Cradle Cap: Don’t Fret, Its Innocuous

Cradle cap is a skin condition that arises due to the inadequate functioning of an infant’s sebaceous glands. It occurs mainly atop the skull of the baby in scaly, greasy, crusty oily patches. Cradle cap can also be witnessed over the eyebrows and portions behind the ear of the baby. The effect of this skin condition will be much where the concentration of sebaceous glands will be more. The care related to baby’s hygiene must be met with guided measures. It is also known as Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis.

The cradle cap may appear to you as irritating for your baby but the facts suggest that it is a harmless skin condition. The baby would not be at discomfort but needs soft and gentle treatment along with removal of the scaly accumulation. This condition is like seborrhoea in infants. The scales are only due to the excessive secretion of sebum from the sebaceous glands. When your infant develops cradle cap, look out for the removal of the scales with using mild baby products.

The cradle cap requires gentle application of baby oil on the affected areas of the head. Mineral oil or vegetable oil can also be used for this purpose. Application of oil will help in loosening the scales after the baby’s head fully soak the oil. The child’s head must be washed with the use of lukewarm water and mild baby shampoo. The shampooing will help in removal of loose scales. Mop the baby’s head with soft cotton swabs and let it dry.

The dry scales can then be brushed out and removed, using a brush made up of soft bristles. During the cradle cap, care must be taken that the accumulation or skin does not thickens over the head of the baby. Follow the remedies under the guidance of an expert medical supervisor.

The Addam has extensive knowledge on dermatology, especially on
cradle cap. His articles are informative and beneficent for those who are concerned with treatment of skin disease.