Seborrheic Dermatitis in Infants - What Cosmetics Help and What is Better to Avoid?
Seborrheic dermatitis in infants (SED) – yellowish, greasy scales on the baby's head, sometimes present behind the ears, eyebrow ridges and/or accumulating in skin folds look unsightly and can effectively worry parents. Is the so-calledprotein case can cause seborrheic dermatitis in children? Are there any home remedies for seborrheic dermatitis in infants: which cosmetics will work best and which should be avoided?
In this article, we will discuss the methods of treating seborrheic dermatitis and suggest what to use to lubricate your child's skin to alleviate the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis and minimize the risk of relapse.
What is seborrheic dermatitis in infants and what causes it?
Seborrheic dermatitis in infants (PsA) is a chronic, often recurring inflammatory dermatosis that most often appears in the first 3 months of the baby's life.
The reasons seborrheic dermatitis in infants are not fully understood, but it is a myth that the so-called cradle cap or other skin changes in the course of seborrheic dermatitis are the result of parental negligence in matters of baby hygiene.
Currently, there are several risk factors that may predispose to the development of seborrheic dermatitis:
- Excessive activity of sebaceous glands – in babies, sebum production is stimulated by the mother’s hormones from pregnancy.
- Colonization of the skin by fungi of the genus malassezia – which naturally occur on the skin, but when excessively multiplied, can cause inflammation and seborrheic dermatitis.
- Abnormal epidermal renewal process – a baby’s skin is immature and cannot yet regulate exfoliation, which leads to the accumulation of characteristic greasy, yellowish scales on the skin.
- Genetic predisposition – if parents have struggled with seborrheic dermatitis or other skin problems, the baby may be more prone to this condition.
- Reduced immunity – the baby’s body and skin are only just learning to defend themselves against microorganisms, which may contribute to skin inflammation, including seborrheic dermatitis.
How to recognize seborrheic dermatitis in infants, what does the baby's skin look like?
SLE is not only about yellowish scales on the scalp (commonly called cradle cap), but also erythematous lesions with exfoliation with an "oily" appearance including on the forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, behind the ears, in the neck folds, under the armpits, in the groin, in the creases of the knees and elbows, and even on the skin of the entire torso.
Characteristics of SLE in infants:
- Redness and peeling – the skin in the affected areas may be red and scaly.
- Erythematous spots – well demarcated, with accumulated yellow crusts.
- Cradle cap – soft, oily scales on the head that can stick together a baby’s hair.
- No itching – in contrast to atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis in infants It usually doesn't itch, so the child doesn't get restless or scratch. The skin lesions in scabies can be itchy periodically e.g. during exacerbations, or during periods of increased sweating in the child (exacerbations are common in summer).
What is important, apart from the local changes described, baby's skin is usually smooth and well moisturized. Skin changes in SLE may become more severe, among others: in the autumn-winter season (heating season), in the summer, when the skin sweats, during the so-called. colds, while taking certain medications, or in response to excessive use of emollients on a child's skin.
Seborrheic dermatitis in infants requires differentiation from other dermatoses that may cause similar symptoms, including:
- Atopic dermatitis (AD)
- Psoriasis
- Yeast and other skin mycoses
In some young patients it is difficult to distinguish AZS from AZS even by an experienced pediatrician, dermatologist or allergist.
Expert advises
In general, AD is characterized by a later onset, greater itching, and dry skin, whereas in SLE, the skin outside the inflammation is smooth and elastic. However, these differences are often not clearly marked, and it is also possible coexistence in a child of these two diseases.
Home remedies for seborrheic dermatitis in infants what cosmetics use, what to lubricate skin changes?
Adequate care can help alleviate the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis. What cosmetics can be used and what to apply to the baby's skin - here are simple, home remedies and important tips to support the care of an infant with seborrheic dermatitis:
Don't overheat your baby
Maintaining the right temperature at home (19-23 degrees Celsius during the heating season) and dressing your little one appropriately for the weather helps reduce sweating and the severity of SLE symptoms.
Gentle washing what cosmetics for seborrheic dermatitis?
The most recommended are mild detergents with a neutral pH, without fragrances and aggressive detergents.
Recommended products
Midwife, Expert in issuing opinions on utility products at the Institute of Mother and Child
Avoiding oil-based cosmetics on lesions
They can aggravate seborrheic dermatitis in infants: choose preparations that are appropriate for the child's age, gentle and hypoallergenic. During periods of remission of SLE, slightly different cosmetics may work better than during flare-ups – you should monitor your little one’s skin and adjust care as needed.
Drying the skin after bathing
Gently drying, no rubbing + frequent changing of towels to clean ones.
Clothes made of natural materials
Airy, preferably cotton to avoid skin irritation.
What to lubricate with? cradle cap — seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp in infants
Avoiding excessive use of cosmetics and following basic care rules will help control seborrheic dermatitis in infants.
- SOFTENING THE SCALE ON A BABY'S HEAD
What to lubricate with? TZW. cradle cap? It is most recommended to lubricate the scalp with a delicate baby oil, preferably on 1-2 hours before bathing.
- GENTLE COMBING
Using a soft brush to brush out the scales once they have softened helps to effectively get rid of them. cradle cap.
You already know, what cosmetics to use and what to apply changes in seborrheic dermatitis, however, if symptoms become more severe, it is worth consulting a doctor doctor.
Treatment Seborrheic dermatitis in infants — when to see a doctor?
In the case of a severe course of the disease, when standard care and home remedies for seborrheic dermatitis in infants do not bring the intended results, treatment prescribed by a doctor may be necessary a dermatologist or pediatrician.
Expert advises
The goal of treating seborrheic dermatitis in infants is alleviating symptoms, reducing inflammation and preventing disease relapsesIn the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in infants, the most commonly used local preparations, adapted to the severity of skin lesions.
The most commonly used pharmacological treatments for SLE in infants include:
- Antifungal preparations – creams, ointments or shampoos containing ketoconazole, clotrimazole, ciclopirox olamine or flutrimazole. They help to limit the excessive growth of fungi of the genus malassezia, which may aggravate skin lesions.
- Low- to medium-strength corticosteroids – used short-term in cases of severe inflammation.
- Calcineurin inhibitors – (tacrolimus) can also be used on delicate skin areas, e.g. the face, where corticosteroids are not recommended.
- Drying preparations – so-called white paste (a mixture of zinc oxide, talc and glycerin) or liquid powder can be applied to oozing skin lesions, e.g. in the diaper area.
It is worth emphasizing that treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in infants should take place under medical supervision — never use strong preparations and medications on a child without consulting a specialist.
Protein diathesis, and seborrheic dermatitis in infants
Protein diathesis, is a colloquial term for food allergies, specifically the hypersensitivity of the body to allergens present in products containing cow's milk and egg proteins. The symptoms most often concern the skin and are currently referred to as atopic dermatitis — the term is no longer used in medical nomenclature Protein diathesis.
However, for the purposes of this article, to help parents better understand the connection seborrheic dermatitis with allergies, we explain the possible relationships between AZS, AZS and protein diathesis.
Expert advises
Infants diagnosed with the typical picture of SLE, do not require an elimination diet (especially milk hydrolysates), and the disease usually resolves spontaneously by the age of 2. An elimination diet is recommended by a doctor only for infants suspected of having allergies and of atopic dermatitis overlapping with seborrheic dermatitis. In these cases, if the child is breastfed, the mother often requires an elimination diet, e.g. a dairy-free one. In artificially fed infants, hydrolysates of cow's milk are recommended, and in the case of suspected allergy to hen's egg proteins, diets excluding this food.
SLE: elimination diet only after consultation with a specialist
In the case of both breastfeeding mothers and infants suspected of having an allergy - AZS, we should never use any elimination diets on our own, without prior consultation with doctor.
These types of diets, when used incorrectly, carry a high risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.
Seborrheic dermatitis in infants - summary
Seborrheic dermatitis in infants it is a relatively common problem that usually goes away on its own. You already know, what cosmetics use and what to lubricate changes in seborrheic dermatitis to alleviate the course of the disease and limit its recurrence.
Don't forget about the simple ones too, home remedies on ŁZS and be sure to remember to do not overheat the baby, because excessive sweating can worsen skin lesions. If the symptoms of SLE become more severe, it may be necessary to implement treatment under control doctor.
Remember that caring care and / or leczenie selected with the help of a specialist, they will surely bring relief to your little one and help restore a healthy, smooth appearance to the skin.
Bibliography:
- Bień, N., Rajczak, M., Lipińska, K., Narbutt, J., Skibińska, M., & Lesiak, A. (2023). Differential diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis in infants — a case report. Dermatology in Clinical Practice, 1(3), 112-115 (accessed on 07.02.2025/XNUMX/XNUMX): https://journals.viamedica.pl/dermatologia_w_praktyce_klin/article/view/98806
- Buczek, A., Wcisło-Dziadecka, D., Sierant, K., & Brzezińska-Wcisło, L. (2018). What's new in the etiology and therapy of seborrheic dermatitis. Advances in Medical Science, 31(1A), 49-54, (accessed on 07.02.2025/XNUMX/XNUMX): http://www.pnmedycznych.pl/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pnm_2018_01A_049-054.pdf
- Chmurzyńska-Rutkowska, D. (2018). Seborrheic dermatitis. (accessed on 07.02.2025/XNUMX/XNUMX): https://mamapediatra.pl/2018/03/05/lzs-lojotokowe-zapalenie-skory/
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