Your baby is of course the most beautiful in the world - but then cradle cap shows up: greasy, yellowish flaky patches on the scalp. What exactly is it, and what can you do about it?
What is cradle cap?
What dandruff is for adults, cradle cap is for babies. It's a form of seborrhoeic dermatitis that appears on the scalp, eyebrows, the crease between nose and cheeks, behind the ears, and on the chest. It usually develops when your baby is 6 to 8 weeks old, and can last until around 4 months of age. Cradle cap generally clears up on its own, but it's completely understandable if you'd still like to treat it.
What causes cradle cap?
The exact cause of cradle cap isn't known, and there's not much you can do to prevent it. It originates from the sebaceous glands and isn't contagious - so everyone can carry on cuddling your baby as normal.
How do you treat cradle cap?
Yeast is thought to play a role in cradle cap, which is why it can be treated with an anti-fungal shampoo, available from a pharmacy or drugstore. Cradle cap doesn't itch and isn't one of the irritating types of eczema - so your baby isn't bothered by it themselves, and it clears up on its own. If you do use an anti-fungal shampoo, be careful: it can sting quite a bit if it gets in the eyes.
You can also gently remove the flakes with baby oil and a soft baby brush. Apply oil to the scalp, let it sit for a short while, then very gently remove the flakes with the brush. Besides baby oil, olive oil and pure coconut oil also work well for this.
Not going away?
If these tips don't work, or you have questions about cradle cap, contact your doctor, health visitor, or a dermatologist. They may be able to prescribe a special ointment.