Cradle cap (infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis)
Cradle cap is temporary and harmless.
What is it?
Cradle cap is a disease of the scalp in babies, characterised by greasy, yellow, scaly patches on the skin of the scalp. The condition is temporary and harmless.
What causes it?
The cause is unknown. It is not due to infection, allergy or inadequate washing.
What are the symptoms?
Greasy, yellow scaling patches that may, eventually, cause the baby's scalp to be covered in a thick, scaly layer. The condition is not itchy and the child is not distressed by it.
Who is at increased risk?
Cradle cap is very common in babies. It usually appears during the first couple of weeks of the infant's life.
What can I do at home?
The following treatment can be effective in controlling the problem, but it may have to be repeated. The baby can be made more comfortable by loosening or removing any clothing covering the scalp.
- Rub a little olive oil into the baby's scalp before bed. Comb the hair with a fine-toothed comb in the morning.
- When the scales have been removed, wash the baby's hair with a mild baby shampoo.
If the treatment does not work, or if the baby has eczema on the face or body, consult your doctor or a pharmacist for advice.
How is cradle cap diagnosed?
The doctor will make the diagnosis by examining the baby's head. The appearance is usually quite characteristic.
What happens if it gets worse?
In rare cases, the condition can spread to the face, or to the body, where it can cause eczema in the nappy region (the groin) and the armpits.
Future prospects
Cradle cap is a temporary condition which will disappear by itself after a while.
What is the treatment?
The doctor will probably suggest a treatment similar to the one described above. If the baby has a severe attack, the doctor may choose to treat it with a weak hydrocortisone cream, possibly in combination with a special shampoo.
Severe cases are usually referred to a skin specialist.
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