Crusts behind the ears in a baby: possible causes and treatments

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Crusts behind the ears in a baby is a fairly common phenomenon. Young mothers, as a rule, notice them when they carry out daily hygiene procedures. Most of all, young parents are alarmed that this peeling has an unpleasant odor. In this article, we will understand the reason for their appearance, find out how dangerous this phenomenon is for the he alth of the child.

Crusts behind the ears of a baby are not only an aesthetic problem. Often they cause itching, because of which the baby can act up, cry, sleep badly. The child can constantly rub his head, refuse to eat. This phenomenon does not seem serious, but it is necessary to find out the reason. Consult a therapist, and he will determine the cause and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment. Next, let's talk about what could provoke the appearance of crusts behind the ears in the baby.

Baby hygiene failure and consequences

When a baby drinks milk from a breast or a bottle, some milk canspill over the ears. Sweat and dirt also accumulate here, and all this organic mixture begins to rot and provoke an unpleasant smell and irritation.

Hygiene procedures

To get rid of an unpleasant phenomenon, the following manipulations should be carried out. How to bathe a baby to get rid of crusts?

• During hygiene procedures, dip the child in water so that only the face remains on the surface. Thus, the crusts will become softer and easier to separate from the skin.
• After bathing, wipe dry behind the ears. Take a small piece of gauze, wrap your finger. Soak it in sea buckthorn oil. Lubricate a clean and dried surface to relieve irritation. Be careful, sea buckthorn oil can stain clothes!
• After a couple of minutes, gently wipe the treated areas. Remove the remaining oil and plaque along with it.

Now you know how to bathe a baby. By following these rules, you can deal with the appearance of severe irritation. This kind of ear care is the prevention of the problem. If you do not have the opportunity to bathe the child every day, then try to wipe the area behind the ears daily with a cotton pad dipped in warm water. You can then apply moisturizer or baby oil. This will soften the fabric and help gently remove plaque.

Important! Particular attention should be paid to ear care in the heat. In summer, sweat accumulates especially quickly in this area, andthe baby will suffer from diaper rash and irritation. Subsequently, the inflammatory process will begin and pathogenic microflora may join. If you notice that moisture constantly accumulates behind the ears in the heat, then use powder.

The appearance of crusts as a result of the action of staphylococcus aureus

If you follow all the rules of hygiene, and the condition only worsens, then you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Perhaps the cause of the trouble lies in the infection with Staphylococcus aureus. What's this? This is a bacterium that belongs to the conditionally pathogenic microflora. Most people are carriers. But with the normal functioning of the immune system and the observance of hygiene rules, the bacterium does not pose a danger.

If hygiene rules are not followed and immunity is reduced, bacteria begin to multiply rapidly and spread to other parts of the body. Subsequently, they can cause a lot of trouble. For example, purulent tonsillitis or meningitis.

In order to confirm that this Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of the appearance of crusts behind the ears in a baby, you need to take a culture for microflora.

If a symptom such as a high temperature joins a strong irritation, then you need to urgently call a doctor! In this case, the doctor will prescribe antibiotic therapy to stop the infection.

Do not self-medicate with folk remedies. They will not help here, and you will miss valuable time. Any lotion with herbal infusions can only aggravate the situation, since organic products create a breeding ground for bacteria.

Unusual manifestations of an allergic reaction

Crusts behind the ears in a child may be a sign of an allergic reaction. The only thing is that this symptom rarely manifests itself locally. As a rule, beauty and peeling appear all over the baby's body.

Check with your pediatrician. It will help to find out if the cause is really an allergy. Perhaps the doctor will prescribe you an examination such as allergy tests. This will help to figure out what exactly is the source of the allergy.

Potential allergens

Until the breastfeeding mother finds out, it is better to exclude potential allergens from the diet:

• whole milk;
• condensed milk;
• sweets;
• coffee and strong tea;
• fish;
• egg yolk;
• red meat;
• nuts;
• muffin;
• fruits of bright colors.

If the baby is artificial, then perhaps the doctor will recommend changing the mixture. If the child is already receiving complementary foods, then it should be tracked after which foods the irritation intensifies.

In addition to food, an allergic reaction can be provoked by:

• household chemicals;
• cat or dog hair;
• plant pollen;
• high humidity and dust indoors.

Scrofula in children

Children from birth to 10 years old can suffer from a specific type of atopic dermatitis, which is colloquially called "scrofula". Crusts behind the ears of a child, which occur as a result of the disease, bring unpleasant and painfulFeel. When an adult removes them, pink, as if burnt skin opens under them. The formation resembles a weeping wound.

Causes of disease

Scrofula can provoke food or household allergens. It can also occur against the background of a decrease in immunity, which arose due to malnutrition or a lack of vitamins and trace elements. Another reason is the lack of sunlight and, accordingly, vitamin D. It is also noted that the problem often occurs in children who were born to an elderly couple. The cause of scrofula can also be non-compliance with sanitary standards in the home, insufficient hygiene.

Scrofula can also be provoked by more serious diseases that the mother had, such as syphilis, cancer, tuberculosis. This type of atopic dermatitis often affects children who were conceived by parents in a state of intoxication or systematically drinking alcohol.

At first, the disease looks like diaper rash. The skin starts to peel off. Then a golden or yellowish crust forms on the surface. Hence the name. If treatment is not started on time, then such formations will soon appear throughout the body. This brings a lot of unpleasant painful sensations to the child.

Treatment of scrofula behind the ears in children

See your doctor for a diagnosis. He will prescribe treatment. It is usually directed to local lesions. Therapy consists in the use of zinc ointment, cauterization of wounds with fucorcin. Helps a lotointment "Bepanten". Bathe the child with the addition of a decoction of currant leaves to the bath. They have disinfectant properties. You can add sea s alt to the water. Before taking such drugs, you should always consult with your doctor. More advanced stages will require antibiotic therapy.

Also, the pediatrician is likely to prescribe procedures and medications that are aimed at strengthening the immune system. Doctors recommend taking fish oil for children from one year old. If the mother is breastfeeding, then she herself can take this dietary supplement. She will come with milk to the baby.