Best Ways to Treat Cradle Cap at Home
October 28, 2019
As a parent, you may have heard of a skin condition known as cradle cap, which is also known as crib cap. It causes babies to get flakes and rough patches on their scalp, but it is a harmless condition. You can think of it as the baby version of dandruff.
Cradle cap is most common in babies up to three months old, and it usually goes away by their first birthday. While you always want to visit the pediatrician for a diagnosis, you can easily treat the condition on your own.
If your child is diagnosed with cradle cap, here are the best ways to treat this condition at home.
Wash Their Hair
It helps to keep your baby's scalp clean, so be sure to wash their hair often, possibly more than you do now. Of course, you want to use a baby shampoo that is gentle on their skin, carefully rubbing the shampoo into the affected areas of their scalp. A good washing removes a bit of the extra oils, helping their scalp to heal from this condition.
Brush Their Scalp
You also want to gently brush their scalp once a day with a baby brush, or a brush designed for cradle cap, as this helps to remove the flakes. When you brush their hair, be sure to move the brush in one direction, and brush the affected areas slowly and carefully. The key is to loosen the flakes, so you can easily remove them from your baby's hair and scalp.
Massage With Oil
Massage their scalp with baby oil, olive oil or pure plant oil, or even Vaseline. Carefully massage a thin layer onto their scalp for a minute, and then let the oil sit for 15 minutes before washing it out with baby shampoo. While this method is safe for your baby, it never hurts to talk to their pediatrician before trying any oil.
Invest In A Humidifier
One of the causes of cradle cap is excess sebum, so consider a humidifier for their bedroom. The humidifier keeps their skin from drying out and releasing too much sebum. All you have to do is place it in their room and turn it on while they are sleeping, and you can keep their cradle cap from getting worse.
Apply Prescription Ointment
Your baby's pediatrician may recommend a prescription ointment for their cradle cap, but this is usually done in extreme cases. The prescription may come in the form of zinc, hydrocortisone or anti-fungal cream. If your baby needs a prescription ointment for their cradle cap, be sure to apply it as directed by their pediatrician.
Cradle cap is not a painful condition, nor is it contagious or a sign of poor hygiene. However, you still want to treat it because in rare cases, the irritation and scratching can lead to an infection, as well as discomfort. The above tips can help heal your baby's scalp as their body works to clear up the condition on its own.
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