What is Cradle cap?
Cradle cap is a very common skin condition where yellowish oily crusty patches start appearing on the scalp of babies. These crusts can flake and fall off or can cause the hair to appear matted. It is also known as seborrheic dermatitis or seborrhea. Cradle cap does not appear at birth but usually starts after two weeks of age, peaks at around 3 months, and generally disappears after 12 months of age. Although it is visually disturbing for parents, it usually does not cause any discomfort to the baby.
Why does it occur?
The skin has tiny glands called sebaceous glands which secrete an oily substance called sebum. This sebum keeps the skin hydrated by reducing water loss from the skin surface as well as protects the skin from infection by bacteria and fungi. Although the exact cause of cradle cap is unknown, it is thought to occur when the sebaceous glands in the scalp become overactive due to maternal hormones that remain in the baby’s body for some time after birth. The resulting excess sebum causes the old skin cells, which are normally shed off, to stick to the scalp in clumps which we see as yellowy crusts on the scalp. There is also some evidence that points to a possible role of a fungal infection in the formation of cradle cap.
Remember….It is not due to poor hygiene or bad parenting in any way and it is not contagious.
What can you do about it?
Cradle cap usually goes away on its own with time. However, there are some things that you can do to loosen and remove the scales.
1. Try to soften the scales by applying oil or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the scalp and letting it soak for a few hours.
2. Then brush the hair and scalp with a soft baby brush or a soft toothbrush to loosen and remove the scales.
3. Wash the baby’s hair with a mild tear-free baby shampoo to wash away the extra oils in the scalp. The baby will need to have their scalp washed more often than usual.
4. In severe cases, your pediatrician may prescribe an antifungal shampoo or a mild steroid cream.
Note:
- Although it is very tempting to do so, do not scratch or try to forcibly remove the crusts. This can cause pain, bleeding, and infections. If the skin on the scalp becomes very red and small blisters form, visit a pediatrician as antibiotics are needed.
- Cradle cap can spread to other parts of the body such as the face and body…if it does, a visit to the doctor is needed.
- Cradle cap can reoccur even after it is properly treated (which is expected until around 1 year of age) so continue to brush and wash the baby’s scalp every 2-3 days even after the lesions are gone.