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If your child is constantly scratching their head, there may be various reasons for this. The symptoms can usually be alleviated quickly.
Child constantly scratches their head: these causes may be behind it
Children often scratch their heads. There can be many different reasons for this. If you know the cause of the constant scratching and itching, you can help your child more quickly.
- Head lice are one of the most common causes of itchy heads in children. The small animals often settle behind the ears and on the back of the head. If your child has lice, this is not usually due to a lack of personal hygiene. Instead, the small parasites are often transmitted from head to head at school, kindergarten or in sports clubs.
- In addition, increased sun exposure can also lead to itching. Sensitive scalps in particular can become too irritated under increased sunlight and trigger itching;
- Dandruff also causes increased itching on the scalp.
The dandruff can in turn be caused by allergic reactions or increased stress; - In addition, various skin diseases are also a possible cause of your child’s itchy scalp. Neurodermatitis or seborrheic dermatitis, for example, are skin diseases that lead to a dry, itchy scalp. In younger children, on the other hand, cradle cap, an inflammatory disease of the scalp, can trigger the itching. Scalp itch can also trigger itching in babies. However, the crust usually disappears by itself and does not require any special treatment;
- Sometimes various care products are also the trigger for itching Allergic reactions to shampoos or creams can therefore also be the cause of increased itching on the scalp
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Child scratching their head – how you can help your child
If your child is constantly scratching their head, you can help them to get rid of the itching quickly with a few tips and advice. However, if the symptoms persist, you should consult your pediatrician. You can also consult a dermatologist. Your child will be comprehensively examined, advised and treated there.
- Examine your child’s scalp carefully. This is the only way to identify the exact cause of the itching. If lice are the cause of the itching, you should use a special lice repellent and a lice comb to remove the lice quickly.
- Use a mild, fragrance-free shampoo. This will soothe your child’s irritated scalp and reduce itching. Also apply a nourishing hair care product at least once a day. Special, mild shampoos with active ingredients such as zinc pyrithione or selenium disulphide are suitable for children with dandruff. However, these shampoos should only be used after consulting a pediatrician.
- Shower your child with lukewarm water and limit the shower time to five minutes. This will prevent the scalp from drying out and becoming irritated.
- Gently dry your child’s hair with a towel. Do not rub the scalp, but gently pat the skin dry. Carefully brush your child’s hair with a soft-bristled brush. This will prevent injury to the sensitive scalp;
- In addition to soothing oils, mild, moisturizing creams can also help against itching. You can have the creams prescribed by your pediatrician.
- Reduce stress for your child. Children quickly suffer from psychological stress, such as a change of school or moving house.
Finding out the cause of the increased stress and reducing it can also alleviate your child’s symptoms.
