SHAME, SO CRUSTY!

That oily, crusty rash on your baby’s scalp may alarm you, but cradle cap is a common newborn ailment and is easy to treat.

WHAT IS CRADLE CAP?

Cradle cap can look like flaky dandruff or even yellow or brown greasy patches on your baby’s scalp, the skin around your baby’s ear, eyebrows, eyelids and even armpits, nappy area and other folds of skin. If it spreads to other parts of the body it is referred to as seborrheic dermatitis. It appears around 3 months of age, lasting a few weeks or months, but is usually not itchy or bothersome to your baby.

CAUSES

There is no consensus on the cause of cradle cap. It could be linked to overactive sebaceous (oil-producing) glands in a newborn’s skin. The glands produce waxy secretions (sebum) used to lubricate the skin, but excess secretions can result in old skin cells collecting on the scalp instead of drying and falling out as they should. Cradle cap is not, however, linked to poor hygiene or allergies and is not contagious. It appears in the first weeks of life and usually clears in about six to 12 months.

TREATMENT

Cradle cap doesn’t need any specific treatment and eventually clears on its own. However, your baby’s flaky or crusty scalp is hardly cute, so you will want to keep a tidy appearance and prevent a buildup of an unsightly rash. To help loosen the flakes, use the pads of your fingertips to massage your baby’s scalp with baby oil, almond or olive oil and let it soak in for about 15 minutes before you gently remove the flakes with a fine-tooth comb or soft brush. You could also use a soft towel to wipe out the flakes. Ensure that this is done gently so as not to worsen the condition or cause hair to fall out. Most of the flakes will lift off easily after an oil treatment but if not, don’t forcibly peel them off.

After any oil treatments, be sure to wash your baby’s scalp with a mild shampoo (with the least amount of potential irritants to your baby’s skin) as you don’t want oil to clog the pores and increase the rash or build-up.

If the cradle cap gets severe, infected or inflamed, becomes red or itchy or starts spreading to other parts of the body, seek medical advice.

This could indicate a yeast infection, and your doctor is likely to prescribe a course of antibiotics along with anti-fungal shampoo or cortisone cream to reduce the inflammation.

Once cradle cap disappears, it is unlikely to come back. As it gradually shows signs of disappearing, you might want to give your baby more shampoo washes. A gentle wash twice or three times a week using a mild shampoo is suggested. Any more and you could stimulate unnecessary oil production. Also never pick or scratch the flakes off the scalp with your nails, as this could lead to potential infections.

Remember, cradle cap is a natural condition and it’s not because your newborn is not being properly looked after. Also check with your doctor before using any herbal or alternative home remedies to reduce the cradle cap rash. ●