Dandruff can be very annoying, especially when your kids get it. It can be irritating and painful for your kids if the severity of it increases. Your kids might constantly scratch, leading to a red and dry scalp. You must treat dandruff in time so it doesn’t worsen. Here we will try to understand dandruff better and discuss ways to fight it.
What Is Dandruff?
When dry white flakes appear on the scalp, know it’s dandruff. It is a buildup of dead cells that accumulate on the scalp of your head.
Causes
Dandruff can be caused by many reasons like not shampooing your kid’s well, seborrheic dermatitis, not having a nutritious diet and dryness in weather.
How to Recognize That Your Kid Has Dandruff?
You will see your kid scratching his scalp frequently, and sometimes the scalp will appear sore and swollen due to scratching and itching. Moreover, you will notice white flakes on your kid’s back and shoulders.
Can Dandruff Go Away from Your Kid’s Scalp Once Treated?
Dandruff is hard to fight. It keeps on coming and going. However, if you maintain a daily dandruff treatment routine and stay consistent, you can prevent it from coming back. Your kids might need to see a doctor if it doesn’t go away after three weeks of dandruff treatment.
If flaky patches remain and if your child keeps on scratching his scalp regardless of the treatment, you need to go for other ways to fight dandruff. You can use many techniques and remedies to fight it off on your kid’s scalp. Here are some ways
Apply A Medicated Shampoo
You might wonder what causes dandruff on your kid’s scalp. Even if the diet is good, how can you fight it? You can treat seasonal dandruff using an anti-dandruff or medicated shampoo. Wash your kid’s scalp daily with the medicated shampoo and see the results.
What Ingredients Should You Look For In Kid’s Medicated Shampoos?
A good medicated shampoo for kids will fight dandruff. However, many anti-dandruff shampoos contain Zinc Pyrithione, which has antifungal and antibacterial ingredients, but Zinc Pyrithione might be harmful to the sensitive scalp of kids. Hence avoid such shampoos. Instead, go for mild-medicated ones.
Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Use sulfate-free shampoo on your kid’s scalp, as it will remove the buildup of oil and dirt. Ask a pharmacist to recommend an excellent sulfate-free shampoo for your kid. Brush the hair before showering, as brushing the scalp will lift the dandruff flakes causing them to wash off during shampoo.
How Often Should A Medicated Shampoo Be Used?
If the dandruff is almost gone, there is no need to use medicated shampoo daily on your kid’s scalp. Use it alternatively. But to prevent it from returning, use medicated shampoo twice weekly on your kid’s scalp.
Home Remedies to Fight Dandruff On Kids
Kids have sensitive scalps. Home remedies that treat dandruff work better on kids than chemical shampoos do. Let’s see some home remedies:
Lemon Juice
Mixing lemon juice with coconut oil and applying it on your kid’s scalp is a well-known way to fight dandruff. You can also add lemon juice to your kid’s shampoo, which will instantly balance the pH level of the scalp and remove excess oil from the scalp. After applying, massage your kid’s scalp, and wash it off with a mild shampoo.
A Mixture of Egg Whites
Egg whites are abundant in amino acids, which can assist in controlling excessive oil production. You just have to add the juice of one small lemon to one egg white. After making a mixture, apply it to your child’s scalp and leave it for at least 15 minutes. Use cold water and shampoo to clean the scalp afterwards.
A Blend of Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is a plant that has a thick gel-like consistency. It has many benefits like strengthening and nourishing the scalp. You need to take out the gel part from the aloe vera plant and blend it. Apply the blend on the scalp of your child and massage. Aloe vera will reduce redness or irritation due to itchiness and clear your scalp from dandruff and oil buildup.
Conclusion
You will find various ways and products that promise to remove dandruff. However, not all of the products work, and not all are made for the delicate scalps of kids. Use the above methods to treat the dandruff of your child. These methods are safe as they won’t irritate your child’s soft and sensitive scalp.
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