How to Get Rid of Cradle Cap
Learn how to get rid of cradle cap, a common condition in infants that causes flaky skin on the scalp, with tips from one of Houston’s leading pediatricians. Sponsored by Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy.
The first time I saw it…I freaked out!
The front of my baby’s scalp around her hairline was yellowish looking and there were flakes of skin. As a first time mom, of course I wondered if something was wrong!
Turns out, my daughter had what is known as “cradle cap,” a common condition that causes flaky and scaly skin on a baby’s scalp. It is not a serious condition, but it is still something that most parents and caregivers will want to try to treat.
What is Cradle Cap?
Cradle Cap is another name for seborrheic dermatitis, a condition in infants that causes patches of scaly or flaky skin on the scalp. It is similar to dandruff in adults. These flaky patches can also occur on the eyebrows, back of the neck, and armpits.
Though it can look alarming, cradle cap does not cause discomfort and is not caused by poor hygiene. Rather, it is caused by a yeast that feeds on an oily substance called “sebum” on infants’ scalps. This sebum is created by the sebaceous glands to protect a baby’s skin. Excess production, however, leads to the perfect conditions for cradle cap to flourish.
Can Cradle Cap be Prevented?
Since cradle cap is not caused by something you did wrong, there’s not a consistent method of prevention. The sebaceous glands will produce sebum no matter what you do, so there is always a possibility of cradle cap. Once I learned this, I felt a sense of relief — I’m not a bad parent and I’m not doing anything wrong. And you aren’t either!
As many as 1 in 3 children under the age of 5 are affected by this condition. It is extremely common.
Though it can’t be prevented, there are several things caregivers can do to lessen the appearance of cradle cap and reduce the patches of dry, scaly, and flaky skin.
How to Treat Cradle Cap
Dr. Eddie Valenzuela is an award winning pediatrician and the founder and CEO of Pediatric Solutions, LLC in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Eddie has spent the past 5 years developing a line of products to treat pediatric skin conditions, specifically seborrheic dermatitis (cradle cap), dandruff, and eczema.
Dr. Eddie offers the following tips to parents and caregivers for getting rid of cradle cap:
- Wash your baby’s scalp every day with a mild medicated shampoo for infants.
- Work the shampoo into a lather and gently massage the scalp, using fingertips or a soft washcloth to loosen the scales and flakes.
- Avoid products that contain dyes, fragrances, or parabens and stick to products that are labeled hypoallergenic. This will help prevent further irritation.
Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo is specifically formulated for the relief of symptoms of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, including:
- flaking
- redness
- itching
- scaling
- irritation on the scalp and skin
It can be used on the scalp, face, and body and is safe for daily use. Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo is fragrance free, dye free, and dermatologist tested.
How Long Does it Take to See Results?
With consistent use of Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo, you may start to see noticeable results in just a few days. Over the course of a few weeks, the appearance of flaking and scaling should be greatly diminished, if not gone.
What Doesn’t Work for Cradle Cap?
There are quite a few “home remedies” that you may have heard about from friends and previous generations. The internet also has a lot of different suggestions. However, some of these can actually make irritation worse or potentially lead to infection!
When dealing with cradle cap, here is what NOT to do:
- Do not pick at scales or use an electric toothbrush or harsh bristles to remove scales. If they do not wash away with your gentle shampoo regimen, leave them alone. Picking at scales could break the skin, allowing bacteria to enter and create the risk of infection.
- Do not coat your baby’s scalp in mineral oil or petroleum jelly. This may worsen symptoms and if nothing else, will cause a mess on crib sheets and clothing.
- Always rinse thoroughly during bath time to ensure that there is no shampoo or residue left on skin. These can irritate the skin or provide a food source for that yucky yeast that causes cradle cap.
A trusted pediatrician is the best source of advice for treating cradle cap — I trust Dr. Eddie and his expertise on the subject. He has spent over a decade researching solutions for pediatric skin conditions!
More Happy Cappy Products for Sensitive Skin and Eczema
Happy Cappy isn’t just for babies!
Though my girls are no longer babies, our family still deals with sensitive skin issues. One of my daughters has eczema and occasionally has patches of red, itchy skin. I also have very sensitive skin, after delivering two babies my hormones changed a lot!
We all love and use Dr. Eddie’s products for sensitive skin.
In addition to the medicated shampoo, Dr. Eddie has also created the following Happy Cappy products that are suited for daily use and for the whole family:
- Daily Shampoo and Body Wash for Dry, Itchy, and Irritated Skin — This is what our whole family uses for bathing. It is a moisturizing cleanser that is free of skin irritants like fragrance, dye, alcohol, sulfates, phthalates, and preservatives known as parabens. 95% of the ingredients used are plant-based!
- Moisturizing Cream for Eczema — This clinically tested cream protects and restores the skin’s natural barrier. I absolutely love this moisturizing cream because it works ALL day long! There’s no greasiness and no stinging! When I use other lotions, I find myself needing to reapply over and over. Plus, fragrances often cause my skin to break out. Happy Cappy Moisturizing Cream is one of the best products I’ve ever tried and the kids love it too!
You can learn more about Dr. Eddie and his line of Happy Cappy products here: HappyCappyShampoo.com
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