big deal and are either easy to treat or go away on their own.

Double-check with your child’s doctor, but the flakes on your kid’s eyebrows could be due to seborrheic dermatitis.

Are Those Flakes on Eyebrows Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is, in the simplest terms, a case of extreme dandruff. It’s an inflammatory skin condition that pops up on the head, eyebrows, forehead, nose, and neck folds and causes symptoms including:

• Flaking
• Itchy skin
• Patches of crusty and flaky skin
• Yellow scales
• Redness (red on lighter skin tones and purple or brown on darker skin tones)
• Greasy skin
• Inflammation

Seborrheic dermatitis is very common in toddlers and babies. In fact, it affects about 42% of children, which is why it’s the most plausible cause for flakes on your kid’s eyebrows.

Sometimes called cradle cap on eyebrows, it usually clears up all on its own within 6 to 12 months. But there are ways to get rid of it quicker while easing some of the symptoms.

Treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis on Eyebrows

The best way to get rid of flakes is to wash your kid’s eyebrows with a seborrheic dermatitis shampoo. But not just any medicated shampoo will do. Most anti-dandruff and anti-seborrheic dermatitis shampoos on the market are much too harsh for sensitive young skin. 

Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo and Body Wash, however, is made specifically for children without any harsh ingredients like fragrances, sulfates, parabens, and dyes. It is finished with the active ingredient Zinc Pyrithione, which is an FDA-approved active ingredient that helps eliminate the flaking and scaling on the scalp

and skin associated with seborrheic dermatitis.

It is safe to be used as a face wash as well, so you can cleanse your kid’s face, and eyebrows with it easily. Use it once daily or 2 to 3 times a week to help reduce those flakes on your kid’s eyebrows.

What Else Could It Be?

Though seborrheic dermatitis is the most likely culprit for the flakes on your kid’s eyebrows, there are a few other possibilities:

Eczema

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that is quite common in kids. It is believed to be caused by a combination of factors such as genetics, impaired skin barrier, and environmental triggers. 

It can lead to extremely dry skin, red rashes, itching, and irritation. It can also cause small dry flakes to appear on the skin. It is more common in the face, hands, elbows, and knees, but its symptoms can appear anywhere on the body. 

Dry Skin

Extremely dry skin is another condition that can lead to tiny flakes on eyebrows. Dry skin is caused when the skin lacks moisture, which can be triggered by various factors such as aging, dehydration, and cold, dry air. 

If you notice that the flakes are very small, dry, and white in color then they are most probably caused by dryness. 

Contact Dermatitis 

Contact dermatitis is a type of eczema that pops up when the skin is irritated by harsh chemicals, jewelry, some foods, and skincare products. The symptoms of contact dermatitis include redness, flaking, dryness, and itchiness. These symptoms can manifest on the eyebrows because of shampoo, body wash, or other irritants. However, contact dermatitis is most commonly seen as redness and itching rather than flakes.

Psoriasis

This skin condition is best known for silvery flakes or scales and red, thickened patches of skin. Caused by an autoimmune imbalance, psoriasis can show up almost anywhere on the body, including the eyebrows, hairline, and forehead. 

Psoriasis flare-ups are generally triggered by skin injuries, stress, medications, and diet changes. However, psoriasis also usually causes lesions, not just flakes.

Ichthyosis

Ichthyosis is another skin condition that causes itching, redness, and flakes. Though it can show up on the eyebrows and forehead, it is normally much more diffuse throughout the body.

How to Get Rid of the Flakes?

None of these potential causes of flakes on the eyebrows, even seborrheic dermatitis, are particularly dangerous. Many of them go away on their own. However, it’s best to get control over the flakes before they get worse.

If the flakes are caused by skin condition then treating the root cause will help get rid of the flakes. For eczema, it is usually advised to cleanse the skin at least once daily with an eczema shampoo. And to keep the skin moisturized as much as possible with a moisturizing cream for eczema. 

For dry skin, moisturizing the skin with a fragrance-free moisturizer is essential and along with that a few more things you can do to avoid flaking and dry skin are:

• Keeping the body hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Adding moisture in the air with a humidifier.
• Using lukewarm or cool water to wash the skin instead of hot.

For contact dermatitis avoiding the triggers is the most important thing to do. Staying away from the irritants and keeping the skin moisturized will help you get rid of the flakes. However, for psoriasis and ichthyosis prescription medications are advised. 

Conclusion

Flakes on eyebrows are usually caused by seborrheic dermatitis also known as cradle cap. Seborrheic dermatitis on eyebrows can lead to oily thick flakes and scales along with redness and inflammation on the skin. 

However, there are some other skin conditions that can also cause the appearance of flakes on the eyebrows, such as dry skin, eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and ichthyosis. If the flakes on your kid’s eyebrows are caused by seborrheic dermatitis then cleansing the skin with a medicated shampoo for cradle cap can help reduce the symptoms. 

If the flakes are caused by dry skin then regular moisturizing is essential, and for eczema following a proper eczema skincare routine that includes the use of eczema cleanser and eczema cream can help reduce the flakes. 

However, if you are unsure about what is causing those flakes on the eyebrows it is best to consult a doctor and get an accurate diagnosis. 

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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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