Dry, Scaly Scalp & Skin Issues

Updated on December 11, 2009
J.D. asks from Spring, TX
22 answers

My son is 17 months old and he has the dryest scalp I've seen on a kiddo his age. It's NOT the gunky yellow mess that comes along with cradle cap, but dry, scaly, flaking skin. I occasionally catch him scratching it and he apparently scratches it in his sleep because he has some scabby spots in it. I addressed it with the pediatrician and he advised to use Selsun blue so that's what we've been doing for a few weeks but I'm not seeing any improvement. I must also mention that he has really bad skin in general. We already bathe him with either Dove sensitive or cetaphil and use only fragrant free lotions (Aquafor, cetaphil, or eucerin cream). I have scheduled an appt with a dermatologist but it will be 6 weeks before he can get in. Is there any home remedy or anything I can do in the meantime to provide him with some relief for his scalp. Thank you so much in advance for your replies. You ladies rock!

1 mom found this helpful

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D.R.

answers from Houston on

contact me if you really want help. ###-###-####. I do not sell anything but I know what works and how to get it.

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M.W.

answers from San Antonio on

It may be allergies. I use a shampoo/body wash combination made by "Jason" for my son. You have to get it at a health food store.

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M.H.

answers from Houston on

Hey J.,
First off, I am no medical expert. Personally, I think "dandruff" shampoo is for the birds. My thought on this subject is...well...quit washing your kiddo down everyday. Avoid washing his hair for a few days and let natures own "oils" do the trick.
When my DD was younger, many of my friends would be taken aback that I didnt wash my daughters hair everyday....do you? I dont. I say that if you have a kid that is not even two, a bath is not necessary...(unless they are playing in the mudd:) I'm not sayin to let your kid get funky, but sometimes just warm water does the trick without ANY kind of soap.
Good Luck in your quest for a solution and Happy Holidays!!
Margaret :)

1 mom found this helpful
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N.R.

answers from Houston on

i have psorisis on my scalp and my daughter gets it in her ears i use Emu oil you can buy it at a health food store...but it works really well for me as long as i keep up with if its sever you you would want to apply it 3 times a day! Good luck and I hope you find something that works for your son!

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T.J.

answers from College Station on

Use Tea Tree shampoo and Tea Tree bar soap, they work the best, you can buy them at Armstrong McCall or your salon might can order it for you, it is a God send.

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S.T.

answers from Houston on

Kroger's health food section has lots of great products to try. I use JASONS tea tree oil shampoo for my psoriasis and it works pretty quickly. They also have coconut oil in the same area, near the almond butter.

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S.C.

answers from Austin on

coconut oil is the best. if the smell bothers you, buy "expeller pressed" - we use it for baking and put a tablespoon or two in protein shakes - it's a good fat for your body, and is GREAT for your skin. google what's the best oil for your skin- you'll see!

blessings...

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C.G.

answers from San Antonio on

My doc recommended Selsun Blue.

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C.B.

answers from Houston on

Dear J. have you asked if it could possibly be psoriasis?

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

Tea Tree Oil - buy it and add a drop or 2 in baby shampoo or buy Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Oil shampoo. It works like a charm. My son had a severe issue and not even prescriptions worked - but the oil did! At that time, we used the Paul Mitchell shampoo - but I now stock the essential oil itself.

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A.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

Fish Oils! They are the best help for dry scalp. You can buy kids capsules from Nordic Naturals or Carlsons. Both can be found at www.vitacost.com . This problem is best treated from the inside out and fish oils are the best way to do that.
I would not use tea tree or Selsun blue on a child but a topical treatment could be extra virgin coconut oil.

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J.H.

answers from Houston on

Could be excezma (sp?). Lotions should be good but the derm. Might need to give you a special shampoo or a steriod spray to heal it.

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K.A.

answers from Houston on

Try plain old Ivory soap. You can wash his head with it also. It's VERY mild and great for sensitive skin or skin problems. You might also try any of the Aveeno products. They are good also, but quite a bit more expensive than Ivory. Also think about your laundry detergent (for his body skin problems)....try one that is allergy-free. They are plainly marked to be free of dyes, etc. He might have skin allergies related to the soap.

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T.B.

answers from Houston on

Hello J.,

My son has had a dry spot on his scalp. The doctor also recommended Selsun blue which we have been using for months. It slowly helps but it is getting better. Neosporin helped considerably with the sores and it seemed to help with the dryness as well. It is something you can put on a couple times a day. With the skin dryness we have moved to baths everynight still, to maintain the routine, but only washing with soap and shampoo every other night, which seems to help. Good Luck!

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M.R.

answers from Austin on

I totally agree with the coconut oil, it's natural, smells good, not too expensive, and a little goes a loooooong way. GNC has is for less than $20 (maybe fifteen?) We got a tub & put it in little tupperwares that I got from dollar tree...have them on the nightstand, at the kitchen sink, etc. My really dry skin is still soft (but not oily) the following morning instead of being dry...

The added benefit is not having to worry about it hurting (be careful of the tea tree oil, it might burn to him), everyone in the house can use it, no worries about ingesting it...etc. Try it out--unless you just can't stand the smell of it, you don't have anything to lose & you'll have plenty of moisturizer for awhile!

good luck :)

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C.M.

answers from Houston on

Hi there,

My son also had really bad skin until he was about 2. I found out through trial and error that he was sensitive to all the chlorine in the water and bought a filter that fits on the shower head and used the shower head to fill his bath tub.. in less than a week all his skin issues had resolved. When he got some dandruff on his head I woul duse the head and shoulders. selsun blue has never worked for me when I have had dadruff, I only use head and shouldders or T-Gel. Just the fact that Selsun blue is bright blue tells you that there are alot of unneccessary ingredients.. blue coloring etc. Also I find the dove 2 in one shampoo with conditioner for dry hair you can even just wash his hair with a little dove soap on the days you don't use the dandruff shampoo.

I hope this helps.
C.

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A.R.

answers from Austin on

Tea tree oil is wonderful for skin issues. Find a shampoo with it in it. I used to use one from the Body Shop. I used it a couple of times a week.

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M.S.

answers from Houston on

Maybe olive oil? They do sell drops for dry itchy scalps, I seen the commercial.

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D.S.

answers from Killeen on

I know this sounds strange, but I would take plain yogurt and let it sit on his scalp. I have used yogurt to moisturize my face, it feels great. You may want to try smoothing it on his skin and rinsing with warm water. Good luck.

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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

i have always had skin issues. personally selsun blue makes it worse. the only ways i can controll it are to use neutragenia t gel shampooh. or if i really stick to my diet..which is mostly green veggies and lean meat. no sugar at all. but thats extream for a little one and i would think un healthy.

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B.K.

answers from Austin on

Burt's Bee makes a jar of baby cream called "Baby Bee." I would try slathering this through his scalp for two days and not wash his hair for 48-72 hours. It might not be a pretty sight but just try to stay indoors for a couple of days or put a hat on him. It really helped with my daughter's eczema and my old neighbor swears by it too. You can get it at Whole Foods or Central Mkt. I think Bath and Body Works might carry it too.

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B.J.

answers from Houston on

My son had the same problem and his dr told us to only bathe him once a week and at first I thought that it was crazy! But it is the only thing that works! I use the Jason bath soap whenever I do bathe him but the stuff is not tear proof so I use a reg baby shampoo. My son has alot of allergies as well so I think this plays a role in it too. I have really dry scalp as well. My son's hair doesn't get very oily even though I only wash it once a week. I use a dry shampoo on myself and him and it keeps his hair from smelling or anything. I use an all natural lotion that smells really good and wipe him down with a wipie or wash cloth every day and night. I also give him fish oil and I take it myself. It is very moisturing for your skin, hair and nails but it does it within. I notice when I do not take it for a few days that my skin starts getting dry again. Fish oil is great for many other things that will really benefit your childs health and brain.

Good Luck!

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