How do you get rid of cradle cap ?

 CRADLE  CAP :


Cradle cap (infant seborrheic dermatitis, or ISD) is a harmless skin condition that appears as yellow scaly patches surrounded by a red rash on the scalp of babies. About 7 out of 10 babies develop cradle cap between two and six weeks of birth.

Your baby is not in any danger. Cradle cap has no negative effects on your baby’s general health and doesn’t affect sleep or feeding. It usually disappears over a period of weeks or months and typically isn’t seen after 12 months of age. Cradle cap is not contagious to others. It is rarely itchy or uncomfortable for your baby. Cradle cap is not due to an allergy or poor hygiene, or to an infection or fungus, and will not leave scars.Cradle cap or cradle hat causes crusty or oily scaly patches on a baby's scalp. The condition is not painful or itchy, but it can cause thick white or yellow scales that are not easy to remove.  Cradle cap most commonly begins sometime in the first three months but can occur in later years. Similar symptoms in older children are more likely to be dandruff than cradle cap. Cradle cap is just a special—and more benign—case of this condition. The exact cause of cradle cap is not known. Cradle cap is not spread from person to person (contagious). It is also not caused by poor hygiene. It is not an allergy, and it is not dangerous.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES  OF CRADLE CAP ?

The exact cause of infant seborrheic dermatitis is unknown. Overproduction of your baby’s oil-producing sebaceous glands or a type of yeast in the oil may contribute to your baby’s condition. The glands are on the baby’s scalp. Scientists think the changing hormone levels in the mother’s body during pregnancy may cause a baby’s sebaceous glands to overproduce. Normal skin cells are naturally shed in a process called desquamation. However, the cells will remain stuck to the scalp if there is an abundance of oil. This causes no harm to your baby.

Cradle cap is not caused by bacterial infection, allergy or poor hygiene. Cradle cap is also not contagious. Doctors do not agree on what causes cradle cap, but the two most common hypotheses are fungal infection and overactive sebaceous glands. Cradle cap is an inflammatory condition.

Possibly it has to do with overactive sebaceous glands in the skin of newborn babies, due to the mother's hormones still in the baby's circulation. The glands release a greasy substance that makes old skin cells attach to the scalp instead of falling off as they dry. There is a relationship with skin yeasts .

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS  OF CRADLE CAP ?


Cradle cap is seborrheic dermatitis that is limited to your baby’s scalp. If your baby has redness and scaling on their eyelids, in the folds of their neck and armpits, behind their ears, and on their face and diaper areas, this is called seborrheic dermatitis or seborrhea and should be brought to the attention of your healthcare provider.

  • Redness, and crusty brown or yellow scales on the scalp that resemble fish scales.
  • Scales feel fragile and flaky, or waxy and greasy, to the touch.
Cradle cap is seborrheic dermatitis that affects infants. It presents on the scalp as greasy patches of scaling, which appear thick, crusty, yellow, white or brown. The affected regions are not usually itchy and do not bother the child.  Other affected areas can include the eyelids, ear, around the nose, and in the groin. Hair loss can also occur.

HOW IS A CRADLE CAP DIAGNOSIS ?

Your healthcare provider can make the diagnosis of cradle cap simply by looking at your baby’s scalp. The redness and the flaky scales and where the patches occur are easy clues to identifying the condition. No laboratory studies or biopsies are needed.

HOW TO TREAT CRADLE CAP ?

To help with cradle cap, parents can gently massage their baby's scalp with their fingers or a soft brush to loosen the scales. They may want to shampoo the baby's hair more frequently (no more than once a day), and after shampooing gently brush the baby's scalp with a soft brush or a terrycloth towel. Oil remedies can be used by rubbing a small amount of pure, plant-derived oil (coconut oil, pure olive oil, almond oil) on the baby's scalp and leaving it on for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, gently comb out the flakes with a fine tooth comb or brush. Be sure to wash out all of the oil to avoid making the cradle cap worse .

cradle cap is not severe, it could simply be combed out gently after bathing. The softened scales can then be brushed away with a soft brush, comb or cloth, but if not done very gently, this could worsen the condition and bring about temporary hair loss. Applyingpetroleum jelly  (e.g., Vaseline) liberally overnight is another popular treatment. The softened scales either fall off during the night, or can be brushed off in the morning.

There is broad disagreement regarding the role of shampoos . Some sources warn against frequent shampooing, others recommend it. Mild baby shampoo is often recommended, but the exact denotation of the label "mild" in this context is not quite clear. Baby shampoo often contain detergent surfactants, perfumes, quaternium-15 and other eczemagenic irritants. No studies have been performed on non-prescription shampoos.


If your baby’s seborrheic dermatitis is limited to the scalp as cradle cap, you can treat it yourself. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Wash your baby’s scalp daily with mild baby shampoo.
  • Massage lathered hair gently with your fingers or a washcloth.
  • Softly brush your baby’s hair to help remove the scales. There are combs designed specifically for cradle cap, but a soft toothbrush also works. Do not pick at the scales with your fingernails or sharp tools as this may cause bleeding or lead to possible infection. (Alternative approach: Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly or mineral oil to help loosen the scales on your baby’s scalp. Leave on for several hours or overnight. Use a soft brush to remove the scales and wash your baby’s hair afterward.)
  • Over-the-counter cradle cap lotions are available. The lotion should be applied to your baby’s scalp at least 15 minutes before shampooing. Rinse it off well before shampooing.
  • After scales disappear, shampoo your baby’s hair two to three times a week to help prevent cradle cap from returning. Afterward, decrease shampoos to twice weekly.

Other treatments

Your pediatrician may also prescribe topical steroids, local antifungals, or anti-seborrheic shampoos if your baby’s condition persists.


Call your healthcare provider if:

  • If the rash is not resolving or improving within one week after the start of prescription treatment.
  • If the rash is affecting the neck, the armpit, the diaper area, or other areas beyond the scalp.
  • If the cradle cap continues beyond 12 months of age.

Rarely, the area may become infected. Signs of infection include:

  • Draining liquid.
  • Looks very red or painful.
  • Forms larger crusts or scabs.
  • Foul odor.
  • Pimples or blisters.

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