How To Get Rid Of Cradle Cap Safely (Infantile Seborrhoeic dermatitis)

First thing’s first: What is infantile seborrheic dermatitis, exactly? While it may sound ominous, it’s really just a newborn version of dandruff. Also known as infantile seborrheic dermatitis, cradle cap is a condition in which infants develop rough, oily, and/or scaly patches on their scalp. It’s called “cradle cap” because the patches typically form on an infant’s head, in the same area where they might wear a cap.

Common Symptoms

Symptoms of infantile seborrheic dermatitis include:

• Thick, patchy, or scaly crusts on the scalp. Scales may be white, yellow, or dark and are most likely to form on top of skin that has become greasy or dry
• Skin flakes
• Redness
• In rare cases, some babies may lose hair in the area where they have cradle cap. The hair should grow back once the condition has improved

The condition often develops rapidly, and its appearance can be alarming: One day your child’s scalp is silky-smooth, and the next day it’s covered in scales.

Luckily, cradle cap isn’t really that serious. It’s not painful or itchy; it’s not contagious; and mild cases tend to clear up on their own over the course of a few months. (If you want to speed up the healing process, check out some of the natural treatments below.)

Even though the condition is incredibly common, experts aren’t quite sure what causes infantile seborrheic dermatitis.

1. Hormones from the Mother

One theory is that patches may result when the oil glands in an infant’s skin over-produce the oilsembum. (This may be the result of hormones that were passed on from the mother to the infant prior to birth.) The excess sebum then makes it difficult for old skin cells to dry up and shed off the scalp, which means they stick around and form scaly patches.

2. Genetic link

There’s also a possible genetic link. Infants who develop it frequently have a family member who themselves has a condition such as asthma or eczema.

3.Environmental and Physiological Factors

Another theory is that a variety of environmental and physiological factors may make an infant more susceptible to cradle cap. These include things like weather extremes, stress, skin disorders, and a weakened immune system.

4. Poor Hygiene

One thing’s for certain: Cradle cap isn’t the result of poor hygiene. So don’t beat yourself up for bad parenting if your infant develops the condition. Devote that energy to learning how to get rid of it, instead.

5. Yeast (Malassezia)

A specific type of yeast called Malassezia, which naturally resides on a baby's skin might be involved in causing cradle cap.

6. Sebum Production

The sebaceous glands in the scalp produce sebum, which oils the skin. In babies, these glands may become overactive, causing skin cells to stick to the scalp and form yellow crusts and scales.

7. Inflammation

Some component in the sebum, as yet unknown, may cause skin inflammation, contributing to the development of cradle cap .

While cradle cap typically goes away on its own over the course of a few weeks or months, many parents prefer to treat the condition so it clears up sooner. The following treatment approaches are all proven methods for getting rid of the condition without the use of harmful chemicals or prescription medications.

As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Taking steps to prevent it from developing may spare you (and your baby) the headaches involved in treating the condition.

In fact, many of the strategies that aid with infantile seborrheic dermatitis treatment are also the best means of preventing the condition from cropping up in the first place.

1. Wash your Baby’s Scalp Every Day

This is one of the best strategies for removing excess oils produced by your baby’s skin and loosening the scales so they shed more quickly. One caveat: If your baby is prone to sensitive skin, consider washing their scalp every other day to reduce the risk of irritation.

Because shampoos and washes with harsh chemicals can cause more irritation (which sort of defeats the point of washing your baby’s scalp), it’s a good idea to choose a gentle product.

Once you’ve applied the shampoo or wash of your choosing, use a soft-bristled brush to gently exfoliate your baby’s scalp. Then rinse their scalp thoroughly so product residue doesn’t stick around.

2. Follow Each Washing with a Brushing

Once your baby’s scalp is clean, gently brush or comb their hair and scalp using a soft brush. This will further encourage the scales to fall off.

3. Amp up the Moisture

In many cases, it’s helpful to apply a moisturizing product to your baby’s scalp post-shampoo. This helps keep the skin hydrated, which can reduce irritation and flakiness.

For best results, wash your baby’s head, pat it partially dry, and then apply the moisturizer or balm. This helps seal in moisture to keep the skin hydrated.

Many sources advocate for the use of mineral or petroleum jelly, but these products pose potential health risks. For example, mineral oil may be irritating to the skin and respiratory system, while petroleum jelly may be harmful to the central nervous system and/or irritating to the skin and eyes. There’s also some evidence these ingredients may be carcinogenic.

For these reasons, you’re probably better off using a gentle, natural product. Our USDA Organic Superbalm is packed with ingredients that will help soothe your child’s scalp, such as chamomile, calendula, coconut oil, and avocado oil.

We’ve left out irritating and potentially harmful ingredients such as alcohol, petrolatum, parabens, and mineral oil, so you can rest easy knowing your child’s scalp is benefiting from deep hydration derived from food-grade ingredients.

And check out the results babies get!

Cradle cap is incredibly common, especially among infants three months of age or younger. If your child develops this harmless condition, there’s no need to fret about your parenting skills. Instead, focus your energy on natural treatment methods to get rid of Cradle cap.

By using gentle products and frequently washing, moisturizing, brushing, and massaging your child’s scalp, you’ll help speed up the skin’s healing process. Maintaining similar strategies after your baby’s cradle cap has gone away (or before it ever develops) will help prevent the condition from cropping up down the road. So breathe a sigh of relief: Here’s one parenting challenge you can stop stressing about.