Why does a two-month-old baby's scalp peel?

Peeling of the scalp in infants at 2-3 months

If the crusts on the head have no odor, there is no inflammation, this is considered normal.
Parents should not panic and sound the alarm if they see that the baby’s head is peeling - this is a natural phenomenon. An exception may be the case when dryness is accompanied by other alarming symptoms.

The child developed for nine months surrounded by liquid, and after birth found himself in an air space. His skin begins to gradually adapt to the new environment. Dryness is a peculiar reaction.

Also, crusts appear against the background of active work of the sebaceous gland. Infants have much more sebaceous secretions, as they have a protective function. Block the penetration of infections, harmful bacteria and various viruses. By the age of one year, the performance of the gland is normalized and the unpleasant symptoms disappear without a trace or consequences.

How a newborn changes

The baby is born, and we expect him to look like the beautiful and pink babies in the advertising pictures. And it is somehow red, then suddenly turns yellow, there is either a rash or peeling on the skin. And in addition, the weight is unstable, the stool is unclear - is the child healthy? Healthy, and all these changes are so-called transient (transitional) states. Where do they come from, what do they look like and what to do with all this?

The child sat in his mother’s belly for nine months, swam in the water and received oxygen through the placenta. As soon as the baby was born, his world immediately became different: instead of water there was air around him, the ambient temperature dropped from 36.6–37 °C to 22–25 °C, plus gravity, sounds, smells, bright light. And now you have to breathe yourself (with your lungs), eat differently, and then remove metabolic products. And just like that, it’s not easy for a newborn to immediately switch from one way of life to another; it takes time. That is why, from a physiological point of view, in the first month of life “something happens all the time” to children, and much more often and more vividly than in later life. These are transient (transitional, borderline) states. All of them surprise and even frighten young parents, especially since transitional states arise and disappear very quickly. But for newborns they are completely natural. What moms and dads most often see are transitional states of changes in skin, stool, weight, plus or minus a couple more conditions.

how skin changes

The child was born, and we see that he is all some kind of bluish-purple, and then the color of his skin immediately turns red. On the second day after birth, the baby “blushes” the brightest. Doctors call this redness “simple erythema,” and it appears because the skin is adapting to a new environment. Then the baby’s skin turns pale and by the end of the first week of life it becomes the usual pale pink color.

But that is not all. On the third to fifth day of life, the baby's skin may begin to peel, especially on the stomach and chest. What is this? Does the child lack vitamins, is there something wrong with the diet, is the air in the house too dry? No, this is also a transitional state - physiological peeling, and it is also due to the fact that the skin adapts to a new life. The skin peels for about a week, and then everything goes away. You don't need to do anything about it. Of course, you can treat the skin with various softening lotions and creams, but they will not have a significant effect. Very soon the baby's skin will become smooth and soft on its own.

What frightens parents most is the rash on the baby’s skin, which does not often, but sometimes still appear in the first week of life. This is the so-called toxic erythema - spots with grayish-yellow compactions in the center. The rash is most often located on the extensor surfaces of the arms and legs, around the joints, and on the chest. Less commonly, such spots can appear on the entire body (except for the palms, feet and mucous membranes). “Maybe it’s chickenpox, rubella or some other disease?” - Parents are scared. No, this is a peculiar reaction of the skin of a newly born child to its environment, especially to hypothermia, overheating, contact with clothing, and nutrition. New spots may appear within one to three days, but more often, two to three days after they appear, they all disappear without a trace. The child’s well-being is not affected, his body temperature is normal and he does not require any medications. The only thing is that you need to be careful about the bubbles on your skin: for example, gently blot them after bathing. You also need to be careful not to rub the blisters and burst them (otherwise they may become infected).

physiological jaundice

The changes visible on the skin do not end there. Very often (in 60–70% of children) the skin turns yellow on the second or third day of life, maximum yellowness occurs on the third or fourth day, and by the end of the first week it disappears. This is how physiological jaundice of a newborn manifests itself - a condition in which the amount of bile pigment, bilirubin, increases in the child. In some children, jaundice will look like a light tan (parents may not notice it), while in others the skin will become a bright yellow color. Very quickly, the bilirubin level returns to normal and the skin color returns to normal. If the jaundice is mild and goes away quickly, then no additional treatment is needed. But if the jaundice does not disappear or the skin color is intensely yellow, you should consult a doctor.

weight loss

Do you think the baby will be born immediately well-fed, with folds and cute roundness? No, immediately after birth this is still a long way off. In the first days of life, an already not very well-fed newborn will lose even more weight. This weight loss is a natural process, the so-called physiological weight loss. Weight decreases because immediately after birth the baby loses some of its water through the skin, its umbilical cord dries out, meconium (the first feces) and urine are released, and also because the baby still eats a small amount of milk. Maximum weight loss usually occurs by the third to fifth day and is normally no more than 6–8% of birth weight. At this time, mother and baby are usually discharged from the hospital, but there is no need to worry. By the seventh to tenth day of life, a healthy baby will restore its previous parameters.

stool changes

On the first or second day, all newborns pass their first stool (meconium): it is thick, viscous and dark green in color. Time passes, the baby begins to receive colostrum, and on the third or fourth day of life, transitional stool appears. Now areas of dark green color alternate with greenish and yellow, and some lumps and mucus are also visible in the stool. This all sounds like some kind of intestinal disorder, but it is not it. The gastrointestinal tract simply switches to a new job, now it is ready to digest food. By the end of the first week of life, most children's stools are yellow and mush-like, and they will continue to be that way.

warm-cold

A typical fear of all grandmothers is that the child is freezing! Yes, indeed, in newborns the processes of regulating body temperature are still imperfect, so babies easily cool down, but they also overheat just as easily. For example, if a newborn is dressed too warmly or placed next to a radiator, he will quickly overheat, even if this is the normal temperature in the room. At the same time, a child easily loses heat when he is undressed for a long time or lies in wet clothes. Therefore, in the room where there is a newborn, the air temperature should be adequate - 20–22 °C. And if she rises higher, and the child is dressed warmly, then this will also be bad.

Sometimes, very rarely (in 1% of children born), body temperature on the third to fifth day can temporarily rise to 38–39 °C. There are no other symptoms of the disease, the body temperature quickly returns to normal, but the parents manage to get scared. It’s difficult to figure out on your own whether it’s temporary hyperthermia or a disease, so it’s better to call a doctor.

hormonal crisis

An infrequent occurrence, but it also occurs sometimes. In some children, on the third or fourth day of life, the mammary glands become engorged (both girls and boys). They increase to their maximum by the seventh or eighth day, and liquid discharge may even appear from them. Some girls sometimes have very scanty bleeding from the vagina for a very short time. This is the so-called hormonal crisis - it occurs due to the action of maternal hormones - estrogens (they penetrate through the placenta during childbirth). At the peak of estrogen action, the signs of a hormonal crisis are maximum, then the hormones are eliminated from the body and the symptoms gradually disappear. Therefore, there is no need to apply a cabbage leaf to your chest, make compresses with camphor or anything else: everything will go away on its own.

Usually, all these transitional states are clearly expressed in the first week of life, less often, but it happens that they drag on for up to three to four weeks. Another point is that it is not necessary that the child will exhibit all transitional states, but physiological loss of body weight and transitional stool occurs in almost everyone. And many of the transitional states are completely invisible to parents, but they also exist; they can only be identified only by laboratory methods.

So we don’t rush to get scared when we notice that the child’s skin suddenly begins to peel off or he turns slightly yellow. We remember that he must adapt to the new life, that in the first time after birth the baby has the right to some changes. Especially if, despite all this, the baby is cheerful, calm and eats well. Well, if you are still somehow worried, ask your pediatrician questions. He will definitely be able to put everything in its place.

Insertion

Maximum weight loss in a newborn usually occurs by the third to fifth day and normally amounts to no more than 6–8% of birth weight.

From a physiological point of view, in the first month of life with children, “something happens all the time,” and much more often and more vividly than in later life. These are transient (transitional, borderline) states.

In infants, the processes of regulating body temperature are still imperfect, so they easily become hypothermic and overheated. In this regard, in the room where there is a newborn, the air temperature should be about 20–22 °C.

Physiological jaundice of a newborn:

– appears on the 2–3rd day of the baby’s life, reaches a maximum on the 4–5th day, and disappears by the 10th day;

– the child’s general condition does not suffer;

– the level of bilirubin in the blood does not exceed 180 µmol/l

How to identify the pathogen

It is almost impossible not to notice peeling, but there are still certain criteria that help to accurately identify the problem. Symptoms that are considered normal:

• the presence of a white or yellow crust;
• absence of any odor;
• problem areas make you want to scratch;
• the flaked pieces of skin resemble dandruff.

If you have any disease, slight swelling and redness may appear. In some cases, ignoring the symptoms can lead to the crust moving from the head to other parts of the body. Situations like this require medical attention.

How to eliminate peeling

The skin of a newborn is extremely thin, delicate, and of course, it is very prone to irritation, especially from aggressive secretions. Therefore, you need to take proper care of her: change diapers on time, wash the baby with warm water and specialized cleansing products, wipe the face and folds on the neck after each burping and feeding, bathe the baby daily and give air baths. After cleansing, lubricate all potentially problematic areas with special children's cosmetics.

It is important when caring not to use regular, “adult” soap - it dries out the skin of babies too much. There is a special product for this - hypoallergenic Cream-gel for washing babies with panthenol My Sun®. It contains dexpanthenol, which moisturizes the skin well, as well as lactic acid, which neutralizes the harmful effects of an alkaline environment upon contact with a wet diaper.

In some cases, parents are deprived of the opportunity to wash their child. In such cases, we recommend using Wet baby wipes with panthenol My Sun®. They are soft, hypoallergenic, contain moisturizing and softening components, and silver ions. Thanks to this special impregnation composition, the wipes gently cleanse, preventing dryness and irritation of even very delicate, sensitive skin.

Features of the influence of external and internal factors

After bathing, the crusts are gradually combed out.
Various factors can provoke the appearance of dry crusts. It is worth considering each case separately. External reasons include:

• Detergents. Soap and other care products contain a high content of chemicals and alkali. These components negatively affect the skin and cause excessive dryness. You should not resort to washing with soap and shampoo every day.
• Increased sweating occurs due to excessive wrapping. The child sweats, the hair becomes damp, irritation and flaking appear.
• Sun rays in large quantities negatively affect the baby’s skin, causing burns, which are accompanied by peeling. At sea, during walks, you should avoid direct contact with the sun.
• Synthetic bedding is the main irritant to a child's delicate skin. Only products made from natural, undyed fabric are suitable for babies.
• Powders and conditioners used when washing children's clothes can remain in the fabric, they provoke the appearance of peeling. It is worth giving preference to high-quality detergents that are designed specifically for children.

To make the scales separate faster, use an oil gel or cream.
Dryness is often caused by other irritants, which are more difficult to identify. A newborn’s head peels for the following reasons:

• Allergy. The mother needs to carefully monitor her diet, as she has a physiological connection with the baby. While breastfeeding, do not consume potential allergens: citrus fruits, chocolate, bee honey and seafood, otherwise all this will immediately affect the baby’s skin.
• Individual intolerance to formula milk if the child is artificially fed. It’s worth trying a different brand, since the problem cannot be solved without removing the main irritant.
• Fungal diseases are very often accompanied by peeling, but the disease is rarely found in newborns; children from two years of age are more likely to experience it. The exception is congenital ichthyosis. Both problems require drug treatment.
• Intestinal problems and helminthiasis. With these pathologies, additional symptoms appear: redness, itching and rash.

Vitamin deficiency is also an internal cause of skin problems. This situation requires contacting a pediatrician. Giving vitamin complexes to a child on your own is strictly prohibited.

Peeling - as a symptom of the disease

Eczema and atopic dermatitis

Characterized by red, dry patches on the skin. In infants, it most often occurs on the scalp or face. Parents are advised to look for triggers that could cause an outbreak: it could be a reaction to baby cosmetics or an allergy to an item. There is no cure for eczema, but doctors prescribe medications to help relieve symptoms.

Ichthyosis

A very rare disease in which babies are born with an extra layer of skin on their body. It consists of a layer of skin cells that should have sloughed off before being born. Such children are observed in the intensive care unit until the skin condition returns to normal.

Seborrheic dermatitis

In the first three months of your baby's life, you may notice that his scalp is flaking. Most likely, this is seborrheic dermatitis, which occurs in children of this age and goes away on its own. But if the condition worsens or drags on, do not delay a visit to the pediatrician.

Is it necessary to remove crusts from a baby's head?

If an infection gets into the skin, it is necessary to use antifungal ointments.
The crusts, as a rule, go away on their own by one year, so there is no need to do anything to eliminate them. According to pediatrician Komarovsky, measures should be taken in the following cases:

• suppuration forms;
• an unpleasant odor appears;
• a weeping surface is formed with the release of ichor;
• there is redness and swelling around the crust.

These symptoms indicate that an infection has penetrated the skin. These cases require contacting a clinic.

Treatment for peeling skin

Seborrheic dermatitis requires longer treatment.
Peeling needs to be treated if it is caused by any disease. All other cases do not need this; it is enough to carry out the treatment twice a day. You can use the old proven method:

• boil vegetable oil;
• cool it down;
• wipe problem areas on the head with a cotton pad soaked in oil.

The pharmacy has a wide selection of cosmetic mixtures for treating peeling skin. You can choose the oil taking into account your skin characteristics and individual intolerances.

Milk (seborrheic) crusts: what to do?

Most often, milk crusts occur from the first to the third months of a child’s life.

and in some cases last up to 6–9 months.

Causes

• Imbalance in the functioning of the sweat and sebaceous glands.
• Washing your hair too infrequently (less than once a week).
• Using unsuitable cleaning agents. Adult shampoos or soaps irritate a baby’s sensitive scalp and disrupt the sebaceous glands, and strong fragrances can cause allergies.
• Seborrheic crusts often appear in babies, whose parents put on caps or caps even in hot weather. Overheating provokes sweating, which the baby’s excretory system cannot yet cope with.

Why can’t milky crusts be combed out?

The milk crusts themselves are harmless. They cause discomfort to the baby only when parents begin to actively remove them! Why is that?

• If you remove the crusts carelessly, you can injure the baby’s skin and cause him pain.
• A secondary infection may enter the wound.
• When combing there is a risk of damaging hair follicles

​How to get rid of milk crusts and prevent their reappearance?

To get rid of milk crusts at home, use special products designed for newborns. Preferably without fragrances, parabens and harsh surfactants. The priority is natural ingredients, gentle exfoliating components and a hypoallergenic formula.

What is unique about the Mustela milk crust line?

The patented active components included in the products help to avoid the spread of the process and maintain the health of the hair and scalp without resorting to combing.

— It acts not only on the symptom, but also on the cause of the formation of the inflammatory environment¹.

— Results on average in 7 days².

— Effective for both eliminating and preventing the appearance of crusts³.

Which product is right for your baby and how not to make a mistake with the choice? Let's find out!

You need Milk Crust Cream if...

• Crusts are dense, yellowish
• Cover a significant area of ​​the scalp
• Apply to the skin of the face and neck

Mustela Milk Crust Cream contains 95% ingredients of natural origin.

It
promotes rapid removal of crusts, on average in 7 days²
and
in 100% of cases has a keratolytic effect, without combing² .
You need a foam shampoo if...

• The crusts are light, thin
• Located only on the head
• You want to prevent their appearance without waiting for milk crusts to appear

Mustela Foam Shampoo contains 99% ingredients of natural origin.

It
helps soften and wash away milky crusts³. In 100% of cases,
the product
helps prevent the reappearance of crusts³.
Comprehensive care regimen from Mustela for milky crusts:

Frequency of use when eliminating “complex” crusts with a large area of ​​distribution: 1 time per day. 1.

Apply Cream for “milk crusts” to problem areas and leave for 6-8 hours (use it until the crusts completely disappear)
2.
Wash off the Cream using Foam Shampoo, carefully massaging the scalp
3.
To prevent the reappearance of crusts, use Shampoo- Mustela foam on a regular basis

____________________________________

1. Avocado Polyphenols activity in the hair axis (September 2019) / Action of avocado polyphenols on hair (September 2019); 2. A clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of Cream for milk crusts, was carried out under the supervision of dermatologists and pediatricians, with the participation of 60 children aged from 2 days to 35 months 3. A clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of Foam Shampoo, was carried out under the supervision of dermatologists and pediatricians, with involving 38 children aged from 10 days to 3 years

​

Prevention of flaking of the scalp in infants

Preventive measures include strict adherence to the rules of hygiene and care.

• Do not use regular soap or gel for adults when bathing a newborn. It is better to use baby soap; it does not contain irritants or other substances dangerous to the baby.
• Water is pre-cleaned from chlorine, this is done by boiling, filtering or settling for several days. It is recommended to add herbal infusions as an emollient.
• After bathing, the head and body are dried with a soft towel, and the skin is treated with baby powder or special oil. If there is peeling on the baby's head, the crusts are combed out; for this you will need a soft brush without sharp metal teeth.

It is important to maintain a microclimate in the children's room that is comfortable for a newborn to live in. The temperature should be between 20-22 degrees, optimal humidity from 50 to 70%.

Causes of peeling skin in babies

Young parents often worry unnecessarily about their baby's dry, flaky, and red skin. The first days after birth, the baby's skin is usually bright red. This is normal: this is how adaptation to the air environment occurs after the transition from the aquatic environment. At this time, small subcutaneous vessels dilate, so the skin is bright.

Don't be alarmed if you notice that skin flakes are peeling off - this is a completely healthy process. At about 6-8 days, the baby’s skin peels off especially noticeably, which is not a pathology, allergy or care defect. This is also part of the process of adaptation to life in the air; the skin changes its structure.

You need to know that in the first 6-8 months of a newborn, the sebaceous and sweat glands almost do not function, so the skin is deprived of the most necessary thing - a lipid film that helps retain moisture in the body. This is why babies' skin is especially prone to dryness.

Parents should remember that most processes, be it redness, peeling or specific discharge, are part of the formation of the child’s body and its adaptation to new living conditions, which are strikingly different from the mother’s womb. And the task of parents is to help (or not interfere) with the maturation of the baby’s skin, and, if necessary, to ensure its protection.