Cradle Cap

A cradle cap looks like a very bad case of dandruff. It is a build up of natural oils and dry scaly skin, which can form a yellowish brown crust on baby’s head, eyebrows or behind the ears. It can also appear on the nappy area. It may not be a good sight for you to see your baby with a cradle cap, but there’s nothing to worry about as it is quite common.

Cradle cap is thought to be result of hormonal changes which stimulate secretions from the oil glands in the skin. It usually disappears within a few days using natural treatment, but still can recur.
What to do about it?

* To remove the crusts, massage sorbolene cream or mild baby oil into the affected area 2-3 time daily.

* Leave it on overnight, and wash off at bathtime the next day with a special hypoallergenic shampoo such as Infaderm. Some doctors’ recommend leaving it on for 20 minutes.

* Massage the scalp with a facewasher, soft baby toothbrush or baby brush to lift off the crusts. DO NOT use your nails to pick off the crusts.

* Repeat this procedure everyday until it clears.

How to prevent it?

Wash and massage your baby’s scalp and gently brush their head (even if they don’t have hair) every day.