Cradle Cap in Babies: Causes and Treatment

From the first weeks of life, babies may have small yellowish crusts on their scalp or upper face that are greasy to the touch.

What causes cradle cap in babies?

These are called "cradle cap", which despite their name have nothing to do with milk: they are in fact due to excessive secretion of sebum, which traps dead cells on the surface of the skin until they form crusts.

Cradle cap is also unrelated to poor hygiene.

This condition affects two-thirds of babies and is completely benign. However, cradle cap is unsightly and can be colonized by bacteria or fungus: so follow our tips to rid your baby of it!

How to prevent cradle cap?

• Use a cradle cap preventative shampoo and gently massage your baby's scalp when washing their hair.

• Every day, brush his hair thoroughly with a soft brush.

• Do not wash his hair too frequently to avoid irritation: shampooing every 2 or 3 days and rinsing his head with water every day is sufficient.

How to treat existing cradle cap?

• Wash your baby's scalp thoroughly with a suitable shampoo, then treat it with a specific cradle cap treatment that addresses both the symptoms and the causes of cradle cap.
• Do not attempt to remove them with your fingernails.
• Consult a doctor if there is no improvement after 15 days of treatment, if red, rough patches appear on other parts of the body, or if inflammation or a rash develops around the scabs.