How to Prevent Dandruff in Kids

Whether they're too tall or too small, children often get picked on for anything that is "different" about them. Even a common medical condition like dandruff, with its telltale greasy flakes, can be a big source of social, as well as physical, discomfort. Fortunately, medical research has led to some highly effective dandruff remedies that can turn a previously annoying and irritating scalp condition into a distant memory.

In most cases, it is easy to figure out if your child has dandruff. If you notice white or yellow flakes on your child's clothes or that your child suddenly seems to be scratching his scalp a lot, there is a good chance your child has dandruff, the popular name for a medical condition known as seborrheic dermatitis.

As the first line of defense against dandruff, parents should to be sure their children wash their hair daily with an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner. Use of coal tar shampoos or other hair-washing products that contain key ingredients such as selenium sulfide, zinc and salicylic acid ketokonazole can slow down the growth of a fungus called malessezia and curb the rapid growth of oily sebum, two factors that cause dandruff to flourish.

Although an itchy scalp may tempt children to scratch their heads, parents should advise their children to resist the urge because scratching can worsen the symptoms and may break the skin.

If an over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner do not rid your child of dandruff, take your child to a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin and scalp problems, who can prescribe a mild steroid or anti-fungal cream to treat more stubborn or severe cases of dandruff.

Once their dandruff is under control, parents should be sure their dandruff-prone children wash their hair daily with a maintenance therapy of anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner, which will moisturize the hair and hopefully prevent future flare-ups.