Cradle Cap
What It Is...
Cradle cap is the common term for seborrheic dermatitis (seb-eh-REE-ik dur-muh-TYE-tis) of the scalp in infants.
Cradle cap is the oily, yellow, scaly crusts babies often get on their scalps and sometimes on their torsos and in their body folds.
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It happens if your baby’s skin makes too much oil (sebum), probably because mom’s hormones are still circulating in your baby’s blood after birth. This extra oil interferes with the natural shedding of skin on your baby’s scalp and creates a build-up of dead skin over the scalp.
Cradle cap might also happen if your baby’s immune system overreacts to the presence of yeast on their scalp. This overreaction causes inflammation.
Is it Contagious?
Cradle cap isn’t contagious, dangerous or serious.
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Your baby’s hair might get a bit matted because of cradle cap, but this condition won’t cause baldness or long-term hair loss.
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Cradle cap mainly affects young babies. When it affects children, teenagers and adults, it’s called seborrheic dermatitis.
Cradle Cap Care
How do I treat this?
Cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis in infants usually clears up on its own in weeks or months. In the meantime, you may want to loosen and remove the scales on your baby's scalp:
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Wash your baby's hair once a day with mild, tear-free baby shampoo.
Apply our Cradle Cap Serum then gently remove scales with a soft brush or toothbrush.
If the scales don't loosen easily, apply more Cradle Cap Serum to your baby's scalp. Let the serum soak into the scales for a few minutes to several hours, if needed. Then use a soft brush or toothbrush to remove scales. Shampoo your baby's hair as usual.