What's going on with son's scalp? (Pictures attached - don't click if squeamish!)

[BoxOfShapes]

Hi everyone, I'm wondering if anyone might know what my toddler could have going on on his scalp and how best to treat it?

He has these big greasy flakes which don't seem to bother him or itch, and it doesn't look red underneath. Thought just seborrheic dermatitis (I get this too) but when I tried to pull flakes out the hair easily came away with them in my fingers! Would that normally happen in this case?

I can't get him to a GP at the moment for obvious reasons and am wondering how best to treat it. Also want to check it's not something he could pass on, like tinea capitis.

He does have a history of eczema which is otherwise well controlled at the moment (tiny bit behind his ears).

Would be grateful for any words of wisdom!

Looks like cradle cap!

I have psoriasis and eczema and this looks like the psoriasis I get on my scalp. I'm currently using Alphosyl shampoo which helps. I've also previously had various other items on prescription for the scalp psoriasis and Cocois worked well for me when it was really bad.

PS it's localised, most severe in one patch on the top of his head and then slightly dry and flaky in the area forward of it too

Posted to soon. You can buy cradle cap shampoo, can remember the name, possibly made by dentiniox?? I used to pick my DC off with a comb, probably not recommended though!

Thank you both. I agree it looks like cradle cap (which he never had when little). I think that's what seborrheic dermatitis is.

Would cradle cap or psoriasis cause the hair to just come out in my fingers do you know?

I'd be interested too! My Ds also had it, from 6 months ish.

Assumed cradlecap, but none of the shampoos shifted it. He's now 6 and still has it a bit. I asked the pharmacist about 3 months ago, they said I'd need to take him to the GP as stronger treatments are prescription only for under 12, and it could be dermatitis.

Mine had that, it was like a late cradle cap. We called it the "scritchy scratchy".

One thing that removed it (though it would come back eventually) was oiling his head with olive oil about an hour - half hour before a bath, then washing it out, then combing through the hair with a nit comb. It softened it and it came out without removing hair. Might be worth a try?

@Namechangedagain2 Thank you. It's tempting to pick it off but when I tried the hair was just coming away! Did that happen with your DC?

It looks like cradle cap to me - it can occur in toddlers. Might be worth trying an OTC cradle cap remedy?

Sorry, cross posted!

Looks like cradle cap to me too. My son used to have it and hair would always come off along with some of the flaky skin bits! Dentinox shampoo worked a treat! X

My DD had this - i remember picking it all out on a long haul flight! yes the hair comes too. Or it will fall out by itself eventually. don't worry.

Thank you all!

My daughter had this. She had bad cradle cap as a baby then a flare up as a teen. My hairdresser recommended magik mineral shampoo from Holland & Barrett. Brilliant stuff!

My daughter had exactly this when she was a toddler, I was most worried when the hair started to come out with the flakes. I completely etely left it untouched apart from it getting wet in the bath and it sorted itself out over time.
She is 19 now and I'm pleased to say has a full head of hair with no bald or weaker patches.
If you are worried a pharmacist may be able to reassure you, they are still available to talk to obviously observing social distancing and I would imaging have seen this before

DS got late cradle cap and I've had something similar, we have various allergies and eczema so I imagine it's related. Aveda do a scalp scrub called Pramasana Scalp Cleanser. If you massage it in, and sort of scrub with your fingers, before a shower, it seems to get rid of most of it. It's an adult formulation but worked on DS 6 with no issues.

Sporners corner would love those pictures! Have to admit I’m enjoying them

You should be able to phone your gp and/or email photos. They will take a look for you, and probably prescribe some salicylic acid shampoo. I did similar with my toddler with another skin issue lately

Aye, looks like cradle crap.

My youngest goes through phases of it. Oiling him up then using a baby comb helps shift it. Of he gets the build up and thicker flakes he looses his hair with them. Once a week I try to give him a scrub with a baby brush to keep on top of it.

I should not have felt so smug that he had never had cradle cap as a baby!

Again thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions.

Psoriasis.

Oops wrong thread sorry!

@SoapyChoc does the psoriasis on your scalp cause you pain/bother? Just that he doesn't seem bothered by his!

Cradle cap - my oldest had it, I rub conditioner into his hair, leave it as long as possible and comb with a nit comb to get as much out as possible.

Cradle cap. My DD has this but it's been stuck to her head since she was born- it was originally just a slightly different colour and has now started flaking off. Hair does come with it, so I only clear the ones ready to come and don't try and get it all at once, if you know what I mean.

I think the hair is attached to the cradle cap in DD's case, because it doesn't hurt her to remove the pieces with a comb- if it were pulling the hair out, surely it would?