How Is Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) 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.
Lifestyle and home remedies
The following home care tips may help you control the symptoms of cradle cap: Gently rub your baby's scalp with your fingers or a washcloth to loosen the scales. Don't scratch. Wash your baby's hair once a day with baby shampoo.
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 (no prescription needed) at the drugstore and wash hair twice a week.
If your baby does get cradle cap, it typically goes away on its own without medical treatment before baby reaches 12 months. Wash your baby's hair and scalp once a day with a mild shampoo, then use a soft brush or washcloth to lightly brush baby's scalp and loosen the scales when possible.
Wash their scalp daily
Cradle cap doesn't happen because of poor hygiene. But washing your baby's scalp more often can help improve the condition. “After the umbilical cord is off and the circumcision heals, I often recommend bathing your newborn as part of a healthy nighttime routine,” Dr. Turell says.
Apply the baby oil to the scalp before bathing, then shampoo while gently massaging the scale with your finger. You can also carefully use a baby brush during your baby's bath to help remove the scale in their hair. You can also use a baby comb. Never scratch or pick at cradle cap, as this could cause an infection.
Loosen the crusts by applying a light moisturising cream or lotion to the scalp. The next morning, wash your baby's hair with a baby shampoo, gently lifting the crusts off with a soft brush (an unused soft toothbrush can be good for this) or comb. Try this each day until your baby's scalp looks clearer.
Massage Gently: Apply a few drops of oil on your fingertips. Gently massage the oil onto your baby's scalp in circular motions. Avoid applying too much pressure. Leave it On: Allow it to settle for at least 30 minutes or overnight for deep conditioning.
Do not scratch at your baby's cradle cap! In theory, scratching away your baby's thick, dry patches appears like it could work, but you'll only end up making things worse and could even end up hurting your little one!
How often does my newborn need a bath? There's no need to give your newborn baby a bath every day. Three times a week might be enough until your baby becomes more mobile. Bathing your baby too much can dry out your baby's skin.
Skin treatments
When you add in its moisturizing properties, massaging breast milk onto eczema patches or cradle cap (the scaly, yellowish patches that sometimes develop on a newborn's scalp) can swiftly clear up the problem spots.
A: The Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment may be used for cradle cap. It is an ointment so you will have to rub it gently on the scalp using caution to avoid the eyes.
Shampooing your baby's hair every few days can help prevent cradle cap. Use a baby shampoo unless your baby's doctor or other health care professional suggests a stronger product.
Seborrheic dermatitis signs and symptoms may include: Flaking skin (dandruff) on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache. Patches of greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales or crust on the scalp, face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, chest, armpits, groin area or under the breasts.
Cradle cap doesn't need to be treated. It usually clears by itself within a few months after birth. If you want to get rid of the crusts, regularly massage fragrance-free, non-irritating moisturiser, bath oil or petroleum jelly like Vaseline into the crusts before bathing your baby.
Even though cradle cap can make it look like it's covering a baby's head, baby's hair will still grow. However, it depends on the condition. If your child is suffering from some other condition or had a condition which caused their cradle cap, that condition may cause your child's hair to not grow.
When ready to shampoo, first get the scalp wet, then gently scrub the scalp with a soft-bristle brush (a soft toothbrush works well) for a few minutes to remove the scales. You can also try gently removing the scales with a fine-tooth comb.
Infection and cradle cap
Sometimes, the skin under the crusts of cradle cap can become infected. The skin becomes redder and small blisters appear, and then pop and weep. This is caused by the same germs that cause impetigo ('school sores').
Wash your baby's hair once a day with baby shampoo. Loosen the scales with a small, soft-bristled brush or fine-toothed comb before rinsing off the shampoo. If the scales don't loosen easily, rub petroleum jelly or a few drops of mineral oil onto your baby's scalp.
Babies usually start crawling when they are between 7 and 12 months old. Before they can crawl, your baby has to develop skills like head and arm control, sitting up without support, rolling over and holding their weight on their arms and legs.
Newborns don't need a bath every day. They rarely sweat or get dirty enough to need a full bath that often. Three baths per week during baby's first year may be enough. Bathing more frequently can dry out your baby's skin.