Cradle cap 101
Cradle cap — formally, infantile seborrheic dermatitis — is that scaly stuff you sometimes find on a newborn baby’s scalp.
Symptoms
Cradle cap might appear as patchy white or yellow scales or thick crusts, or greasy skin covered with flaky scales, or dandruff, and/or with mild redness. Sometimes the condition is also present on ears, eyelids, nose or groin.
Causes
Found mostly in newborns, cradle cap is not serious or contagious. The baby is probably not bothered by it at all. Unlike adult dandruff, cradle cap isn’t itchy. The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but hormones passed from the mother before birth may cause an abnormal production of oil in the oil glands and hair follicles. Yeast is another possible cause: a fungus grows in the oil glands along with bacteria may cause cradle cap.
Remedy
Cradle cap typically goes away on its own within a few months. Simple self-care tips will speed up the process:
- gently massage baby’s scalp with your fingertips — not your nails! — or a washcloth to loosen the scales
- washing baby’s scalp daily with a mild shampoo
- follow with a gentle brushing using a soft-bristle baby hairbrush
- for stubborn scales, apply a bit of nursery jelly or baby oil to the scalp, leave it on for a few minutes, then shampoo and brush
If the scales persist, your doctor may recommend a stronger shampoo or medicated lotion to dissolve the scales. You should also consult the doctor if the scaly patches spread to your baby’s face or body.
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