When a baby is brand new, anything out of the ordinary is worrisome for nervous parents. Cradle cap diagnosed by a pediatrician is one condition that should not cause anxiety. The scaly, rough looking scalp that comes with cradle cap is most often gone well before the baby is eight months old, according to pediatrician Alan Greene, M.D. Over-the-counter treatments for cradle cap are usually all that is necessary. Orajel's Gentle Naturals baby care products include a cradle cap treatment as well as a tummy soother and a homeopathic teething remedy.
Cradle Cap Features
Infantile seborrheic dermatitis, known as cradle cap, causes crusting and scales on a baby's scalp. According to Greene, an infant's skin cells don't fall off as fast as they grow, leading to cradle cap. This occurs in healthy infants and is not a health risk. According to Orajel's official website, cradle cap affects almost half of all newborns. Common signs of cradle cap include greasy skin with scales and dandruff.
Cause
Extra production of oil in the oil glands can be triggered before birth when mother's hormones are passed to her baby, according to the MayoClinic.com. The extra oil keeps skin cells from shedding. Some doctors blame a yeast called malassezia that grows in the oil glands but it is not a proven factor.
Cradle Cap Treatment by Orajel
Gentle Naturals is Orajel's line of baby treatments. The cradle cap treatment contains calendula and jojoba oil along with vitamins A, D and E. The recommended use is just before shampooing to loosen scales. The calendula plant is a member of the daisy and marigold family. According to Drugs.com although there are a lack of clinical trials regarding calendula, it is considered safe and has been in use for hundreds of years. Jojoba oil comes from the desert shrub Simmondsia chinensis. Jojoba oil is considered safe for use topically, but should not be ingested.
Other Treatments
Cradle cap does not usually require treatment. If you wish to treat the condition, shampooing babies scalp once a day is helpful. The Orajel product, baby oil or olive oil can be rubbed into the scalp before shampooing to help remove scales. For persistent cradle cap, your pediatrician may recommend an adult dandruff shampoo or hydrocortisone cream advises the MayoClinic.com.
Considerations
Cradle cap usually does not last longer than a few months and is rare in babies older than one year. If an older baby develops symptoms, ringworm of the scalp should be considered. Eczema is another possibility when an older baby or child presents with scalp complaints. If cradle cap does not clear up despite home care, see your pediatrician. Be sure to let the doctor know how long your baby has had the condition and what remedies you have tried.
