Any ideas? (Mystery scab pics)

[suspiciousofgoldfish]

My two year old has recently developed these scabs, always on his scalp. They appear overnight, or seemingly from nowhere.

They start as red patches and turn to scabs, and sometimes they ooze and crust over.

Been to the doctors numerous times, they are stumped. They gave treatment for impetigo (which the childminder says it is not), and still haven't cleared up.

I keep them clean with hot salty water and sudocream at night, which seems to help.

But they always reappear! Any ideas?

[Eyedrophell]

My eldest Ds get scabs in his hair. He picks his head when he is asleep, no idea why.

[suspiciousofgoldfish]

Thanks for replying.

It doesn't bother me when they are small and dry, like pic 1, but they inevitably turn weepy and gross (pic 2).

The gps say don't worry, all kids get rashes etc. But they became infected and he had to take ABs, which I would rather avoid.

Does anyone else have any experience of toddlers scabby heads?

[beautifulgirls]

Have you tried changing shampoo to see if perhaps he is just reacting to something in the product you are currently using?

[WutheringFrights]

Both my kids have these at the moment...definitely not nits but just scabby!
I realise that's not helpful...

[Tanfastic]

My son had a tiny patch of leftover cradle cap on his head that he started picking when he was about 3/4. It would scab over but before it was properly healed he'd pick it again causing bleeding and oozing much like your second pic.

We tried everything bar cutting his bloody hands off. Unfortunately it got infected and he ended up with cellulitis which crept down his forehead and made his whole head swell. He was very poorly.

Since then he stopped picking but he's 8 now and sometimes I till catch him picking at the scar that's left but since I've told him he will go bald if he carries on it seems to have worked .

[VforVienetta]

Both my boys have this at the moment too! 2 and 5.
They've both had cradle cap, so I've been using Dentinox on them for the last couple of weeks and they've both healed up - 2yos is completely sorted, and 5yos improving but he picks it so it's taking longer.
I do wonder if it's a contagious infection tbh as I think I have something similar on my scalp at the mo too. Might have to Dentinox myself!

[Zooppy]

Can I just say, I love your nails!

[suspiciousofgoldfish]

Zooppy thanks.

Good to hear your thoughts thanks everyone.

I did think it might be cradle cap/dermatitis related but DH is convinced it's something sinister.

Off to the local Boots to speak to the pharmacist tomorrow, will see what they say.

I feel a bit better that other people have seen this, gps were a bit bewildered.

[suspiciousofgoldfish]

Nail polish is Nails Inc The New White btw.

[MyNameWasAlreadyTaken]

I get this. Mines a reaction to shampoo. Switching to a silicone free everything free shampoo cleared it up. As soon as I go back to others it starts again so ridiculously expensive shampoo it is for or me

[LittleNatalie]

MYNAMEWASALREADYTAKEN what's the name of shampoo you used that got rid of the sores?