Children that are born with Atopic skin conditions are naturally prone to having an extremely delicate skin that requires extra care. The skin care and hair care products should be chosen wisely and after consulting a dermatologist.
Using pH 5.5 Skin and Hair Products
Babies are naturally born with a skin pH value of 7 and take a few months to develop a pH level of 5.5. pH neutral products are not good for the baby’s skin and any other pH value can severely damage their sensitive skin. pH 5.5 not only makes skin soft and smooth, but it also aids in skin renewal and protects skin from infections.
My daughter has Atopic Dermatitis since birth. She is a few months shy of 7 and very recently her Atopic Dermatitis has taken the form of Scalp Eczema or Seborrheic Dermatitis. It’s a very tough situation for us as we have to be very particular about her hair care and skin care products. I just can’t walk up to an aisle and pick a random fancy looking shampoo.
How to Care for Scalp of Children with Atopic Skin Conditions
Atopic Dermatitis has several forms. The type of dermatitis commonly appearing on the scalp is also called as Scalp Eczema or Seborrheic Dermatitis. It’s a form of eczema which causes inflamed, itchy and dry skin patches on the scalp to form dandruff. It is caused due to overproduction of sebum, the natural oil secreted by the sebaceous or oil glands in the skin. However, it’s not contagious. It may or may not be persistent or seasonal.
Source: www.everydayhealth.com
What causes Scalp Eczema?
There can be many reasons for the breakout of Scalp Eczema in children:
- Extreme Weather Conditions: Too dry or too cold weather may trigger eczema.
- Sweaty scalp – If the sweat remains on the scalp, it will breed infection.
- Harsh chemicals in hair care products
- Heredity – Heredity plays a very important role. A child may develop eczema if there is a family history of allergies like hay fever, asthma and atopic eczema.
Here’s what I do on a daily basis to keep her scalp clean and infection-free:
- Dietary choices: Avoid giving oily, deep fried and food with high carbs. Oily food leads to oil production in skin glands making it oily and more prone to infections.
- No overnight oiling: It’s a big no! Overnight oiling will only breed infection.
- Regular cleaning: To keep the scalp oil free, shampoo regularly and keep the scalp clean. Avoid using hair conditioners as they are loaded with harmful chemicals.
- Avoid tying the hair for long – The sweat on the scalp has to dry out. Sweaty scalp breeds infection.
- Consulting a dermatologist: This is very important. Don’t become your kid’s doctor and start applying random products. It’s a serious skin condition which, if treated rightly, can be controlled and reduced. Consult a dermatologist as soon as you spot the itchy patches.
- Choosing the right shampoo – The shampoo should be chosen wisely. A shampoo with harsh and toxic chemicals will only worsen the condition. Choose a pH 5.5 shampoo which is gentle and doesn’t irritate the scalp in any way.
Upon consulting the dermatologist, the dermatologist recommended using Sebamed Children Shampoo for cleaning my daughter’s hair and scalp along with other medicinal products to be used for a defined period of time. I use Sebamed Children Shampoo on my daughter’s hair and scalp and I like the fact that it doesn’t irritate her scalp or makes it dry.
Why I like Sebamed Children Shampoo?
- It’s pH 5.5 which means it’s completely safe on her skin.
- The shampoo is transparent with negligible fragrance.
- Requires very little quantity while washing the hair. A coin-sized dollop is sufficient.
- It cleans the scalp nicely and gives a beautiful sheen and texture to the hair.
- It’s soap free so doesn’t lather much.
- I like the spill proof packaging and it’s easy to control the amount of the shampoo with the little nozzle on the cap.
- It’s tear-free and paraben-free.
- Doesn’t require any follow up with conditioner or serum.
Sebamed is a German brand that specializes in pH 5.5. All Sebamed skin and hair products maintain a pH value of 5.5 and they ensure that the pH value remains the same through their strict quality checks. Sebamed skin and hair products keep the skin and hair healthy and retain their natural texture.
I am very happy using Sebamed products because her hair and skin love them. Her scalp is not itchy anymore and her hair look lustrous. Even though the products are highly priced, I say they are worth every penny.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. The experiences shared above are my own. I have written this blog using the advice, as a reference, given by our doctor while treating the specified condition. The experiences shared above are my own. If your child has any medical skin condition, please consult a doctor before using any product for your child. Even though the product sample was provided, my review has not been influenced by the brand in any way.
