A child scratches his head: reasons, what to do?

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There is an opinion that if a child has itchy head, then it must be lice. This attack occurs today in children is not as often as before. Already invented and good drugs, and prevention methods that work. A man’s louse, nits, lice will ever be defeated. In addition to the human body, there is no habitat for this type of parasite. Symbiosis is impossible. The benefits of this scourge are few. But the drugs that will help in a few days have not yet been invented. Only it remains for parents and children to come to terms with the state of affairs, and for scientists to continue to work hard, to seek a solution. As for other diseases, the situation is not comforting. Problems, alas, after the victory over lice will not decrease. The head of a child can itch for many reasons, in which it would not be superfluous to understand.

So, if a child is scratching his head and no head lice, what does that mean? To consult a specialist in a timely manner - it is important. Moms and dads are well aware of this rule, because some diseases are very contagious. At the same time, the head sometimes itches for reasons that are difficult to classify as serious. What should be expected, going to the doctor?

Ringworm

Sometimes a disease that undermines health is ringworm. Severe itching is one of the symptoms. The disease is contagious. You need to prepare for the hospital. If such a parasite as a louse does not bother, another parasite, a fungus, may disturb. It is a fungal microorganism that causes ringworm. It affects the skin, changes its structure. The immune system is growing stronger over the years, especially vulnerable in childhood. Therefore, ringworm easily survives in the body of children aged 4 to 14 years old, progresses rapidly. Some forms are transmitted from person to person, others from domestic animals.

Danger is everywhere, and the only way to protect yourself is to strengthen the immune system. A healthy microflora of the skin is an effective defense.

Of course, contamination cannot be avoided by direct contact with the fungus. But if the immune system is in good order, it will be easier to recover and recover.

An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor after careful research. This may be dermatophytosis, ringworm, and microsporia. Their symptoms are the same:

affected areas are round, itchy,
first there is a slight redness, then peeling,
the hairline in these places is thinning - the hair simply breaks.

Having found similar symptoms on the scalp of a child, one should immediately seek help from a specialist. The sooner treatment starts, the better. The fight will be easier, no one around will suffer.

Demodekoz - the possible cause of itching

When a child has itchy head, it is likely that the tick is to blame. In particular, there are quite often cases of parasitization of an acne ferrite. Usually traces of her stay can be seen in the neck, auricle, in the eyelids, on the face. This is a contagious disease. Sick, again, can not be avoided. A tick is transmitted through direct contact with its carrier, an infected person. It easily penetrates tissue if the skin's immune barrier is impaired. They are less likely to get infected if everything is fine with the immune system.

On what grounds can you determine that this is demodicosis? Who has never faced ticks in my life? Few such people on planet Earth. Ticks are an annoying part of the biosphere. What to do with it? It is impossible to move to another planet. In the near future, maybe the situation will change. In the meantime, this has not happened, you need to come to terms with the fact: ticks of different species have hit and will continue to hit humans, warm-blooded animals. From them only some species have immunity and that is partial.

When it comes to demodicosis, try to cure the disease in standard ways, familiar to every adult should not be. This will only weaken the immune system - disrupt the natural microflora of the skin. Need to consult a doctor. He will determine that the parasite has attacked the child, pick up drugs that can help.

Initially, the situation seems, as always in the case of tick infestation, incomprehensible. Why the head begins to itch is difficult to determine. But itching is a clear sign that something is wrong. The presence of the parasite soon becomes apparent. The disease looks like this:

skin in some places itches,
redness, eels,
hair from follicles fall out,
the top layer begins to peel off quickly and peeling appears in the places of impact,
in some cases, there is pain in the eyes.

Scaled area does not increase in size - new ones appear, with characteristic signs of deformation. It is not recommended to comb them, which is difficult for children. Parents will have to follow the execution of the doctor’s orders.

The child may be allergic

An allergic reaction is a whole complex of different symptoms, from a cold to scabies. It can be assumed that the cause of obsessive sensations lies precisely in the body's allergic reaction to something. What is an allergy? This is a modified immune response. The body takes a stimulus too seriously, treats it negatively, although there seems to be no reason for it. Medicine is known for very serious types of allergies, which are likely to be fatal, alas. Scratching head is not the worst symptom. True, there is no reason to turn a blind eye to him either. Careless attitude to the health of the child is unacceptable. What can parents do in this situation? Just consult a doctor. What can a doctor? Hospital should not be afraid.

To date, the causes of allergy are not fully known, research is underway. At the same time, there is a cure for it. They can not cure, but the symptoms eliminate quickly. Therefore, it is worth as soon as possible to consult a doctor - this will reduce the level of moral tension in a child. The psychogenic factor does not matter. Allergies develop regardless of how the child treats her. A scratching head can be a temporary reaction to a food eaten, flowering of plants or any other irritant. What exactly is the source of the problem? The doctor will give the answer after a thorough diagnosis and testing.

Personal hygiene

In some situations, problems with the scalp arise from the fact that the shampoo does not fit or because the child does not wash the head often enough. Personal hygiene rules are a skill that is part of socialization and must be mastered. The process is subject to the laws of nature, depends on the characteristics of the nervous system. Adults for quite a long time have to monitor compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. The body of the child should be fully formed, get stronger.

Cosmetics, created specifically for children, allow you to adapt to the reality of the 21st century smoothly, gradually. They effectively wash away the dirt. But it is dirt that causes inflammation of the follicles, and itching sometimes. Parents should be attentive to this task - shampooing, bathing. The standard phrase "children, wash your hands" is not enough. At the beginning of the life path, a threat to health is dirt, an immature immunity. Unfortunately, there is little in common between the healing mud of the Dead Sea and the dusty air. It is necessary to amend to ensure that the child grew up healthy, happy, stood up.

Metabolic disease

A rather serious malfunction in the body is a metabolic disorder. Its main symptom is overweight. It appears if the metabolism is too slow. In this case, conditionally pathogenic microflora of the skin often becomes pathogenic. The sweat glands and sebaceous glands are forced to work faster, they are a little faster formed than in a child not inclined to corpulence. As a result of this imbalance, avitaminosis is felt. I want to eat even more, but this only aggravates the situation. The formation of internal organs is uneven. Weakened immunity is one of the problems. Sweat is a suitable medium for growing populations of opportunistic microorganisms.

Irritation causes the child to constantly scratch his head and other areas of the body, where sweat tends to stand out to a greater degree. The only solution is to rationalize nutrition. To accelerate metabolic processes allows the diet, based on products with a low glycemic index. They are rich in vitamins, at the same time they contain few so-called slow carbohydrates. Today, the glycemic index is considered the scientific discovery that changed the course of history. Perhaps it is.

Too fast metabolism is less common. It is less often accompanied by such an unpleasant symptom as a itchy head. Accelerated metabolism is not associated with pathology, although it may indicate a problem in the work of internal organs. If a child has a good appetite, this does not mean that health is all right.

Why can itch your head?

The reasons forcing the child to regularly brush the skin under the hair, can be mass. Here are just some of them:

Poor hair care, poor hygiene.
Use shampoo that is not suitable for the type of hair.
Allergic reactions to shampoo ingredients or food.
Fungal lesions of the scalp.
Pediculosis.
Vitamin deficiency, lack of minerals and nutrients.
Stress.
Failure of the internal organs.
Violations of the lipid metabolism of the skin.
Ticks.
Behavioral problems.

There are other reasons, some of which we will discuss in more detail below.

Allergic reaction

When a child scratches his head behind the ears, there may be an allergic reaction to any product. At the same time, redness or rash will not necessarily be observed. The scalp is much denser than on other parts of the body, so rashes here may appear later.

To fix the problem, try to find its source. Think you may have purchased a new shampoo or laundry detergent? Did you give your child new foods? Did you treat any disease with unusual drugs?

As soon as the cause is established, eliminate the effect of the allergen and after a while the situation will improve.

Bad habit or neurosis

Sometimes a child scratches his head, just trying to draw attention to himself. And in some cases it turns into a bad habit. The kid unknowingly scrapes the top of his head, without even noticing it.

Much worse is the case when the "pruritus" is a consequence of neurosis. Watch the baby carefully. You may also notice other symptoms:

changing habits
refusal to eat
depressed mood
problems with pronunciation,
changes in behavior
frequent headaches for no apparent reason,
sleep disorders.

If you find something like this, it is best to consult a psychologist. A good specialist will help to talk to the child and find out the cause of mental anguish.

If a child often scratches his head, perhaps he has psoriasis. The first manifestations of this disease often appear on the back of the head. Outwardly, it may look like a slight peeling of skin. Over time, the husking becomes more noticeable, irritation appears and a rather severe itching. Reddish spots may also appear on the knees and elbows.

Unfortunately, scientists have not fully figured out what provokes the onset of this disease and how to treat it. Psoriasis is not an infectious disease. But to cure it completely is not yet possible. The doctor will prescribe drugs that improve the condition of the skin, will detoxify the body. In severe situations, treatment with corticosteroids.

Lipid imbalance

If a child scratches his head at the age of 2, and no apparent reason is found, he may be sleeping on a pillow made of synthetic material. If so, just replace the bedding.

If a young child is constantly in contact with synthetics, he may experience problems with lipid metabolism of the scalp. The head of the baby constantly sweats, and the hairs on the contrary dry up, electrify and split off.

In this case, the doctor may prescribe a vitamin-mineral complex, advise you to replace the pillow and pillowcase with natural ones, select hair moisturizers.

Preventive measures

In order for the child to stop scrubbing his head constantly, it is necessary to eliminate the cause as soon as possible and cure the existing diseases. But even after the situation has returned to normal, regular prevention of skin lesions should be carried out. Moreover, it is not so difficult to do this:

The baby’s head should be washed regularly and very thoroughly.
It is necessary to select the sparing detergents corresponding to his age and type of hair.
When washing it is important to use only special children's products.
It is necessary to brush hair only with his own comb, and it is very important to bring your demand to caregivers.
It is important to regularly wash and iron baby bedding, towels and hats.
It is necessary to ensure that the head of the child comes into contact only with natural materials.
During walks, you must constantly monitor the baby and stop attempts to play with sick animals.

It is also possible to include a balanced diet, taking multivitamin preparations, regular sun baths as preventive measures. And when you find problems you should not let the situation take its course. Timely consultation with a specialist will help to improve the situation and avoid additional problems.

Why does itchy head?

Do not immediately panic with an unpleasant symptom, the reason may actually be harmless. If the head is itchy, but there are no lice, then it is worth going through various possible options to find out what to fight with, what methods. The reasons why the scalp is itchy, but no lice have been found:

Non-compliance with hygiene shampoos.
Allergic reaction to the components of hair care products: shampoo, balsam, gel, varnish.
Incorrectly selected type of shampoo or balm.
Hair coloring (lightening).
Fungal diseases.
Lack of vitamins and minerals.
Disrupted work of internal organs
Wrong diet.
Stressful situations.
Disturbed lipid balance of the skin.

Itching and dandruff

If a person has itchy head, but does not have lice, you need to pay attention to additional symptoms. These symptoms include dandruff. Why there is severe itching and shedding of dandruff from the hair:

Oily scalp, constant itchy sensation under the hair indicates the seborrhea of the skin or seborrheic dermatitis (when the skin is flaky, red spots appear on the head, resulting in itchy head). It is very difficult to cure such diseases on your own, therefore, timely addressing the trichologist or dermatologist will help to correct the situation quickly.
Stressful situation or nervous tension.
Weak immunity, lack of substances to enhance the protective reaction of the body.
Violation of the hormonal background of a person.
Increased water hardness.
Consumption of too much sweets, fatty foods.
Psoriasis, which occurs for individual reasons: problems with the load on the nervous system, nutrition, weakened immune system.

Itchy and flaky

There are no lice on the body of the head, so it is worth looking for other reasons for the peeling of skin scales. Why the head itches and flakes, creating discomfort:

Too dry scalp.
Skin fungus in need of complex treatment.
Allergic reaction to a new hair product.
Avitaminosis caused by improper diet or fasting. Often occurs in the fall or spring when the amount of vitamins decreases dramatically.
Seborrhea (an additional symptom is oily scalp). The disease is not easy, the treatment is long, so it is best to contact a specialist who will prescribe a complex therapy.
Heredity.
Exposure to the sun on the scalp, exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Itching and redness

In some patients, the sensitivity is increased, and red spots on the head under the hair appear, disgustingly irritating. To cope with significant discomfort, you need to find out the reasons why the symptom appeared:

Air temperature drop. Constant contrast of cold and heat adversely affects the condition of the skin, draining it. Dry scalp starts to itch. It is necessary to protect the head from the sun with headdresses and regularly moisturize with masks, balsams, to protect with special chemical protection.
Washing the hair with too hot water, bad washing of shampoo, mask, balm.
Constant use of hair dryer, ironing, curling curls.
Wrong type of hair product, allergic to components.
Fungal lesions of the head.
Eczema.
Psoriasis or other types of lichen.
Wrong comb.
Bad food.
Hair coloring, too long exposure to the coloring or brightening agent.

Itches after washing

Convinced that itchy came after you washed your hair? The reasons for this phenomenon can be:

The composition of shampoo, balm, mask did not fit the person. Pick up more benign, natural remedies.
Allergy to towel washed with new powder. Not always powder and gel products are rinsed out of things qualitatively. If you have sensitive skin, you need a hypoallergenic remedy.
Badly washed away one of the hair care products.

Scalp itching and hair fall out

If the head itches and hair falls out, then this is a serious reason to consult a specialist. The causes of hair loss are:

Lack of vitamins, because of what the bulbs weaken and hair breaks.
Fungal diseases that are accompanied by terrible itching. These diseases include ringworm and other types of lichen.
Weak protective immune response.
The deterioration of the internal organs and systems.

Itching and sores

In humans, malfunctions occur, so it is worth considering a number of diseases that itch your head:

Psoriasis and other lichen. Lime scab - a chronic pathology that must be treated under the supervision of a specialist.
Lupus. Accompanied by nerve, hematological and other abnormalities.
Seborrheic dermatitis. You can determine by small white detachments on the scalp.
Seborrhea. Appears due to malfunction of the sebaceous glands.
Dermatitis. Sensitive reaction of the body to cosmetics.
Impetigo. Scabs on the skin caused by reproduction under the skin of staphylococci, streptococci, which are often manifested by purulent foci. The head is not only itchy, but it can also hurt.
Subcutaneous tick. It manifests itself in all areas of the head: on the back of the head, near the ears, under the hair, on the neck and on the forehead.

The problem of discomfort affects different age categories: adults, infants, children of school age. Causes of itching in children:

Psoriasis.
Dermatitis.
Allergic to shampoo or soap. Firms manufacturers of children's hair care lines should not use alcohol in the composition, which is too dry head. Read the composition of the shampoo before buying and watch the reaction after the first wash.
Deprive and fungus.
Very strong experiences, stress. For children, psychological stress plays an important role. Sometimes, if a child has itchy head - this is not a physiological, but a psychological problem (stress at school, resentment, poor sleep).
The excess in the menu of the child sweets, fatty foods.
Effect of sunlight on unprotected scalp. Panama, cap, headscarf, bandana - the choice is great, overdried skin from the sun is not a myth, so watch out for wearing a headdress.

How to eliminate severe itching of the scalp

Appealing to a specialist for competent treatment is the first and main step. If you determine the cause of the disease, the task will be significantly simplified. What you need to do at home for the care of the scalp, if it itches, and lice were not found:

Correction of diet. No harmful, fatty foods, eliminate drinks and foods high in sugar. It is more useful to eat fiber, vegetables, fruits, berries.
Eliminate bad habits. The condition of the scalp, the formation of free radicals in it is affected by nicotine, which destroys the beneficial vitamins and provokes peeling, itching.
Proper selection. For different skin types, different care products are needed: some are moisturizing, some are nourishing or anti-inflammatory.
Ketoconazole and birch tar. These components must be present in the means for washing hair to eliminate the peeling, neutralize the fungus.
Soothing decoction. It is required for rinsing the head to soothe its protective cover.

Skin softeners

Measures to moisturize the epidermis of the head are necessary, even in addition to medical treatment. What is required when the head itches:

Drinking more pure water.
Elimination of all products that include alcohol and silicone.
Skin softening by means of traditional medicine: decoctions, infusions, masks.
Useful nourishing and moisturizing masks for the epidermis layer.
Aromatherapy.
Wrapping

At home, you can independently prepare a tool that will soften and soothe the skin. Here are a few options:

If it hurts your head, take a teaspoon of castor oil, honey, aloe juice, mix, apply for half an hour. Then wash the composition, wash the hair with regular shampoo.
Mix two yolks, 4 large spoons of castor oil and add two small spoons of glycerin, apple cider vinegar. Cover the skin with a mask, wrap a plastic bag, towel for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with shampoo.
Apply a mixture of two egg yolks and 4 large spoons of castor or olive oil to the skin, along the length of the hair for 20-25 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Complications

This problem is not life threatening, and the underlying cause is easily treated. Complications can occur when a child combs the skin to blood, which can lead to a bacterial infection. Therefore, it is important to avoid scratching the skin and cover up any open wounds that may have formed.

For the treatment of eczema, corticosteroid ointments are commonly used. According to KidsHealth, more than half of children with eczema, it will continue in adolescence. And only a small number of people will be in adult life.

Treatment for lice includes the use of a special shampoo or lotion to kill the lice. You should not use medicated shampoo for children under two years of age. You will need to remove the nits and lice manually. You should also wash all bed linen and clothes, vacuum carpets and furniture, and soak hair care products and tools in alcohol.

Head ringworm treatment includes prescription oral medication.

Prevention

According to Kids Health, scientists believe that eczema is a hereditary disease, so you can not help your child avoid it.

As a preventive measure for most infections that cause itchy scalp in children, you should avoid face-to-face contact at school or while playing with other children, sharing hair accessories and brushes and not maintaining close contact with anyone who has lice or ringworm. lichen.

Change bathing procedure

Sometimes a child may begin to scratch his head from irritation while bathing. Washing your hair every day or using hot water can cause irritation. Dr. Jim Sears says that you need to wash the head of children about once a week, and that a more frequent procedure can dry the scalp, causing it to itch. If a child’s hair becomes dirty, wash it with warm water before.

Shampoo change

Many shampoos have harsh chemical ingredients that can dry the scalp, even those designed for children. If the child suffers from itchy scalp, parents can try changing the shampoo to those specifically designed for sensitive skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing shampoos that do not contain fragrances and other additives. Parents should look for a product that is specifically designed for children, because they have more sensitive skin than adults, and some shampoos and soaps can irritate her.

Gentle care

Parents can help minimize scalp irritation by applying gentle hair care. Instead of wiping your hair with a towel or using a hair dryer, you need to slightly soak it in a towel or allow it to air dry. You can schedule some inactive game or story after a bath to let your hair dry before bedtime. Using a soft brush can also be more benign than plastic or hard ones.

Moisturizing

If the scalp is irritated, a good moisturizer can help soothe and relieve itching. Olive and baby oil is a good remedy for children, as they are natural and will not irritate the skin. If there are scabs or scabs on the scalp, parents can rub in some oil in these areas to soften them. The oil should be completely shampooed off after a few minutes, or it may cause a rash.

What could be the possible treatment

It is worth starting with the simplest of causes, namely, allergic. It is worth remembering whether the child care products or shampoos have not changed recently. If this is so, then, most likely, the child just had an allergic reaction to the components of the product. Try to get old shampoo and try to use it for a while. If the cause of itching was exactly the wrong shampoo, then after a few days the symptoms disappear by themselves. Additionally, no action is required.

Another very common problem is psoriasis diseases. If you find red spots on the scalp of a child, then most likely the reason lies in this disease. Additional evidence is the presence of subtle spots on the elbows and knees. The more acute the form of the disease and the more neglected the case, the more pronounced and dry the white scales are. A disease may arise from regular stresses and poor environmental conditions. Treatment should take place only with a qualified dermatologist. Much faster recovery occurs if you regularly take sun baths in addition to treatment.

If, when carefully studying the condition of the skin, you also find a significant amount of dandruff, then the likely cause of itching is seborrheic dermatitis. Quite often, such a disease and itching can be found among adolescents during hormonal changes. The treatment and prevention procedure provides for special medicated shampoos and sunbathing. Immunomodulatory drugs and special diets that help in strengthening the body are useful. Another likely cause of dermatitis is severe stress. Ask the child if he has had any unpleasant event lately.

Another common cause of itchiness and the desire to scratch your head is fungus. Only a dermatologist can verify and confirm the existence of a problem. There is a huge amount of folk remedies, however, it is not recommended to use them only. The most common is tea tree oil. In addition, special pharmacy antifungal shampoos showed high efficacy.

Dry scalp

Another reason the baby’s head itches, but no lice is excessive dryness of the skin. In this case, the hair looks overdried, easily broken and strongly electrified. Often, as a defensive reaction, the scalp begins to intensively produce fat, and the hair becomes untidy and dirty. The first thing parents do is use oily hair shampoo. However, this further aggravates the situation, and children suffer even more. For dry skin, doctors prescribe a wide variety of vitamins, lotions and moisturizing shampoos.

Funds that are used to treat such problems have a significant impact not only on the possible parasites, but also on the hair and scalp of the child.

When the louse is completely bred, it is worthwhile to address the issue of treating curls and epidermis from significant transplantation. It is necessary to resort to the use of special moisturizing agents and compositions that are purchased in a pharmacy, and regularly apply emollient masks on curls.

What to do if the skin is dry or burned with reagents

You should not think long and get lost in doubts, you need to make every effort to restore the skin and avoid similar situations in the future.

If during the inspection you did not find any serious diseases, however, the skin still scratches badly, you should do an intensive moisturizing.

It should start with simple procedures, for example, drink more water. Itching may be a common symptom of dehydration.
Drinking plenty of cool, clear water will make you feel great improvements. If your child uses any cosmetics, check that there are no silicones in the composition. This substance covers the scalp with a thin layer that limits the flow of oxygen to the epidermis and clogs the pores.

Do not neglect the value of folk remedies. After each wash, rinse the hair with a special decoction made from herbs and plants. If itching is present, but lice are not present, try rinsing the hair with regular onion peel, it will strengthen the condition of the hair locks.

In addition, decoctions based on medicinal herbs from chamomile, calendula, nettle, etc. are perfect. All of them are sold in a pharmacy and are available in every city. For decoction, one packet per liter of liquid will suffice, and to prepare a phyto-compress you should brew two packets in a glass of cold water and bring to a boil. Apply to the skin immediately after the composition has cooled. Optimally, it will be applied to the gauze in several layers, then place the compress on the head.

Recommendations

Once again carefully inspect the condition of the scalp of the child, especially if the presence of parasites.
Check the condition of the epidermis for dandruff, fungus, seborrhea or depriving.
If no disease is detected, it is worth changing the shampoos that care for the scalp.

If severe itching does not stop even after that, it is worth to consult a doctor. Perhaps the reason lies in any change in the body that needs to be controlled. Carefully monitor the condition of the scalp of the child, and let it always be healthy.

Causes and treatment

Consider the most common causes of itchy headaches in a child:

Improper child care

The first and most common problem of scratching the head in children is its regular pollution. Everyone knows that children are the most physically active than adults, which is why they are much more likely to get dirty. Owing to regular sweating, the sebaceous glands located on the scalp are regularly blocked due to the fact that unpleasant itching and tingling occur. In this case, the decision will be obvious, just wash your head to your child more often and itching and burning will disappear.

If, nevertheless, your child is scratching his head and neck because of its pollution, then you should be especially vigilant and examine it carefully. The causes of this disease can be quite diverse, the main thing in time to identify and eradicate them.

In some cases, the cause of an itchy head is allergy. Remember, if you have not recently used a new baby shampoo or balm. Perhaps the reason lies in them. Try not to use or replace new products with those that you used before, and soon the itching will disappear.

Eating allergenic foods can also cause allergies. In order to identify the allergen contributing to the development of this disease, you should consult a doctor, having passed all the tests. Then you should avoid products that, according to the doctor, cause allergic reactions in the child.

Psoriasis can also be one of the causes of a baby’s head itch. Carefully examine the baby’s head and body, if you find small red patches that also itch badly, then your child is most likely to have psoriasis. It should also be said that reddish spots may well be covered with white scales, this factor is evidence of the neglect of the disease, in this case it is necessary to urgently take measures to treat this disease.

If you find this disease, you should immediately consult a doctor. You will be prescribed the necessary treatment and with full compliance and proper care everything will pass.

In the treatment of this disease perfectly helps:

Cryotherapy (cold exposure),
Various medicated shampoos or tar soap,
Salicylic acid,
Various antihistamines.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Dermatitis can also be one of the causes of head itch. If you notice a large amount of dandruff on the baby’s head, accompanied by severe itching, then your baby is most likely sick with seborrheic dermatitis. The most common cause of this disease are changes in hormonal levels and disorders of the internal organs, so if your baby has dermatitis, then you should be alert. Special medical shampoo, as well as immunomodulators and therapeutic diet can help in the fight against this disease. Help with the choice of shampoo you can doctor or pharmacy worker. And about immunomodulators and diets, you should contact only your doctor.
Some of the best anti-dermatitis shampoos are: Nizoral, Sulsena and Dermazole.

Also in the fight against this ailment sunbathing helps a lot, of course, you cannot completely heal with their help, but they will perfectly help to reduce the time of treatment.

Fungus is another common cause of baby’s head itch.
Symptoms of head fungus in children:

dry hair and peeling of the scalp,
appearance of bald patches on damaged skin areas
the appearance of purulent skin lesions.

In the treatment of this disease will help you antifungal shampoos and ointments, which you can prescribe a doctor. One of the most effective antifungal shampoos are:Nicozoral, Mizoral, Tsinovit, Keto plus and others.

Lice can also be the reason why a baby is scratching its head and neck. The causes of this disease, poor hygiene and contact with an already ill person. In order to get rid of lice, you need to do the following, purchase a special tool at the pharmacy, such as Parasidosis, Avalanche or Nuda. To get rid of pediculosis and after carrying out all the necessary procedures, even during the week to comb out the nits. The fact is that nits can survive after the first behavior of the procedure, that is why they should be combed in order to avoid the repeated spread of the disease.

Dry scalp

It is also one reason why a child’s head and neck often itch, dry skin can become, in this case peeling of various kinds will be noticeable on the scalp. Hair, in the period of this disease, also becomes more fragile and damaged.
In order to get rid of dry hair you need:

use shampoos appropriate to your baby’s hair type,
to exclude drying of hair with a hair dryer,
Regularly moisturize hair and scalp with various cosmetic oils, for example: castor, burdock or sea buckthorn oil.
rinse hair thoroughly after each wash.

In any case, if you find any of the above diseases in a child, you should not draw conclusions and self-medicate prematurely. The first thing you should contact the specialists who will identify the causes of the disease, make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.

Possible reasons

The following are the most common causes of itching and flaking in a newborn, infants and older children.

The most common cause of itching on the head is an allergic reaction to chemicals.ingested due to exposure to shampoos or drugs on the scalp.

It is a common case when a child changes the shampoo or shower gel, and there is a problem with itching. Pustules, pimples or a rash may appear on the skin.

Try to return to the use of previous tools, wait for some time (if there are no additional problems with itching) and follow the result.

Important! An allergic reaction will cause a scalp disease only if the problem is in the substance with which the person washes his head. Otherwise, the itch would spread throughout the body, rather than be local.

Skin diseases

At the initial stages of infection, slight reddening will be noticed, the itching will be mild, but will subsequently intensify. It is better to take urgent measures and go to the hospital for examination. Possible problems:

Psoriasis can be noticed by a slight peeling of the skin that occurs locally in certain areas, and not everywhere. The most vulnerable part is the back of the head. If you do not notice the disease in time, the scaly place will begin to itch and turn red.

Sometimes with the development of the disease on the knees and elbows in the child appear imperceptible spots.

The cause of the disease has not been finally identified, but the main one is genetic predisposition, and aggravating factors include:

constant stress
the appearance of other infectious diseases
unstable hormones (during puberty),
unfavorable home environment
damage to the scalp.

Psoriasis does not belong to infectious diseases, therefore it cannot be completely cured.but then it is easy to ease the course of the disease to such an extent that it will not manifest. At the same time often prescribed potent drugs that can be bought only by prescription of the attending physician. An examination by a trichologist is necessary.

The main symptom that is easy to notice with dermatitis is copious amounts of dandruff. Dermatitis affects a large number of adolescents - about 30% of all children suffer from this disease.

Vitamin D, special medical shampoos (bought in a pharmacy), immunostimulants and proper nutrition, made up by doctors, help to cope with the disease. Another cause of dermatitis is stress. It should be avoided, and if it does not work, then take sedatives or antidepressants.

Important! Do not ignore the possible problems with stress in a child. The misconception that he should not take antidepressants, and even worse, when parents believe that a child can not be stressed.

Microsporia (ringworm) is accompanied by areas of baldness.that makes the disease recognizable and noticeable. The reason - a viral fungus, which can be infected from animals or their wool.

These anthropophilic fungi are transmitted from child to child, which can lead to epidemic proportions within a preschool or school institution. They can also be infected by messing around often in dirty land contaminated with pathogenic spores (public places).

The first sign that the disease continues to cover the body - the appearance of red spots in the area of eyelashes and eyebrows. In the case of ringworm, you must use one of the following drugs:

Ketoconazole or Griseofulfin,
Clotrimazole as an ointment,
Special shampoos (Nizoral),
Suprastin or Lortadin.

Imbalance of substances

This happens quite often in adolescents who actively experiment with hairstyles. Various paints or bleaching agents harm not only the hair, but also the skin. The most often violated fat balance in adolescents, because they are more vulnerable to the action of chemistry.

In young children, the disease may occur due to the fact that they lie nape on a pillow, and he sweats profusely during sleep. In such a situation requires daily shampooing.

Sometimes the problem becomes dry scalp, which is difficult to get rid of. People make the mistake of starting to wash their hair daily. In this case, the fat is produced more and harms more. It is necessary to use a complex of mineral substances (for example, in the form of a shampoo), carry out procedures and preferably visit a dermatologist. Shampoo should be specifically for dry skin.

Pediculosis (lice)

The emergence and development of pediculosis is monitored in all public institutions. After all, an infected child can not be contacted with others. Treatment must take place for the whole family.

If there is a disease, then you can clean the insects (lice) yourself with an ordinary comb, but their eggs will remain on the skin.

Buying ordinary ointments and aerosols also does not give one hundred percent result, because of which some parents use folk methods.

In practice, there were cases when kerosene was used, but it didn’t lead to anything good - there were severe burns, which are more difficult to get rid of than pediculosis. Therefore, you should not use drugs, the use of which has not been confirmed by doctors.

For the treatment will be necessary:

iron carefully all the things of the child and family
use special medications: Nittifor, vapor Plus or Pediculen aerosol until the pests die completely.

Peeling the skin of a baby

Being in the womb, the child is surrounded by water. At birth, air begins to affect his body, and the body gradually adapts. Sebaceous glands begin to produce the required amount of substances immediately, so there is the likelihood of problems. One of them is peeling, which lasts several months.

However sometimes Peeling of the skin occurs due to some other factors:

excessive use of detergents (they dry the skin),
use of poor-quality washing powder,
washing with water containing large amounts of chlorine
cheap synthetic bedding or baby clothes,
substandard dyes used in the manufacture of baby clothes,
problems with temperature in infants - increased sweating,
too much sunlight
dry air.

Sometimes the main problem can be more serious:

Allergic reaction of the child's body to anything. It is not worth the risk, it is better to go to a doctor right away to reveal that the body reacts so strongly (otherwise allergies can turn into a serious problem).
Before you start feeding artificial mixtures should consult a doctor. Sometimes the child is allergic to substances that are part of non-natural baby food.
Mother's milk may not have enough vitamins. Get rid of the problem without the help of doctors can not. Going to the hospital is a must.

Treatment methods

For safety, they prefer to use drugs with natural ingredients. Sometimes they can be made independently, for example, a decoction of chamomile or train. Popular are also ointments and creams to prevent itching and scaling:

baby cream
zinc ointment,
Bepanten
Depantenol.

However, the above methods help only in the case of natural causes of problems with the scalp. There are times when this treatment is not enough, therefore The most reasonable solution before starting treatment is to consult a doctor to determine the cause of the problem.

Useful videos

8 main reasons why the head itches.

Causes of lice.

Causes of pruritus

So, if a child scratches his head, but there is no pediculosis, where to go? First you need a pediatrician - he will conduct a primary examination and will give direction to the tests.

Further, depending on the diagnosis under suspicion, it will be referred to a specialist by a dermatologist, neurologist, allergist, immunologist, etc.

It is very important to make a correct diagnosis in time and start treatment. Of course, not all the reasons why a child constantly scratches their heads are serious, but there are also those that can become chronic diseases.

What diagnoses can a doctor make?

The second place after pediculosis, which provokes severe itching of the head. Allergy - a specific (immune) reaction of the body to certain factors. It can be:

food - food allergies,
substances that can be inhaled - respiratory,
items of the environment - contact.

Sometimes the cause of pruritus in the new powder or soap, more often - food, even the most common, to which suddenly responded immunity. When making a diagnosis of allergic dermatitis, the main thing is to correctly identify the allergen or its nature.

To do this, children are prescribed allergy tests - by far the most informative method of determining personal intolerance by the body of various kinds of chemical irritants (allergens).

About 60% of children outgrow atopic dermatitis. For the rest, it goes into adult form. You can completely get rid of the symptoms if you regularly carry out preventive measures.

The main task of a parent in detecting provoking factors is to eliminate the contact of the child with the allergen. The better this is done, the higher the chance of getting rid of dermatitis. In addition, prolonged interaction with provocateurs is fraught with serious consequences, up to anaphylactic shock.

Psoriasis of the head

Psoriasis refers to non-infectious dermatological diseases with a chronic course. Pathology has a recurrent nature and manifests itself in the form of lesions of the skin. The most common form of the disease is psoriasis of the head, usually starting from the back of the head.

The child in this case constantly scratches his head, dry dandruff appears, there are distinct crusts on the head itself. An additional qualifying sign of childhood psoriasis are stains on the knees and elbows.

The etiology of the disease is not fully established - it refers to autoimmune diseases, that is, those cases where the body is fighting against itself.Unfortunately, it is also impossible to recover from psoriasis, but there is a real chance to significantly alleviate the symptoms and remove the itching.

Interestingly, although most doctors tend to hereditary factors, psoriasis does not just appear. It occurs against the background of other pathologies:

stress and strong emotional experiences,
improper diet and the presence in the diet of allergens,
hormonal adjustment - the so-called. puberty,
scalp damage,
unfavorable environment, etc.

Since psoriasis is not contagious, isolation of the patient is not required. Doctors prescribe corticosteroid and antihistamine medications. Be sure to conduct relaxation therapy with sedatives to relieve irritability, itching and stabilize the nervous system.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disease with characteristic lesions and dandruff. Nutrient medium for the development of seborrhea are the sebaceous glands, therefore, most often dermatitis affects the skin with hypersecretion of the sebaceous gland. This disease is extremely rare in children and very often in adolescents.

The fact is that a fungus of the genus Malassezia is present in 99% of the world's population, without causing most of the problems. This is, by convention, the normal microflora of the epidermis.

Under certain circumstances (stress, cooling, hormonal adjustment), the activity of the fungus increases, waste products block the work of the sebaceous glands, which leads to itching, dandruff and other disorders.

For treatment use anti-seborrheic shampoos based on antimicrobial and antifungal drugs that inhibit the activity of the fungus and restore the production of secretions.

Anti-seborrins for adults and children are different. Adult shampoo has a high concentration of the active substance and can damage the skin of a child and even a teenager. It is best to use compositions based on birch tar, salicylic acid and zinc.

Impaired pH balance of the scalp

From birth, the scalp and hair have a pH of 5, but depending on the environment and the means of care, the balance can be disturbed.

This happens in the following cases:

the use of hats, pillows, bedding made of synthetic materials,
violation of sebum production.

In the first case, they change synthetics for natural materials - for pillows they use pillows made from cotton fabrics. In the second, the condition of the scalp is evaluated and the number of hygienic procedures is increased or decreased.

If a child's hair becomes dirty quickly and the head constantly scratches, it is advisable to wash it at least every other day with baby soap. In the opposite situation - the skin is too dry, but the head still itches, wash it once a week, be sure to use moisturizers. In this case, the soap is better to replace the baby shampoo for dry skin.