Seborrheic dermatitis, or cradle cap, is a common skin condition among infants that causes scaly patches on the scalp, ears, eyelids, nose and groin. It usually appears in the first few months of life and generally clears up on its own within a few months. Babies with cradle cap may have dry, flaky skin that looks like dandruff or thick, oily scales that appear yellowish or brown. As BabyCenter.com puts it, “cradle cap isn’t cute, but it’s harmless.”
Shampoo
There’s no consensus among doctors on the cause of cradle cap, though there is suspicion it may having something to do with the hormones babies receive from their mother at the end of pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic reports these hormones cause an abnormal amount of oil, or sebum, in the oil glands and hair follicles. Poor hygiene is not a cause of cradle cap, but shampooing is the first course of treatment. The Mayo Clinic recommends washing your baby’s hair once each day with a mild baby shampoo. Be sure to rinse well.
Loosen Scales
MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, recommends giving your baby a gentle scalp massage with your fingers to loosen scales and help improve scalp circulation. BabyCenter.com says you also can gently brush the scalp with a soft brush or terrycloth towel. If the scales are hard to remove, rub a small amount of a pure, natural oil, such as almond or olive oil, on the scalp to help loosen dry flakes. Wait 15 minutes, then gently comb or brush away the flakes. Be sure to shampoo well after any oil treatment.
Doctor
If home remedies aren’t enough, talk to your doctor about other options. According to the Mayo Clinic, your doctor might recommend trying a stronger, adult dandruff shampoo to help dissolve the scales. These contain ingredients such as tar, 2 percent ketoconazole or 1 percent selenium. Your doctor also might recommend using a hydrocortisone cream. The cream will help reduce redness and inflammation. If your child is older, the Mayo Clinic reports a scalp ringworm infection may be to blame. It can resemble cradle cap but is treated with prescription antifungal shampoo. Eczema also can resemble cradle cap.
