During the first months of life, it is frequent that babies have crusts of milk on the skull or on certain places in the body. Causes, treatment, crusts of infected milk … The advice and advice of the pediatrician Anne Samouel Debbabi.
There babies being fragile, sometimes some infants have small crusts on the scalpand sometimes on eyebrows and in skin folds. We then talk about milk crusts. A frequent phenomenon which in principle has no relation to a hygiene problem, but this name is rather linked to the aesthetic aspect of crusts. In general, the crusts of milk appear during the first six months of baby’s life. They are the most often benign and are not contagious. Until what age does baby have crusts of milk? Should they be removed? The pediatrician Anne Samouel Debbabi answers questions and gives us her advice.
What is milk crusts in baby?
Milk crusts, also called seborrheic dermatitis of infants, are common in young children. Concretely, Les Fenals of milk are small yellowish or white plates, fat or dry, which appear in particular on the infant scalp. “On The strictly medical plan is called a dermatitis erythemato-squameuse. That is, the skin is inflamed and it ooys, which leads to the formation of crusts in Dry “explains the pediatrician Anne Samouel Debbabi.
Face, eyebrow, scalp, where does milk crusts appear?
Most often, the milk crusts appear on the scalpand merge among baby’s little hair. But it is also that the crusts of milk touch baby buttocks, eyebrows or skin folds (The fold of the elbows, behind the knee, in the neck, under the armpits).
Do milk crusts have a smell?
In some cases, Milk crusts can have a bad smellsometimes like a smell of dried milk. This can be a sign that crusts are infected. If this is the case, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Until what age do milk crusts appear?
Milk crusts are so called because it is generally the infants who have it, During the period when they are fed within or at the bottlebut it can also exist in larger children. “That can last all the time of the Milky period, so at least the first six months. Afterwards, when the child consumes less milk because he has started food diversification, there can be an improvement, but This can continue up to 1 year, even more“”specifies the health professional.
“That Can last all the time of the Milky period, therefore at least the first six months. But it can also continue up to 1 or even more. “
Why does my baby have crusts of milk?
If some children have crusts of milk, it is because they do not digest dairy products. “Of My personal experience, I realized that when I had these food diets deleted from the nursing mother’s diet, or when you change infant milk, you got an improvement. So, for me, It is a manifestation of the skin in babies who do not digest products dairy“”details the pediatrician.
If they appear for this reason, other signs may confirm the hypothesis. “When An infant does not digest milk, this can also result in regurgitations, transit problems, eczema, deposits on the language … When the language is white, it is a sign of bad digestion”, explains Anne Samouel Debbabi. In addition, in general, the crusts of milk can also be caused by An excess of sebum or by a Mushroom proliferationMalassezia type yeasts, the health insurance site indicates.
Should the crusts of milk?
Milk crusts are unsightly, but are not dangerous except in case of infection, and that is why it is advisable to remove them, but gently. Indeed, qUand we don’t THE Do not remove, they can become thicker and this can cause an infection, prevents the pediatrician. Then you have to check that we found the cause. If the baby’s doctor believes that they are caused by a digestion problem and that he changes his diet, “He You have to remove them to see if they reform. If we leave the crusts that are in place, it will be more difficult to observe. When they do not reform, that means that we found the origin of the problem and that we were able to treat the cause”explains Anne Samouel Debbabi.
To remove milk crusts, you must first soften them. “He there are several products to soften them, to let put an hour before bath”underlines the specialist. We thus find Emollient creams, sold in pharmacies or drugstores, And it is also possible to use products that everyone has at home, A gentle shampoo or petroleum jelly and olive oil. As for the grandmother’s remedy which consists of use breast milkthe pediatrician explains to us that“he is very good for the skin and can be used to soothe gluteal erythema, so we can think that it can do GOOD”. Then, once the product chosen has posed and that the crusts have softened, it is enough to use a soft and soft hair brush during the bath to remove the crusts.
Can we use liniment for milk crusts?
If the milk crusts are thick, using liniment can be useful for natural treatment. The liniment being a fatty body, composed of lime water and olive oil, it will soften the crusts while peeling them off from the scalp or skin folds, depending on where they are. The little extra is that Liniment will also hydrate the skin.
Is petroleum jelly effect for milk crusts?
Vaseline is a product that is commonly recommended in case of infant milk crusts. In general, it is recommended to apply petroleum jelly 1 to 2 hours before washing baby and passing a comb or a glove gently, without scratching, on milk crusts. Eilly vaseline is also a fatty substance that will allow you to peel off the crusts of thick milk. The only negative point is that it is not a natural product. It is paraffin, in other words oil jelly.
Can we use sweet almond oil to remove milk crusts?
L’sweet almond oil is an ideal natural fatty product that can be used to soften and remove the crusts of milk. It is also one of the products which are often recommended in the treatment of milk crusts. To use it, simply take a sterile compress or an oate stamp, soak it with sweet almond oil and delicately buffer the milk crusts with the product. Leave to act for several minutes, while the oil can soften the plates. Then, using a comb, without rubbing or scratching the baby’s skull, the crusts will leave at once.
Infected milk crusts, when to worry?
“If The crusts of milk take on an naughty appearance, not clean or if there is a smell that cleared”Anne Samouel Debbabi recommends making an appointment with the pediatrician, as it may suggest that there is a superinfection. Another risk is that if the crusts are not withdrawn, the hair starts to fall under the crusts. However, young parents must not panic: Milk crusts do not represent danger. If in doubt, it is always possible to consult a doctor, but our specialist wants to be reassuring: “As long as it remains clean and especially that the child seems to be well, there is no worries.”
Thanks to Anne Samouel Debbabi, homeopath pediatrician, now retired since June 2019.
