My little infant seems to have a lot of dandruff. Is that possible? What should I do about it?

There may be dry, flaky skin on the scalp of your child (Seborrheic dermatitis), that peels off like dandruff. If it is thick, yellowish and oily looking, with a lot of scales, then it is very likely to be “cradle cap”. It

is common to a greater or lesser degree and the good news is, that in most instances, it is self-limiting, and goes away on its own over several weeks or months.

It can occur in other areas of the body too, like may involve the face, neck, behind the ears, armpits, and diaper area. The lesions may be patchy and focal or may spread to involve almost the entire body.

Why does it occur?

The cause of this very common lesion has not yet been ascertained. The possible theories are the hormones that the child receives from the mother or a type of fungus called Malassezia furfur but this has not been proven as yet.

Doctor, it must be so itchy to my little baby?

Usually, unless it is very severe, this lesion does not cause any itching.

My neighbor’s baby seems to have this – can my baby get it too?

Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious. We really don’t know how and why it occurs, but it has been observed that it is not contagious.

What can I do about it?

• Regular washing of the scalp and shampooing it at least twice a day.
• Reverse combing the scalp to remove the flakes.
• If stubborn, please massage gently with almond / olive oil, wash it thoroughly with soap and water and then reverse comb it.
• If still does not settle down, show your pediatrician who may prescribe special shampoos or medicated ointments. Do not use medicated shampoos on your own, as they may irritate the tender skin of the infant.

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