Lumpy flaky scalp - nearly three year old

[OneTwoOrThree]

DD (nearly 3) has a horrible flaky scalp. She had scaly / flaky bits all over the top, and about half of this area is covered in big lumps of, what looks like dead skin. I can't tease the lumps out without her hair falling out too, and she has so little hair she can't afford to lose any.

I've been using dentinox for months, have tried olive oil and in a last ditch attempt we've done 6ish hairwashed with head & shoulders.

(hit send too soon)

So, ladies (& gents).... Do you think this is cradle cap, or something else? Any suggestions how to get rid of it? I should add that it doesn't bother DD, nor does it appear itchy. It just doesn't look/ feel nice.

Thanks

Bump

I'll join you for some solidarity, but don't have a solution.

I've got a 2.9 DS with exactly what you describe. The flaky bits are stuck to the hair such that it often pulls the hair out if you pull them out. His hair is very fine but VERY VERY thick - I thought that part of the problem was that it gets hot & sweaty in there, but maybe not if your DD is the opposite. He's had it pretty much forever. We've tried olive oil, baby shampoo and dentinox. I think the dentinox makes it slightly better but doesn't get rid of it.

I've also got a 4.7 DS who also has it, but not quite so bad (lumps are smaller!). I asked pharmacist when he was about 2 - they said it was cradle cap. HV etc always told me to just ignore cradle cap - though they were referring to small babies.

So I've got head in sand and am ignoring, alternated with occassional ineffective olive oil blitz.

Also discovered (after comic relief day) that a good thick application of hair gel seems to lift the flaky bits. If you are desparate!

All my DCs have suffered with cradle cap. When the youngest was 4 mths he had it very badly and the doctor said that while the flaky lumps were there dentinox would be useless as it couldn't penetrate to the scalp. She also said "I'd just pick it all off, but you didn't hear that from me"
They've all had it on and off until about 3/4 yrs old and I just give it a big old pick after rubbing with olive oil. The hair does grow back. I think maybe the CC makes the hair look thinner anyway as it's just growing into the waxy stuff.

Thanks everyone.

As there doesn't seem to be a miracle solution, I'm going to commence "operation scalp" and go with a week or so of intensive olive oil and head&shoulders treatment.

Poor DD. I worry that the lumps are stopping her hair growing, and she'll end up starting school with next to no hair .

That said, there are far worse problems she could have than a vain mother

Do you brush the hair through with lashings of conditioner on? DD2's scalp went like that when daddy took over bathtime when DD3 was born. Brushing the scalp when it's wet and conditioned should loosen the flakes over a week or two if done every other night.

DD also has this (she's 2.5th) has had it from birth. I use olive oil before bed then comb it all out in the morning with a nitty gritty comb it's fabulous. Gentle on her scalp, doesn't pull the hair out & cleans her scalp right up. It does come back again though so it's not a cure, just makes her scalp look a bit better. I do this for a couple of days in a row every couple of months and it keeps it at bay.

My son had the same problem, doctor said to put some conditioner on after shampooing so it moisturises it. I scrub with dentinox, rinse, apply leave in conditioner and then comb the bits out afterwards. He calls them his "wincers". Moisturising has helped loads.