Cradle cap can be observed in every baby and parents need not worry about it as it is not an abnormal issue. In fact there is no need of any treatment to deal with cradle cap as it goes away on its own. However, some parents may choose to take care of it by choosing some methods like oiling or shampooing. Read on to find tips for treating baby’s cradle cap.Cradle cap is a common problem in infants. If you find that your baby’s scalp has dry and flaky skin that looks like dandruff but is thick, yellowish or brown, it might be cradle cap perhaps. Most often this shows up in the first few months after the birth of the child and is harmless. It even gets cleared in 10 – 12 months of time but does not look good. These are also sometimes found in armpits, ears or eyebrows. There is no concrete reason behind the occurrence of cradle cap and different people have different views on that. The only thing that experts know is that it is harmless, not caused due to any allergy or poor hygiene and is not contagious as well. It will perhaps not even bother your child. But sometimes when it gets severe, it itches. Tips to Treat your Baby’s Cradle Cap Here are some remedies for dealing with cradle cap. Shampoo your baby’s hair frequently and brush the area gently before and after shampoo. You can also use oil and apply it there so that when you brush the scalp it easily comes out. Take care because the scalp area is very soft in infants. You can shampoo the baby’s hair and scalp after oiling. If this does not work, you can buy a medicated shampoo after consulting your pediatrician. If the state worsens, you should take advice from the doctor because it is possible there is some yeast infection or so. If you find that your baby is uncomfortable and the rashes have spread to different areas, it is time to consult your pediatrician. Some advice to apply petroleum jelly on the area and cover with a cap. You can easily brush the flakes off after sometime. Cradle cap is harmless. There will be discomfort only when there is yeast infection along with the cradle cap and the infected area increases. It does not appear good as most often it spreads to arms, ears and other adjoining areas. You might have to treat it in natural ways mentioned here, but it will go away gradually. When you observe cradle cap on your baby’s scalp, you should not worry or panic. It is a natural phenomenon and majority of the infants go through this condition. Do not think that it is caused because you were unable to clean your baby’s hair or scalp. No matter what ways you choose, keep one thing in mind that the scalp of an infant is very soft and you should do everything very gently and softly. Never rub the scalp area roughly or vigorously. Do not try to get rid of the cradle cap in one go. Give it some time and repeat the process only after a gap of 2 – 3 days. Use a soft brush or comb to remove the flakes from the scalp. Do not leave oil on the scalp for long time. It might worsen the condition and take longer to get rid of the problem. There is one relaxing factor here. Once the cradle cap is completely gone, it is not going to come back probably. But you might need to give frequent shampoo treatments to your baby for some time. Just keep in mind that you do not overdo anything. Apply shampoo for 2 – 3 times a week and that will be enough.
Cradle cap can be observed in every baby and parents need not worry about it as it is not an abnormal issue. In fact there is no need of any treatment to deal with cradle cap as it goes away on its own. However, some parents may choose to take care of it by choosing some methods like oiling or shampooing. Read on to find tips for treating baby’s cradle cap.Cradle cap is a common problem in infants. If you find that your baby’s scalp has dry and flaky skin that looks like dandruff but is thick, yellowish or brown, it might be cradle cap perhaps. Most often this shows up in the first few months after the birth of the child and is harmless. It even gets cleared in 10 – 12 months of time but does not look good. These are also sometimes found in armpits, ears or eyebrows.
There is no concrete reason behind the occurrence of cradle cap and different people have different views on that. The only thing that experts know is that it is harmless, not caused due to any allergy or poor hygiene and is not contagious as well. It will perhaps not even bother your child. But sometimes when it gets severe, it itches.
Tips to Treat your Baby’s Cradle Cap
Here are some remedies for dealing with cradle cap.
- Shampoo your baby’s hair frequently and brush the area gently before and after shampoo.
- You can also use oil and apply it there so that when you brush the scalp it easily comes out. Take care because the scalp area is very soft in infants.
- You can shampoo the baby’s hair and scalp after oiling.
- If this does not work, you can buy a medicated shampoo after consulting your pediatrician.
- If the state worsens, you should take advice from the doctor because it is possible there is some yeast infection or so.
- If you find that your baby is uncomfortable and the rashes have spread to different areas, it is time to consult your pediatrician.
- Some advice to apply petroleum jelly on the area and cover with a cap. You can easily brush the flakes off after sometime.
Cradle cap is harmless. There will be discomfort only when there is yeast infection along with the cradle cap and the infected area increases. It does not appear good as most often it spreads to arms, ears and other adjoining areas. You might have to treat it in natural ways mentioned here, but it will go away gradually.
When you observe cradle cap on your baby’s scalp, you should not worry or panic. It is a natural phenomenon and majority of the infants go through this condition. Do not think that it is caused because you were unable to clean your baby’s hair or scalp.
No matter what ways you choose, keep one thing in mind that the scalp of an infant is very soft and you should do everything very gently and softly.
- Never rub the scalp area roughly or vigorously.
- Do not try to get rid of the cradle cap in one go. Give it some time and repeat the process only after a gap of 2 – 3 days.
- Use a soft brush or comb to remove the flakes from the scalp.
- Do not leave oil on the scalp for long time. It might worsen the condition and take longer to get rid of the problem.
There is one relaxing factor here. Once the cradle cap is completely gone, it is not going to come back probably. But you might need to give frequent shampoo treatments to your baby for some time. Just keep in mind that you do not overdo anything. Apply shampoo for 2 – 3 times a week and that will be enough.
