I’m glad you came to me to get rid of cradle cap; many paranoid-yet-wonderful first time parents see the oily, yellow and/or white flaky scalp of infantile seborrheic dermatitis and drive at break-neck speed to the emergency room to scream at some poor doctor. Stay calm. Cradle cap is very common and absolutely harmless for your baby. With severe cases of cradle cap, your baby’s scalp may itch, but generally they are completely oblivious to it. In fact, doing nothing at all is an acceptable cradle cap treatment; it generally disappears before baby’s first birthday. But you’ll do something, and honestly, so would I. I would get rid of cradle cap promptly, because cradle cap babies are ugly. Also, uppity parents or even friends will judge your parenting skills. “Look”, they’ll say, “they don’t even bathe that poor little wretch.” The truth is cradle cap has nothing to do with your parenting skills or how diligently you clean your baby.
Doctors still aren’t certain about what causes seborrheic dermatitis, but there are two possibilities. Many believe babies who develop cradle cap have absorbed hormones from mommy before birth, causing the sebaceous glands to produce excess sebum. Because anti-fungal shampoos have been effective in severe cases, some say the yeast malassezia is the culprit. Either way, you can get rid of cradle cap at home by using the age-old methods described below.
Cradle Cap Treatment
To get rid of cradle cap, first apply baby oil to the affected areas ten to fifteen minutes before shampooing. This will loosen up the scales and flakes, making them easier to remove. If you don’t have any baby oil (c’mon, you have a baby) mineral oil or petroleum jelly will work just as well. You should only use this cradle cap treatment before shampooing, as leaving on a thick layer of shellac can clog pores and further irritate your baby’s skin.
Next, wet your baby’s scalp and use a soft-bristled toothbrush or terrycloth rag to gently rub the flakes and scales away. Don’t overdo it - be gentle and know that it may take a couple of days to get rid of cradle cap and have your baby pageant-ready once again. I’ve heard this step is fun, but parents are certifiably insane about their little ones. It sounds pleasurable though – I’m sure there’s an adult version available in a red light district near you.
After you’ve brushed the entire head and other affected areas (cradle cap can turn up around the ears, elbows, and other places), shampoo as usual and gently dry the scalp. Again, it may take a few treatments, but you should see improvement with every shampoo.
If your baby’s cradle cap is accompanied by inflammation or redness, you can use small amounts of hydrocortisone cream to get rid of the problem. Hydrocortisone is perfectly safe in small amounts, once a day or every other day. Use your judgment here. If the inflammation is severe, grows worse, or spreads to your child’s face, take your child to the doctor.
If your baby isn’t responding to the above cradle cap treatment, it may be time to visit your family doctor. I’m not trying to cater to the paranoid-parent crowd, but sometimes it is better to err on the side of precaution. This is especially a good idea if your baby’s cradle cap is spreading to the face or getting worse with treatment. More than likely, your doctor will recommend a dandruff shampoo – one containing salicylic acid, selenium, tar, or ketoconazole. These shampoos are very capable of getting rid of cradle cap, but they are not gentle, so you’ll have to be careful not to get any in Junior’s eyes.How to Bathe Your Baby
When your baby starts exhibiting the symptoms of cradle cap, you may be tempted to wash your child all day until you can confidently show them off again. Rather than get rid of cradle cap, you’re bound to make things worse. Over-washing always exacerbates skin conditions. Sponge baths and whatever cleaning goes on during diaper and burp/vomit changes covers most of your baby’s hygiene needs – those are the problem areas anyhow. Sponge baths are all your baby should have until both the umbilical cord and circumcision (if any) have healed. Bathing and shampooing should only take place a few times a week. When you do bathe your little one, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, be prepared; have all of your supplies within arm’s reach of where you are going to bathe your baby, and always keep one hand on your baby - under no circumstances should you leave your child during the bath. You do not need to fill your basin, sink or whatever you’re using – a few inches of water will do - and the water should be warm, not hot, as babies are easily scalded. When you are finished bathing your baby, dry them promptly and keep them from getting chilled. Lastly, coo to them and zerbert their stomachs.
