Dandruff in Children
In many cases, dandruff is directly related to hygiene, or lack thereof. While this is not always the case and you shouldn’t judge someone’s personal hygiene by the presence of dandruff, this is nearly always the case when it comes to children. Children and young teens that take care of their daily shampooing may have good intentions, but could be contributing to the problem of flaky dandruff. Dandruff is when your skin sheds a layer. This usually happens on the scalp. Dandruff in children is caused by hormonal changes. Other factors that cause dandruff include an oily scalp, unhealthy diet, dry weather, less sleep and increased stress. Dandruff in children should be address at the early stages or it can really get acute and the children could start shedding much more hair and it could eventually lead to hair loss. Dandruff, like in the case of adults, even in children can cause acute social embarrassment. Dandruff in your child must be treated from the beginning.
Kids and Dandruff:
If your child has ever stepped out of the shower still smelling dirty or like a wet dog, then you know that he or she is not doing a good enough job getting clean. This is especially true when your child is expected to wash his or her hair on their own. Washing hair is a hard job, especially when you think about girls with long and thick hair. Many time kids will simply wet their hair, pat on the little shampoo and then make a halfhearted attempt to rinse it off. In reality, what they are doing is causing build up by not washing their hair properly.
As a parent, it is your job to make sure that your child is washing their hair correctly each and every time. If the shampoo is allowed to sit on the hair, it can cause flaky build up and dandruff. In addition to shampoo build up, your child is also not scrubbing the scalp properly, causing skin to become itchy and flaking.
There are many products that can help your child do a better job in the shower. Look for handheld showerheads, so they can help your child really get their hair clean. Shower combs and scrubbing brushes are also great for making sure the scalp gets clean during each wash. If your child has a difficult time getting all the shampoo out, you may want to make it a habit to check your child before he or she steps out of the shower.
Though there are a number of treatments for dandruff, it is necessary to first know what causes dandruff in children as also in adults. The causes of dandruff in children are same as those in adults. Dandruff in kids’ hair is quite common, especially around puberty. Lack of hygiene is also a common cause of dandruff in children. That is not because you are not washing your child’s frequently enough but because kinds tend to play roughly and sweat much more. You should also know that the use of harsh hair products on your child’s hair would also lead to dandruff in children. Sometimes some symptoms of child dandruff like itchy scalp with scales could also indicate the presence of another infection. If your child complains of excessive itching, you need to show the child to a doctor. It could be a ringworm infection.
Do you know how to stop dandruff naturally and permanently? There are many natural cures for dandruff as also a number of over the counter products that have flooded the market. There are medicated shampoos; some are stronger than others. For children, there are milder versions of shampoos available that can combat dandruff. You need to use it at least thrice a week. If you don’t always use a medicated shampoo meant for children, it could be a shampoo stronger than what kids will be used to and can have other repercussions. You should also stop using hair products for your child’s hair to reduce the incidence of dandruff. It is important to use warm, not hot water, to wash hair. Children, as they become teenagers, might experiment more with their hair and on the other side, eat less healthy food. All this could increase the incidence of dandruff if they are already prone to it. There are many dandruff remedies, including natural cures and home remedies for dandruff in kids. The home remedies tell you what to do to stop dandruff in kids. There are cures for dandruff for children specifically.
There are many dandruff cures and remedies with vinegar, apple cider vinegar, baking soda and olive oil. All these are natural cures and remedies for dandruff. A common home remedy for dandruff which even works as a preventive method is aloe vera or tea tree oil which can applied and left overnight, to wash the next morning. Oily scalps, which often lead to dandruff, can be helped by a steam bath. If you have dry hair, try massaging your scalp with an oil like olive or sesame oil. This will reduce the dryness of the scalp and the incidence of dandruff. Lime peel in coconut milk is also very good for your scalp to reduce dandruff. After soaking the peel for a few days, dry in the sun. Then apply this peel vigorously to your scalp. Even the application of lemon juice is considered a good cure for dandruff. Application of yogurt on an oily scalp before washing it is also very good for dandruff. Olive oil also works well for dandruff. Apply it to your scalp when the hair is wet. It is ideal if the oil is warm and massage it well onto the scalp. Cover your head after the massage and wash after 30 minutes. Shampoo well and air dry your hair, so as not to dry your scalp.
Apple cider vinegar or even just vinegar mixed with warm water and applied is very good to get rid of dandruff. A side benefit is that the vinegar acts as a good conditioner for the hair too, making it shiny and manageable. Any form of vinegar is okay to be applied, as long as it is diluted. You can even rub some baking soda on your scalp. Rinse this mixture out after some time and then dry your hair. If your scalp or hair is dry, this remedy could worsen that condition. You can even try a home remedy with aspirin. Adding the crushed aspirin to your regular shampoo is known to reduce the incidence of dandruff.
A diet high in fats and carbohydrates can increase dandruff so ensure that your child gets an adequate amount of leafy green vegetables and fruits for a balanced diet. Some amount of dandruff is also caused by stress and while it sounds idyllic, you should show your child some stress relieving techniques like deep breathing and meditation. While your child may not do it every single time, it will help reduce some of the stress that he faces, bringing down the incidence of dandruff.
