Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) in newborns and infants – Causes and Treatment

What is Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) in kids?

Cradle cap means thick white or yellow patches or crust on the baby’s scalp. In this condition, the baby’s scalp gets dry and flaky. It is common in newborns and infants. Generally, the situation is visible from 2 months age of the baby. Sometimes the condition appeared on or immediately after birth.

This condition of cradle cap in babies looks dangerous to parents. But fortunately, it is not adding discomfort to the babies. Itchiness and pain are not characteristics of cradle cap. We parent is more at panic and feels painful at considering the condition in their little ones.

What is Cradle Cap caused from? or What causes Cradle Cap in babies?

You have to make a note that cradle cap is not a health problem. It is a form of dermatitis. This condition has no pre – signs or symptoms. Therefore, no precautionary help is possible. Still, we mothers are in the habit of blaming ourselves for being the reason for cradle cap in our babies. Thinking that not able to take good care of our babies is the reason for the condition to emerge. Further, new baby products, poor hygiene or mishandling could also be the reasons. We are furthermore consuming a whole lot of medicines, especially the antibiotics before and after birth a cause for the condition to appear at the time of delivery.

The fact is that cradle cap happens on its own. There is no research or study to determine the causes behind the sufferance from cradle cap in newborns and infants. As you know that paediatricians are keeping a regular track of the baby’s health. Even they are not suggesting any good reason behind this condition to emerge in babies.

One possible reason is the excess secretion of sebum from the skin over the scalp. However, there is no evident source proving the same. There are sebaceous glands in our skin. These glands produce an oil-like substance called sebum. Sometimes these glands become overactive and start producing sebum in excess. The excess excreted sebum prevents skin cells from drying. They are thereby resulting in thick yellow crust over the scalp.

Is the condition of cradle cap harmful for babies?

The condition of the cradle cap is not harmful. It is a common problem seen in newborns. All that it needs is patience and effective treatment. Even our elders are aware of this condition. It is a self diagnosable and self-treatable issue.

Therefore, parents should not panic seeing the condition prima facie. But it may gradually become a serious concern. Sometimes, it grows and affects the face, upper chest, ears, eyebrows and upper back. The baby starts feeling sick or unwell. Then foremost consult your paediatrician without delay. Also, remain in discussion with your paediatrician from the initial stage of the issue. For this get the condition observed in baby’s routine health checkups.

Once diagnosed, start treating it immediately. This condition demands a few aspects to adapt to routine treatment.

• No rubbing
• Avoid scratching
• No applying pressure while massaging the scalp
• Avoid peeling off thick dry patches or flakes
• No use of comb till the time cradle cap persists

Following these helps in minimizing the chance of transforming the state into an infected cradle cap. In this infected cradle cap, the skin gets inflamed. It may weep often.

Further, sometimes the cradle cap results in the problem of hair dandruff. With the prolonged existence of the condition, the issue of dandruff appears in some babies. Moreover, the dandruff is primarily occupying the affected scalp area of the babies.

Can I pick my baby’s cradle cap? Or Is it ok to peel off the cradle cap?

Even sometimes we feel like picking or scratching the affected scalp. With the ongoing treatment, the patch or crush starts becoming moist and soft. Further, the crust leaves the scalp and get stuck to the hairs. The feeling of removing the flakes by combing it out or using bare fingers is familiar.

How to use the cradle cap comb?

The cradle cap comb is readily available in the market. But personally using it is not recommended. Not only me but also the paediatrician are also forming the same opinion. If the chips are quickly coming out, then only remove them otherwise not. They get clean while bathing the scalp thoroughly. If not, then don’t be determined to pick it off. Otherwise, it will lead the baby to a dangerous problem. The condition will worsen and starts spreading to cover other parts of the upper body.

Usually, the healing from cradle cap takes time. After a reasonable span of the interval, you start thinking “ How to get rid of cradle cap in babies?” The answer is evident by treating it firmly. In some cases, the cradle cap healed in a few weeks. But mostly complete recovery from cradle cap is time-consuming.

Treatment/ Home Remedies of cradle cap in newborns and infants: All that is needed is primary home care of the situation.

1. Maintain primary hygiene of head and scalp. For this clean, the head thoroughly every day. Any good branded cradle cap baby shampoo or soap is perfect to use. Pears soap is my choice. In cradle cap, the scalp gets dry. Dryness persists or enhances with the use of baby shampoo.
   

2. Gently dry the hairs and scalp. Use a soft cotton towel or muslin cloth for drying. It helps in preventing hair breakage.
   

3. Apply the hair oil all over the scalp. Gently massage the infected scalp. Use the oil generously for quick penetration into the skin. You may use any other hair oil which is otherwise suitable for the baby’s skin. It includes coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil or a combination of different oils.

The question that “Is coconut oil good for cradle cap?” is generic. The purpose is to keep the infected scalp moist and nourished. Because then it is easy for the crust to soften and remove on its own. However, coconut oil is my preferred oil.

5. Massaging the infected scalp with hair oil is sufficient in curing the cradle cap. But sometimes the issue is taking too much time to recover. For that, you can apply candid fungal infection cream also on the infected scalp. It is taken in equal proportion to the hair oil. Then thoroughly mix the two before application on the scalp. Do not apply the mixture all over the head. Apply the mixture twice a day. Candid cream spreads quickly. It has no harmful side-effects on the soft skin of the baby.
6. In case your baby is suffering from dandruff, use savlon antiseptic liquid for a speedy recovery. Add a few drops of savlon liquid in lukewarm water (100ml). Then soak a thick layer of clean cotton into the solution. Squeeze the extra water out from the cotton. Gently rub the cotton all over the scalp. Leave the scalp for 15 to 20 mins. It helps in deep penetration of the antiseptic lotion to the skin. After that, wash the head properly. Then repeat the above process.

Savlon may feel itchy or painful to the baby for a few mins. But the best remedy for treating dandruff. Do not allow baby to scratch the scalp. It will be enhancing the issue.

Have discussed all my experience in handling the cradle cap. With every new day of treatment, the eagerness to see the state cured increases. But it takes our reasonable efforts in curing. Remember to keep patience in remedying the situation. One good day this state will heal suddenly. Good luck to all new mothers.