Cradle Cap - How to Treat and When to be Concerned

I thought I would make my first post on this blog about something I am currently dealing with: the dreaded cradle cap. In case you have not experienced this yet, cradle cap is a common "rash" that appears on the scalps of many newborns and infants. It is actually the oil glands in your baby's scalp being overactive because of the hormones he/she received from you during childbirth. Cradle cap is extremely common, and it is NOT the result of you doing anything wrong as a parent.

DIAGNOSING

To be honest, pretty much any skin disturbance on the scalp of a newborn to 5-month-old is cradle cap. It can have many appearances. Sometimes it is crusty and yellow. Other times it resembles dry, white, flaky dandruff. It can also be red and bumpy. If you do a Google Search for cradle cap in images, there are many pictures of this condition (but some are worst-case scenarios, so don't let them scare you!). You do not need to take your baby to his/her doctor for a simple case of cradle cap. Rest assured it is not causing your baby any pain or unhappiness. There are many things you can do to alleviate this condition.

As a special note, if your child is more than a couple months old, you may notice that he/she is scratching the areas of cradle cap. Again, this is a natural reaction, and only means your child is gaining a sense of his/her own person. Just be sure to keep the nails trimmed back so that no cuts will occur, which could lead to infection.

PROGNOSIS

Sometimes cradle cap lasts for months. All you can really do as a parent is try to manage it as long as it remains mild. It WILL eventually go away. Meanwhile, your child will continue living happily, and mostly flake-free, if you follow my advice for treating.

TREATMENT

The best treatment (and safest for your baby) is called "scalp scraping" or "scalp brushing." For this you will need a soft-bristled baby brush (they are about $2) and some baby oil. Right before bathtime, massage enough baby oil into your baby's scalp to really get it moist. I usually do this while my baby is in the tub immediately before bathing him so that i can be really generous with the oil. However, some people prefer to let the oil "soak" for a couple of hours. If you want to do this, I HIGHLY recommend putting a hat on your child to keep the baby oil from getting on any clothes or furniture. When you are happy with how long the oil has been "setting," take the baby brush and with slightly firm strokes begin to rub the flakes off your baby's head. This really should be done in the bath, unless you are ok with baby skin being all over your house. I recommend brushing in all different directions: front-to-back, back-to-front, side-to-side, and circular. Just be careful not to irritate the scalp too much; a couple of minutes should do it. Next, simply shampoo and bathe your baby as usual.

Most babies will love this treatment, especially if they like baths. In fact, after rubbing my son's scalp with the oil, I go ahead and massage his whole body with it. He loves it, and it softens his skin enough so that I usually do not have to lotion him after his bath.

WHEN TO BE CONCERNED

There are times when cradle cap can call for a visit to the doctor. If your baby's cradle cap is "creeping," such as spreading down his/her forehead or behind his/her ears, you need to make an appointment to have it looked at. Also, if your baby's cradle cap just seems to be gradually getting worse or if your parent's intuition tells you something is wrong, a doctor's visit can't hurt.

Finally, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you get your child to a doctor IMMEDIATELY if there is any sign of infection, such as spreading redness, a fever, oozing, or a bad smell.

I hope this has been helpful for any other mommies (or daddys!) out there who are struggling with this stubborn skin condition. Just remember, it WILL go away! Meanwhile, enjoy your precious child and try not to get frustrated.