Q&A from Sunday Times Lifestyle Magazine
______________________________________________________________________
Q: My son suffers from scaly patches on his scalp. It looks like
cradle cap, and I have a similar problem. Do you think this is
because we are short of some vitamin or mineral?
L Membridge, Derbyshire
A: Cradle cap in children is a form of seborrhoeic dermatitis, an
inflammatory skin complaint that can also appear on the eyebrows and
eyelids, in and around the ears, around the nose and in the groin
area. It is the result of the sebum-producing oil glands in the scalp
going into overdrive to produce the telltale thick, waxy and yellowy
encrustations, which look itchy, but are not.
As the problem is persistent, what you may be dealing with is a
secondary fungal infection, the best treatment for which starts from
the inside out, using probiotics to rebuild levels of the good
bacteria in the digestive tract; these help keep such organisms in
check. If you are treating very small children, use Biocare’s
Bifidobacterium Infantis, which is even safe for newborns. It costs
£22.50 for 60g; order direct from the company on 0121 433 3727.
Mix a
quarter of a teaspoon with a little warm water daily.
To treat a current infection, mix a little olive oil with pure tea
tree oil (I like the Dessert Essence brand, which is now widely on
sale) and massage affected areas with this lotion. Use a shampoo that
does not contain sodium lauryl sulphate, a commercial foaming agent
that, in high concentrations, can lead to the breakdown of protein in
the body and exacerbate the problem. I like the chemical-free Green
People range. Call 01444 401444 for a catalogue.
I get mild attacks of SebDerm only around the sides of my nose. Has
anyone tried the olive oil/tea tree oil mixture described in the
article ? Has anyone any opinions on the use of Pro-biotics to
rebuild levels of the good bacteria in the digestive tract ? I notice
that flare-ups for me are almost always either associated with stress
or physical excersise. In fact I stopped going to the gym for a
period last year and my sebderm went away.
Thanks,
MarkyP