Cradle cap, or its medical term infantile seborrheic dermatitis, is an itchy, flaky scalp condition that affects newborns and children. A cradle cap simply looks like dandruff on a baby’s scalp, but it can also appear on other body parts such as eyelids and eyebrows. It is caused by the growth of yeast in the skin and scalp. The thick, scaly patches start light yellow but become darker as they develop into larger patches. The good news is that it is not as harmful as an allergy is, and neither is it contagious.
However, cradle caps can cause discomfort for the newborn as they make the skin itchy. The whole situation could be very frustrating for parents.
Cradle cap can begin around 2–3 months old in a newborn and lasts until about 6 months. It often goes away by itself within a few weeks or months after birth, but a few cases may last longer than a year before completely disappearing.
Causes of Cradle Cap
The cradle cap is mainly caused by a lack of hygiene as the baby’s scalp isn’t getting washed as much as it should. It can also result from overactive sebaceous glands (oil glands) on the scalp. Other possible causes include a family history of cradle cap. It can also be caused by a breastfeeding mother’s diet. If you see that your newborn has the condition, avoid foods with refined sugar or bacteria that are alive.Treatments for Cradle Cap
Rinse your baby’s hair with a mild or medicated shampoo and wash well. Use a soft toothbrush to gently brush and massage away the scaly skin. Follow this routine every day until the patches disappear. You may also want to consider using an over-the-counter medicated cream or ointments. These medications are anti-fungal agents that may help treat the infection causing the rash, but they should not be used on babies younger than 2 months old. It’s advisable to always check with a reputed pediatrician before taking any counter-medicated cream or ointment.