{"id":17921,"date":"2023-11-14T14:00:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T20:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=17921"},"modified":"2023-11-09T21:19:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T03:19:20","slug":"what-is-cradle-cap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/","title":{"rendered":"What is cradle cap?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cradle cap, aka seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin condition many infants experience at one time or another.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very common in infants,\u201d Luis Garcia, MD<\/a>, a pediatrician at OSF HealthCare, said.<\/p>\n

Depending on the case, this condition may look severe, but it\u2019s usually just a run-of-the-mill condition that comes with being a baby.<\/p>\n

\u201cCradle cap is when there are deposits of greasy spots or flakes on your baby\u2019s scalp,\u201d Dr. Garcia said. About 20% of babies will get cradle cap before they\u2019re three months.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll know it by the symptoms you can see: white or yellow scales or flakes, flaky or scaly patches on the scalp, or oily or dry skin on the scalp.<\/p>\n

What is the cause of cradle cap inbabies?<\/h2>\n

There are no specific causes of cradle cap in babies. It\u2019s something that likely just happened because your baby has sensitive skin or has some sort of irritation. Since it is so common, it\u2019s possible that your baby will experience a bout with cradle cap at least once.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s likely just an irritation of the skin. It may also be associated with hyper-sensitive skin.\u201d<\/p>\n

How long cradle cap lasts depends on the severity of the case and how sensitive your baby\u2019s skin is.<\/p>\n

\"cradle<\/p>\n

\u201cSome cases last a few days. Others last a few months,\u201d Dr. Garcia said.<\/p>\n

How do you get rid of cradle cap?<\/h2>\n

\u201cThis is a benign condition, which means that it will go away on its own,\u201d Dr. Garcia said. \u201cSo how you get rid of cradle cap is to do nothing; just observe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Garcia also said you can try a couple other cradle cap treatments.<\/p>\n

1. Baby oil head massage<\/h3>\n

The first cradle cap remedy Dr. Garcia recommends is to loosen the flakes with a little bit of baby mineral oil or petroleum jelly. Apply a small amount to your baby\u2019s scalp and gently massage. This should help loosen the flakes. But, Dr. Garcia warns, it\u2019s important not to leave the oil on your baby\u2019s head for too long because that will only make the problem worse.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve massaged your baby\u2019s scalp, you can use a fine-toothed comb to gently comb away any flakes that have come loose. Thoroughly wash their head with a soft washcloth, water and gentle baby soap.<\/p>\n

2. Talk to your baby\u2019s pediatrician<\/h3>\n

In certain severe cases, your baby\u2019s pediatrician may prescribe a steroid cream to apply to your baby\u2019s scalp, like hydrocortisone or an anti-fungal cream.<\/p>\n

However, only use these remedies if they\u2019ve been prescribed by your baby\u2019s pediatrician. Your baby\u2019s pediatrician knows your baby individually, so they\u2019ll be able to discuss the best course of action you should take to address your baby\u2019s cradle cap. If you use these without the OK from your child\u2019s pediatrician, it may cause more irritation or reactions for your baby.<\/p>\n

\n

Want more info?<\/p>\n

Talk to your provider<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What not to do<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t scratch or pick flakes away. You may feel like it\u2019s helping your baby, but it will likely make the condition much worse.<\/p>\n

You also want to avoid putting hats on your baby that trap moisture. You can still use hats to keep the sun out of their eyes or keep their little head warm in the cold months, but make sure you choose a hat that doesn\u2019t hold in moisture. Don your baby in a hat made of breathable fabric, like cotton.<\/p>\n

And finally, don\u2019t use harsh soaps, including adult dandruff shampoos. Make sure to use a baby shampoo that\u2019s soft and gentle. You may even want to try a shampoo specially designed for sensitive skin.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to use any fancy products, like lotions. This may just cause further irritation.<\/p>\n

How to prevent cradle cap<\/h2>\n

If you want to prevent cradle cap, there are a few things you can do. Poor hygiene will lead to extra oil on your baby\u2019s head, which may cause irritation. The most important is to keep your baby\u2019s head clean and dry. Use a mild baby shampoo during bath time<\/a>, and make sure you\u2019re washing your baby frequently \u2013 about two to three times per week<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Common misconceptions about cradle cap<\/h2>\n

Pediatricians often hear the same questions from parents about their baby\u2019s cradle cap. Dr. Garcia answered some of the most popular questions to put parents\u2019 minds at ease.<\/p>\n

Can baby hair not grow because of cradle cap?<\/h3>\n

Even though cradle cap can make it look like it\u2019s covering a baby\u2019s head, baby\u2019s hair will still grow. However, it depends on the condition. If your child is suffering from some other condition or had a condition which caused their cradle cap, that condition may cause your child\u2019s hair to not grow.<\/p>\n

Is cradle cap the same as dandruff?<\/h3>\n

Dandruff and cradle cap aren\u2019t exactly the same thing. Dandruff is a symptom and cradle cap is a condition. Dandruff is a symptom of a condition, like cradle cap for example.<\/p>\n

How do you treat infant dandruff?<\/h3>\n

As adults, we\u2019re used to hearing flaky scalps called dandruff. So, sometimes we may refer to cradle cap as infant dandruff.<\/p>\n

If your baby\u2019s symptoms don\u2019t match the description of cradle cap, it may be a different condition causing the flakiness. Talk to your baby\u2019s pediatrician about your baby\u2019s head. They can tell you if it\u2019s cradle cap or a different condition.<\/p>\n

And if you have any questions at all, or your baby\u2019s cradle cap is severe or won\u2019t go away on its own, don\u2019t hesitate to make an appointment with your baby\u2019s pediatrician.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cradle cap, aka seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin condition many infants experience at one time or another. \u201cIt\u2019s very common in infants,\u201d Luis Garcia, MD, a pediatrician at OSF HealthCare, said. Depending on the case, this condition may look severe, but it\u2019s usually just a run-of-the-mill condition that comes with being a baby. \u201cCradle cap […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":17985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[1143,421],"coauthors":[1051],"class_list":["post-17921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous","tag-cradle-cap","tag-infants"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is cradle cap and how is it treated? | OSF HealthCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what causes cradle cap and what cradle cap remedies work best.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is cradle cap?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Know what causes cradle cap and what cradle cap remedies work best.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OSF HealthCare Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/osfhealthcare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-11-14T20:00:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_218070889.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katie Faley\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"What is cradle cap?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Know what causes cradle cap and what cradle cap remedies work best.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_218070889.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@osfhealthcare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@osfhealthcare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katie Faley\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/\",\"name\":\"What is cradle cap and how is it treated? | OSF HealthCare\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_218070889.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-14T20:00:10+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/bc2dbf158eb9b99f4767d395620eca6d\"},\"description\":\"Learn what causes cradle cap and what cradle cap remedies work best.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-is-cradle-cap\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_218070889.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shutterstock_218070889.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"Mother holding head of her newborn son in hands. 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