Your newborn has the softest skin you’ve ever seen, but you may have noticed scaly, oily patches developing on his scalp. These patches are a form of seborrheic dermatitis called cradle cap. Cradle cap is a common, harmless skin condition that causes yellow scales and a rash to appear on your baby’s scalp. It usually appears and disappears before your baby’s first birthday. Read this article from The Dermo Lab for tips on loosening and removing scales to treat cradle caps at home.
What is a cradle cap?
Cradle cap is a harmless skin condition that causes yellow or white scaly patches on your baby’s scalp. The scales are oily or flaky, and a rash may surround them. Rest assured, your baby is in no danger and feels no discomfort. A cradle cap has no negative effect on your baby’s health, nor does it affect feeding or sleeping. It does not cause itching or pain for your baby and usually disappears within a few weeks or months.
Cradle caps are very common and affect most babies at one time or another. They usually appear within three months of birth, and almost all cases occur within the first year of life. As cradle caps appear early in a child’s life, they usually disappear before the child’s first birthday. Some babies develop cradle caps by the age of 1 or 2.
Most cases of cradle caps are benign. You can usually get rid of them in a few simple steps. Even if you do nothing, it should disappear on its own over time.
What causes cradle cap?
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes cradle caps. But they do think the rough patches may appear when the sebaceous glands in your baby’s skin produce more oil than they need. Doctors believe that excess sebum can cause dead skin cells to stick to the scalp. A type of yeast called Malassezia may also play a role in this condition.
Hormones can also pass from you to your baby before you give birth. This can lead to a cradle cap. These hormones can lead to excessive sebum production in your baby’s sebaceous glands and hair follicles.
Cradle cap is not contagious. You don’t need to worry about your baby passing the rash on to others. You can send your baby to nursery school or let him play with other babies.
What do cradle caps look like?
The symptoms of cradle cap are as follows:
- An oily, blotchy scalp. The skin of your baby’s scalp may appear oily. White or yellow patches may appear on the scalp. Over time, the scales may flake off.
- Changes in scalp color. Sometimes, the skin on your baby’s scalp may simply have a different color, rather than scales or flakes. Cradle caps don’t make your baby itch, even if they look itchy.
- Hair loss. Hair loss in the area of cradle cap is rare. Hair should grow back once the cradle cap has disappeared.
- Cradle caps on other parts of the body. They can also appear on the face, behind the ears, in diapers, and underarms.
How to treat cradle caps?
Cradle caps are harmless and disappear on their own after a few months. Although treatment is not necessary, there are steps you can take at home to help loosen and remove the scales. To treat cradle caps at home, we recommend the following tips.
1- Wash your baby’s hair more frequently.
Keeping your baby’s scalp clean helps the problem disappear, as it removes some of the extra oils. Your doctor may ask you to wash your baby’s hair more often than usual. You may have to wash it every day instead of every other day. Use an unscented baby shampoo and gently rub the affected areas. If a mild baby shampoo doesn’t work, ask your doctor to prescribe medicated products. There are also shampoos specially designed for cradle caps.
Once the scales have disappeared, continue to wash your baby’s hair frequently with a mild baby shampoo. This will help prevent cradle caps from reappearing.
2- Brush your baby’s hair.
After cleansing your baby’s hair and scalp, you can gently brush his or her hair with a soft baby brush or comb. The scales should loosen and fall out over time. But be sure to go gently.
3- Lubricate.
Ask your doctor about home remedies for cradle caps. It may help to rub the scales of your baby’s scalp with Vaseline, baby oil, and a few drops of ordinary mineral oil or ointment, before using shampoo and a soft hairbrush.
4- Don’t scratch the scales.
You may be tempted to scratch or prick the scales to loosen them. But don’t! Scratching the scales creates areas of raw skin and can increase your baby’s risk of infection.
5- Know when to see a dermatologist.
If your baby has a severe rash that extends beyond the hairline, troublesome pain or itching, hair loss, or odor from the rash, make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist who can prescribe prescription treatments.
Things to remember
- Cradle cap is a common skin condition in newborns and babies.
- Cradle caps can cause rough patches, grease, hair loss, or color changes on your baby’s scalp.
- Treatment of the cradle cap is fairly simple and can be carried out at home.
A word from The Dermo Lab
Parents are used to worrying about every little thing when they live with a newborn. So it’s normal to panic if you see a rash and scales on your baby’s scalp. You may be wondering what I’ve done wrong. What’s wrong with my baby’s skin?
You don’t need to worry. You haven’t done anything wrong and your baby is just fine. Cradle caps are common and harmless. Most cases are benign and disappear on their own. But if your baby’s cradle cap persists a little longer, or if your baby develops a rash elsewhere, you’ll be fine. Your healthcare provider can examine your baby’s skin and determine if he or she needs treatment. He will help you understand what’s going on and how to improve the situation.
Last Updated on June 20, 2024
