WHAT IS CRADLE CAP?
If your baby's scalp has flaky, dry skin that looks like dandruff, or thick, oily, yellowish or brown scaling or crusting patches, it's probably cradle cap. Doctors call it infantile seborrheic dermatitis, and it's very common. Nothing to panic about. It is harmless.
Cradle Cap is most often seen in the first few months of life and usually clears up on its own in about six to twelve months – although some children have it for longer. Cradle cap is not restricted to the scalp. It can occur around the ears, eyebrows, eyelids, armpits and other creases. Cradle cap isn't contagious. And it probably doesn't bother your baby at all, although, if it gets severe, it might itch.
The cause of cradle cap is still unknown but definitely not caused by poor hygiene or allergies. Some experts believe that the hormones a baby receives from his mother at the end of pregnancy overstimulate the baby's oil-producing (seborrheic) glands, resulting in cradle cap. Irritation from a yeast that grows in the sebum (the substance produced by the glands) is also thought to be a possible culprit. But there's no consensus on the cause. (coincidentally, excessive sebum is often the cause of acne)
You don't really need to do anything about cradle cap but, but if you feel you need to do something about it, you might consider )for mild cases) to gently massage baby's scalp with your fingers to loosen the scales, then wash with just plain water or a very mild shampoo. Ensure that all traces of the shampoo are removed after washing.
For stubborn cases, try an oil remedy to help loosen dry flakes, do this by rubbing a small amount of pure argan oil on your baby's scalp and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Then gently comb out the flakes with a fine-tooth comb with rounded ends, or brush them out with a very soft brush with rounded ends. Then wash baby’s scalp with a gentle shampoo.
If there is bleeding, or if it spreads beyond your baby's scalp, see a doctor.
If your baby's scalp has flaky, dry skin that looks like dandruff, or thick, oily, yellowish or brown scaling or crusting patches, it's probably cradle cap. Doctors call it infantile seborrheic dermatitis, and it's very common. Nothing to panic about. It is harmless.
Cradle Cap is most often seen in the first few months of life and usually clears up on its own in about six to twelve months – although some children have it for longer. Cradle cap is not restricted to the scalp. It can occur around the ears, eyebrows, eyelids, armpits and other creases. Cradle cap isn't contagious. And it probably doesn't bother your baby at all, although, if it gets severe, it might itch.
The cause of cradle cap is still unknown but definitely not caused by poor hygiene or allergies. Some experts believe that the hormones a baby receives from his mother at the end of pregnancy overstimulate the baby's oil-producing (seborrheic) glands, resulting in cradle cap. Irritation from a yeast that grows in the sebum (the substance produced by the glands) is also thought to be a possible culprit. But there's no consensus on the cause. (coincidentally, excessive sebum is often the cause of acne)
You don't really need to do anything about cradle cap but, but if you feel you need to do something about it, you might consider )for mild cases) to gently massage baby's scalp with your fingers to loosen the scales, then wash with just plain water or a very mild shampoo. Ensure that all traces of the shampoo are removed after washing.
For stubborn cases, try an oil remedy to help loosen dry flakes, do this by rubbing a small amount of pure argan oil on your baby's scalp and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Then gently comb out the flakes with a fine-tooth comb with rounded ends, or brush them out with a very soft brush with rounded ends. Then wash baby’s scalp with a gentle shampoo.
If there is bleeding, or if it spreads beyond your baby's scalp, see a doctor.
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