What Treatment Is Available For Newborn Baby Cradle Cap6
Treatments for cradle cap span from things parents can do at home to topical creams available at the pharmacy. Treatment for newborn baby cradle cap includes:
-
Washing a babys hair frequently. A healthcare provider may suggest special shampoo, but otherwise use unscented baby shampoo. Find more tips on how to bathe your newborn baby.
-
Brushing hair regularly with a soft brush to loosen cradle cap flakes. If you notice that some hair falls out in the process, dont fear. It will grow back! Applying baby oil, vegetable oil or petroleum jelly at night to keep the area moisturised. Avoid using peanut oil, however, just in case your baby has allergies, and note that olive oil has not been shown to be effective when used on skin.
-
Using corticosteroid cream or lotion should cradle cap be very pronounced or does not appear to be going away.
As cradle cap is being treated, parents should avoid using soap or adult shampoos and try to avoid the urge to pick at crusts that are not coming off on their own.
Picking crusts can make the area red and inflamed and can prevent it clearing up.
When To Seek Medical Care For Cradle Cap
If the cradle cap or seborrheic dermatitis is severe or persistent, your doctor may prescribe a special antifungal or tar shampoo, or stronger corticosteroid cream or lotion. If your babys skin feels hot, weeps fluid, smells bador has any other concerning signs of infectioncall your doctor right away.
Remember, cradle cap is self-limiting and benign. But just as this condition is fleeting, so is that newborn baby scent!
Factually reviewed by Dr. Seran Kim, board-certified Emergency Physician, on June 8, 2021.
Dr. Seran Kim is a board-certified Emergency Physician, cancer survivor and mom to three rambunctious boys, and shes one of the doctors who helped develop the Babylist First Aid Kit. When not working, she can be found hiking, reading or embarrassing her kids with her hip-hop dancing. She has a weakness for milk chocolate and succulent plants that dont need regular watering. She cannot live without GooGone and her power drill. She is adamant about helmets and seatbeltsand coffee. She believes the key to parenting survival is surrounding yourself with other families and raising kids as a village.
When To Go To The Doctor
If your baby shows the following signs then you must take him to a doctor immediately:
A doctor will look for these symptoms while diagnosing the condition. Treatment is essential.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Newborn To Nap In Crib
How Is Cradle Cap Treated
Cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis in infants usually clears up on its own in weeks or months. In the meantime, you may want to loosen and remove the scales on your baby’s scalp:
- Wash your baby’s hair once a day with mild, tear-free baby shampoo.
- Gently remove scales with a soft brush or toothbrush.
- If the scales don’t loosen easily, apply a small amount of mineral oil or petroleum jelly to your baby’s scalp. Let the oil to soak into the scales for a few minutes to several hours, if needed. Then use a soft brush or toothbrush to remove scales. Shampoo your baby’s hair as usual.
If regular shampooing doesn’t help, your doctor may recommend a mild steroid cream or antifungal shampoo.
For seborrhea on other parts of the body, your doctor may recommend a mild steroid or antifungal cream.
Do not use over-the-counter steroid or antifungal creams or anti-seborrhea shampoos without checking first with the doctor.
Is It Cradle Cap Or Something Else
Since cradle cap can show up as scaly, red, irritated skin, it may be easily confused with other types of skin conditions such as dry scalp or eczema.
Here are a few clues to help you differentiate.
The scaly skin of cradle cap doesnt rub off easily. Its a buildup that is stuck on your babys skin. Meanwhile, the flaky skin of eczema or basic dry skin typically rubs off.
Similarly, cradle cap will feel oily and rough. But dry skin or eczema feels dry.
Lastly, cradle cap is most often limited to the head, neck, and face while dry skin and eczema can strike anywhere. That said, lets move on to the potential causes of cradle cap.
Also Check: How To Help Newborn With Cough
Gentle Skin Care For Cradle Cap On Your Babys Face
Hopefully, youre resting a bit easier knowing that cradle cap isnt harmful, contagious, or uncommon. Watch for infection, but know that typically all you need to treat cradle cap on your babys face is the right skin care and a little bit of patience.
Resist picking at the scales, make bathtime healthy for your babys skin, and use gentle skincare products made specifically for cradle cap such as Cradle Cap Cream and Foam Shampoo for Newborns.
With the tips mentioned in this article, your babys cradle cap will soon be a thing of the past!
What Causes Cradle Cap In Babies And Adults
What causes cradle cap is not entirely certain, but in babies it may be the result of overactive oil-producing sebaceous glands, which are stimulated by the motherââ¬â¢s hormones. These glands produce sebum, an oily or waxy substance that lubricates and waterproofs the skin.
Another factor contributing to cradle cap or seborrhea in adults may be the colonization of the sebaceous glands by natural yeasts, specifically particular subspecies of the genus Malassezia. It is possible that these yeasts do not cause cradle cap, but rather take advantage of the overproduction of sebum that is already happening.
It is also likely that stress, chemical irritants and dry, cold weather may play a role in causing cradle cap. Cradle cap is not caused by bacteria, allergies, lack of hygiene or lack of care. It is not contagious.
Cradle cap can be treated quite easily and will usually clear up within a few weeks or months.
In older people, cradle cap, or seborrheic dermatitis, can be caused by the same factors that lead to the condition in infants.
Recommended Reading: How Much Should A Newborn Sleep
When To Contact A Health Care Professional
On occasion, the buildup of skin cells related to cradle cap can foster a yeast infection, particularly if it occurs in crease areas of the skin. Signs of a yeast infection include more prominent reddening of the affected area and itchiness. If this occurs or if the cradle cap begins to spread beyond the areas mentioned above, its best to call your doctor so they may determine whether a prescription is needed.
Otherwise, consider the cradle cap care options discussed above, and simply mention any related concerns during your next well-baby appointment with your pediatrician. Though some children may experience cradle cap until they are as old as four, it typically resolves itself by babys first birthday. So chances are, youll be kissing babys flake-free head again in no time.
What Is The Treatment For Seborrhoeic Dermatitis In Babies
Treatment for seborrhoeic dermatitis is not usually needed, as the condition is usually mild, is not serious and does not usually cause any discomfort to the baby. Seborrhoeic dermatitis will usually clear up by itself eventually.
However, the appearance of the scalp can be improved by daily washing with a baby shampoo followed by gentle brushing with a soft brush to loosen scales. Alternatively, soften the scales with baby oil first, followed by gentle brushing and then washing off with baby shampoo. If this does not work, it may be helpful to soften the scales by rubbing in olive oil, vegetable oil or white petroleum jelly. Leave this in overnight to allow it time to work. Wash it off with baby shampoo in the morning. Another option is to try a greasy moisturising lotion such as emulsifying ointment.
If other areas are affected by seborrhoeic dermatitis, regular washing helps. Use an emollient cream instead of soap on the affected skin.
If needed, a medicated antifungal cream may be prescribed by your doctor. Creams which may be used are clotrimazole, econazole or miconazole. This will usually clear the rash. Rarely, if inflammation is more severe, a mild steroid cream may be prescribed by your doctor.
Don’t Miss: Is Gripe Water Safe For Newborns
Call Your Doctor If You Notice Something Strange
If there is blood, and the baby is uncomfortable because of it , consult a doctor immediately. If the scaly patches have spread to other parts of the babys body and face, take him to the doctor as well.
Because if it is severe, there are medicated shampoos or lotions that the doctor can recommend. Hydrocortisone cream is given for redness and swelling.
Remember NOT to use any medicine without a doctors advice.
Apply Baby Oil Before Brushing
If brushing your babys scalp with a soft brush doesnt seem to be working, try adding a drop or two of baby oil before you start brushing. Then, while you brush, youll also be working the baby oil into your childs scalp for a boost of healing and prevention. Remember to be gentle so you dont further damage your babys sensitive skin.
The great thing about baby oil is that its multi-purpose! Use it to give your baby a soothing massage, take off your makeup, pull band-aids off, and remove price tag stickers. We told you its useful! Check out our article with 17 Ingenious Ways To Use Baby Oil.
Recommended Reading: What Do I Need For A Newborn Hospital Bag
Cradle Cap: What You Should Know
My baby looks like he has dandruff. Is it cradle cap?
is a common skin condition among newborns. Babies with cradle cap will have yellow scales and crusts that look like dandruff on the scalp. The scales can be greasy or dry. Cradle cap can begin in the first two to six weeks of life and is not usually seen past six months of age. It is not painful or itchy, and it is probably caused by hormones the baby received from mom at the end of pregnancy, which overstimulated the babys oil producing seborrheic glands. Cradle cap is not contagious and does not recur. Along with cradle cap, there can be redness behind the ears, in body creases and in the diaper area. If the areas are raw and painful, contact your pediatrician for further guidance about home care.
Cradle cap is harmless and usually clears within two weeks of treatment, but can last for months without treatment. Unless the cradle cap is bothersome to you, it is perfectly okay to leave it alone. If you choose to treat it, buy an anti-dandruff shampoo at the drugstore and wash hair twice a week. Daily use of anti-dandruff shampoo is not approved for children under 2 years of age, but twice a week is fine, even for infants. While the hair is lathered, massage the scalp with a soft brush or a rough washcloth for five minutes .
Care Advice For Cradle Cap
Also Check: How To Unclog A Newborn’s Nose
Home Treatment Of Cradle Cap
Mild cradle cap usually gets better without treatment after a few weeks. It may help if you:
- Loosen the crusts by massaging the scalp with mineral oil at night, then wash the hair with a baby shampoo the next morning, gently lifting the crusts off with a soft brush . Try this each day until your babys scalp looks clearer.
- Use a mild antidandruff shampoo if the other treatment is not working be careful, these shampoos can irritate a babys eyes more than shampoos made for babies.
The cradle cap can come back, even when treated properly, because the glands continue to produce sebum for several months after birth.
Treatments For Cradle Cap
Cradle cap will go away on its own and does not need to be treated. But most parents prefer treatment because it usually helps reduce or get rid of the problem faster. Even with treatment, this condition may return during the babys first year of life.
Home care treatment, as follows, is usually effective in helping symptoms:
- Wash your babys hair with a mild shampoo, every couple of days.
- Use a soft-bristled brush to gently brush out scales.
- Baby oil, olive oil, mineral oil or petroleum jelly may help soften the scales. When applying the oil, rub only small amounts into the scales. Then shampoo and brush out the oil about an hour later, to avoid more build-up.
- If your baby has seborrheic dermatitis, a mild hydrocortisone cream is safe and usually effective. If this doesnt help, see your doctor.
Read Also: How Many Oz For A Newborn Formula