Drugs to Treat Milky Crust

Definition

The term "cradle cap" is commonly used to express a typically infantile form of seborrheic dermatitis, responsible for the formation of a scaly crust on the baby's scalp. It is certainly not a serious or dangerous condition, but the cradle cap can also affect the skin of the baby's face; however, this dermatitis tends to resolve itself in a few months.

Causes

Clinical evidence shows that the hyperproduction of sebum in the scalp can favor cradle cap; however, the cause that triggers all this has not yet been identified with certainty. Possible and hypothesized are the maternal hormones (androgens) that , even after birth, they remain in the baby's blood, altering his hormonal balance.

• Risk factors: food allergies / intolerances, fungal infections, scabies

Symptoms

Cradle cap is manifested by typical thick crusts on the scalp, associated with erythema, dandruff, oily skin, sometimes itching. The flakes of skin can also affect the nose, eyelids, ears and groin.

The information on the Milk Crust - Drugs for the Treatment of the Milk Crust is not intended to replace the direct relationship between the health professional and the patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Milky Crust - Drugs to Treat Milky Crust.

Medicines

The cradle cap tends to self-resolve after a few months from onset (and from birth), therefore this condition only rarely requires pharmacological treatments and specific medical care.
It is recommended to wash the baby's hair with cradle cap with mild and non-aggressive shampoos, avoiding brushing the hair too often. If the problem persists, consult your doctor, who usually recommends products based on tar, ketoconazole or selenium, substances useful for accelerating healing.
In some patients, the application of cortisone-based creams is recommended to reduce inflammation and redness.

The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against cradle cap, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:

• Selenium disulfide (eg Selsun Blu Anti-dandruff): the product is available both as a shampoo (1-2.25%), and as a foam, for topical application. The shampoo is generally used twice a week; afterwards, wash your hair with selenium shampoo every 2-4 weeks. It is not necessary to use this formulation too often to keep the typical symptoms of cradle cap under control. Alternatively, the foam should be applied to the scalp or cradle affected area twice a day. The treatment may cause mild local irritation.
• Ketoconazole (eg Triatop, Nizoral, Asquam): to be preferred over selenium disulfide, since it causes less irritation on the scalp. Shampoos formulated with ketoconazole represent the cure of choice to solve the problem of cradle cap. Products based on this active are available in the form of gel, foam and cream. The cream and foam (both 2%) must be applied to the scalp twice a day for 4 weeks, or until the symptoms subside. The 2% gel should be applied to the area affected by the cradle cap once a day for 2 weeks.
• Clotrimazole (eg. Ducray Triazol): indicated to treat cradle cap caused by a fungal infection. Available in the form of a 2% shampoo, the product is indicated for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in adults and for the treatment of cradle cap in infant, to reduce redness and swelling.
• Miconazole nitrate (eg Miconal, Daktarin): apply the product on injured skin for 7-14 days. This is a second choice drug for cradle cap treatment; in fact, it is generally prescribed for the treatment of vaginal infections.
• Zinc pyrithione (eg. Lunaderm Sanitizing Mousse): this substance (antiseborrhoeic) is particularly recommended for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis proper (in adults), but less so in infants, since contact of the product with the eyes creates irritation and burning. Consult your doctor.
• Hydrocortisone (eg Locoidon, Colifoam): pharmacological products based on hydrocortisone are indicated to reduce swelling, possibly associated with itching, in children affected by cradle cap. It is recommended to use the product only under medical advice and prescription: as a guide, apply the hydrocortisone cream or gel once a day or every other day. Generally, drug therapy should be continued for a few weeks. Do not use the product beyond the recommended doses.

N.B. Cradle cap can be mistaken for ringworm: in this case, affected children are treated with antifungal medications. If the problem is solved in a short time with the topical application of antifungals, in all likelihood the little patient is suffering from ringworm; otherwise, it is cradle cap.

Natural remedies for the treatment of cradle cap

It is possible to treat the disorder with the application of vegetable oils before normal washing with delicate shampoos: the oils - such as borage, calendula, chamomile, olive and rice - soften the flakes created by the milk crust, speeding up the healing. Topical application of Vaseline oil to cradle-affected areas is another popular remedy.