What is cradle cap and how can it be treated?

Cradle cap is so named because it is a common skin condition that occurs on the scalp of babies. It is characterized by yellow, flaky or scaly patches on the baby’s scalp that make it look like the baby has a very bad case of dandruff.

This usually happens to babies in the first three months of life. It usually goes away on its own after a few weeks. However, there are also some cases where it takes longer to go away or the cradle cap will reappear. In either case, you should definitely consult a licensed dermatologist or physician to determine the appropriate treatment.

Skin experts say that condition is caused by hormones from the mother’s body being transferred to the baby during pregnancy. These hormones cause the skin’s sebaceous glands to secrete more oil than necessary, which causes dead skin cells on the baby’s head to stick to the scalp.

The resulting scaly patches then become scaly and can be easily removed. There is nothing to worry about as it does not cause discomfort to the baby and is generally harmless. What can cause discomfort to the baby is if there are ants near the baby’s sleeping area. Ants have been observed to be attracted to the scales and eat them.

To avoid ants, it is recommended to regularly wash the baby’s hair with baby shampoo or soap to remove loose scales and prevent the scales from thickening further. After the bath, the scales can be loosened a little more by running a soft brush over the baby’s head. Lastly, apply a very thin layer of baby oil, coconut oil, or olive oil to your scalp and leave it there. This last step will prevent the ants from “sniffing” the flakes and getting close to the baby.

Remove the flakes only in the way mentioned above. Since they look so unsightly, some moms are tempted to scratch the scaly patches to get them off. This must be avoided at all costs. Doing so will leave patches that are red and sore, or even bleeding, which can then become infected. You certainly don’t want to make the situation even more awkward for your baby.

If swelling occurs or cradle cap spreads to the baby’s face and neck despite regular head washing and baby oil application, a doctor should be consulted.