Baby with cradle cap - any advice? Post Reply

[Earlsfieldgirl]

Hi,

My little boy (14 wks) has a very bad case of cradle cap. He has had it since he was about 6 wks. Initially it was on his forehead and eyebrows which was quickly sorted with Dentinox. However, since then it has moved onto the top of his head and I don't seem to be able to shift it.

It is very crusty and yellow and seems to weep, particularly when he is stressed and crying (which then forms the crust). We have been given Capasal shampoo by the doctors which shifts the crust at the time, but by morning it will have weeped all night and developed into a yellow crust again.

Thankfully it doesn't seem to be bothering him, but it looks very raw and sore and I am worried it might get infected.

Has anybody experienced anything similar with their children? Any advice on remedies?

Many thanks

[Momofone]

It's important to remember that it isn't harmful or causing any discomfort. My baby had quite a lot of cradle cap particularly on the top of her head. We were advices by her doctor to gently
massage olive oil on the scalp and allow the oil to sit for two hours (we managed 20 min sessions). Then you shampoo as normal with Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo. Then as you're brushing the flakes will come out as they will have loosened during shampooing.

After a few times doing this her cradle cap was gone and didn't come back.
You are not meant to pick at the flakes and his scalp seems red perhaps it is best to wait for it to heal before using this method. Hope that helps

[Hamfelbel]

I would definitely recommend olive oil - a hairdresser suggested it to me for my son's cradle cap and it disappeared after one bath when I rubbed it in to his scalp really well and then left it for a bit while he played, then rinsed it with just water. It was only a mild case of it in one area of his scalp, but went straight away so I wish I'd known to use olive oil sooner as I'd been using Dentinox every time I washed his hair since birth (he's nearly 2!) and that really hadn't worked!

Good luck!

[ding]

Nothing new to say.....but we used olive oil too. Straight after a bath we rubbed it in quite liberally. Left it for a few hours then started to brush the scalp with a soft baby brush. It took a few days of doing this.....but it shifted it better than any of the stuff from the pharmacy.

[TheDormouse]

DD1 had mild but persistent cradle cap. I tried olive oil for a while but didn't find it worked on her. What did work for us was vaseline and a plastic nit comb - let the vaseline soak into the scalp for half an hour or more, then nudge the flakes ever so gently with the comb and they should just lift off. Dentinox seems to help too, but I never found that was enough on its own. Hope that helps!

[Deborahbe]

Hello my son had dreadful cradle cap (like a huge crust on top of his head). I tried olive oil but it didn't work. Eventually the doctor gave me something called Double Base, a very light cream. It was gone and stayed gone within a day or two. I think this stuff may be available over the counter. Good luck! best wishes Deborah

[Raspberry-Sorbet]

Hi, I would try almond oil - have found it more successful than olive oil perhaps because it is a thicker substance and a bit more nourishing but I'm not entirely sure. I would be wary of using on any areas that have bled and maybe just try a little bit to start with as of course it is derived from nuts and although your baby isn't going to eat it, I would do a small patch test and perhaps run it past a health visitor / gp first. I am not aware of anyone ever having a problem using it but even so, I would just try a small bit first.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/100ml-Sweet-Alm ... 401&sr=8-4

This or a similar product, I would think Dandelion on Northcote Rd would have something or the chemist.

Myself, I would also gently comb it, lifting it off as just from my own experience, I find it doesn't go without a bit of help. It just keeps building in layers. But again, only do that if you are happy doing so as I am fairly sure that a gp would say not to!

[Earlsfieldgirl]

Thank you everybody for the advice. Will have a go at the various suggestions.

Thanks again!

[alternativemidwife]

I think olive oil or almond oil is good if it is not weeping. As you mentioned the cradle cap has been there since 6 wks old and so I think the mum has to change her diet and not eat food that is spicy, chocolates and curries. Is the mum breast feeding as it could be the mum's diet that needs checking as whatever mum eats it will pass onto the breast milk. Check with a Chinese herbalist for advice as a last resort.

[emsken]

Use dent inbox cradle cap shampoo and this stuff... Amazing fast results.. http://babyworld.co.uk/reviews/kamillos ... e-cap-oil/

[Elle1]

When my little girl had cradle cap I showed it to the health visitor and she prescribed Centreban Emollient cream. It disappeared immediately. I think you can buy it in Boots or is free with a prescription.

[sparkletiger]

Green baby cradle cap oil rubbed on then left for a bit and combed with little wooden baby comb (think from green baby too). It was a mild case but poss worth trying if olive oil doesn't work.

Hope it gets better soon