Page 153 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

COMMON CONDITIONS: PROBLEMS IN BABIES 151

Cradle cap

Thick, crusty yellowish scales, known as cradle cap, sometimes
develop on a baby’s scalp during the first few months of life. The skin
may be reddened, and the scales occasionally spread to the baby’s
forehead and behind the ears. If your baby has hair, you may notice
flakes that look similar to dandruff. There is no particular cause for
cradle cap, and it is unlikely to bother your baby. However, if he or she
has many thick scales, it can look unsightly. Usually, the condition has
disappeared completely by the time a baby is 1 year old. Cradle cap on a baby’s scalp

What you can do yourself
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Although cradle cap tends to clear up by itself
eventually, using these home treatments will help Oil treatment Massaging olive oil or baby
prevent the buildup of scales and improve the oil gently into your baby’s scalp with your fingers will
appearance of your baby’s scalp. help loosen cradle cap scales. You can leave the oil
on for a few hours or overnight, then shampoo
● Wash your baby’s scalp every day with a mild it off afterward. Once your baby’s hair has dried,
baby shampoo, rinse off thoroughly with warm gently brush the hair and scalp
water, then gently dry the scalp with a soft towel. with a soft baby brush, and
the scales should flake
● After washing your baby’s hair, brush the hair
off. Brushing every day
and scalp with a soft baby brush to remove the
may stop the scales
scales. You may find this is enough to clear up
from forming again.
a mild case of cradle cap and it will prevent the
condition from recurring.
● Massaging your baby’s scalp with oil will help Scalp massage
to remove thick or crusty scales (see PRACTICAL Gently rub the oil into
TECHNIQUE, right). your baby’s scalp.
This will soften loose
● For more persistent cradle cap, try an anti- scales of skin so they
dandruff shampoo that contains sulfur and salicylic can be brushed away
acid (see DRUG REMEDIES, right). more easily.
● Don’t try to pick off the scales since this may
make your baby’s head sore.

Seek further medical advice
DRUG REMEDIES
Arrange to see your doctor if:
● The cradle cap is not getting better after Sulfur and salicylic acid
shampoo (see ANTIDANDRUFF SHAMPOOS, p.177)
a few weeks of home treatment
● The scales begin to spread to other areas, may help to clear cradle cap if your baby has many
thick scales of skin on the scalp that are persistent
such as the baby’s neck, armpits, or groin and cannot be removed with oil treatment. Follow
● The rash or the underlying scalp becomes
the directions on the package carefully. Keep the
very red or weepy shampoo out of your baby’s eyes.