question-icon

What Causes Peeling Of Scalp Skin?

default
Posted on Fri, 24 Oct 2014
Question: Hello doctor,
My son who is aged is 3 months old..since some days, his scalp skin is peeling off... earlier i thought, it is normal because of his age...but now its has spread a lot, and seems to be some kind of infection.Can you diagnose the same? is this due to some oil or shampoo which has reacted?what can be cause for this?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (27 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Cradle cap

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for posting on HealthCareMagic. I have gone through the details provided by you. I have also seen the images attached. The baby is probably suffering from a condition called cradle cap. It is basically a fungal infection of the scalp caused due to excessive oily secretion from the skin of scalp which subsequently gets infected.

Apply ketoconazole shampoo like Nizoral thrice weekly. The condition should gradually improve.

However, if there are any associated features like fever and skin rashes over other parts of the body, please let me know. In that case, also mention whether the baby is exclusively breast fed or whether top feeds are being given. Any medicine that the child is receiving? Also mention if the baby was born preterm and what was the birth weight.

Hope that the information provided by me would be helpful.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (16 minutes later)
thanks doctor, he was born full term....his weight was 2.74 kg....currently he weighs 4.64 kg...(as measured last on 25th sep.. he is exclusively on breast feeding....as of now giving him zincovit as medicine and sometimes gripe water.....he also has hair loss...how much time it would take to cure?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It is basically infant dandruff

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the information. Things seem fine in this regard.
Cradle cap or infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis may come and go depend on how oily the scalp is. As I mentioned, use ketoconazole shampoo. You may also apply candid (clotrimazole) lotion over it. The condition is likely to improve over a week or two.

Read more at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_cap
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/cradle_cap.html
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Diptanshu Das

Pediatrician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 3878 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Causes Peeling Of Scalp Skin?

Brief Answer: Cradle cap Detailed Answer: Thanks for posting on HealthCareMagic. I have gone through the details provided by you. I have also seen the images attached. The baby is probably suffering from a condition called cradle cap. It is basically a fungal infection of the scalp caused due to excessive oily secretion from the skin of scalp which subsequently gets infected. Apply ketoconazole shampoo like Nizoral thrice weekly. The condition should gradually improve. However, if there are any associated features like fever and skin rashes over other parts of the body, please let me know. In that case, also mention whether the baby is exclusively breast fed or whether top feeds are being given. Any medicine that the child is receiving? Also mention if the baby was born preterm and what was the birth weight. Hope that the information provided by me would be helpful.