what causes cradle cap in babies??

Answer 1

hormones and immature sweat glands

Answer 2

I have two kids that went through this. From what the doctor told me it is caused by the secretion of oils that get trapped by the hair (both my kids were born with heads full of hair). The skin that flakes off and would normally fall out is trapped (stuck) by the oil. I got a cradle cap brush (has soft plastic bristles - not a baby hair brush) that really works. (The only place I could find one was CVS Pharmacy. You can use it while bathing or even on dry hair. I gently rubbed their heads in a circular pattern when rocking to sleep. My son still will fall right to sleep when I rub his head with my fingers and he is now 8 years old.

I disagree with the idea that it is hormones because my daughter is now 8 months old and while she had ear infection I didn't wash her hair for a couple of days and the little crusties came back. i completely agree with the doctor as it makes perfect sense and holds true in my experience.

Answer 3

It looks like my baby has dandruff. Is it cradle cap?

Probably. Cradle cap is very common. If your baby's scalp has flaky, dry skin that looks like dandruff, or even thick, oily, yellowish scaling or crusting patches, it's most likely cradle cap. Cradle cap isn't pretty, but it's harmless. Most often it shows up in the first few months of life, and it usually clears up on its own after several months — six or seven at the most — although some babies have it until they near their first birthday. You might notice the same condition around your baby's ears or eyebrows, or even in his armpits and other creases. When it's not on his scalp, it's called seborrheic dermatitis.

What causes it?

We don't know. For some time, experts believed that the hormones your baby received from you at the end of pregnancy overstimulated your baby's oil-producing (seborrheic) glands, resulting in cradle cap. But with further research there seems to be less agreement about the culprit. What we do know is that it's not caused by poor hygiene or allergies. It's not contagious, and it probably doesn't bother your baby at all, although if it gets severe it might itch.

How should I treat my baby's flaky scalp?

You don't really need to do anything, but if it bothers you, try more frequent shampooing and gently brushing your baby's scalp with a soft brush or a terrycloth towel. Some parents find a vegetable oil remedy helpful, especially to loosen any dry flakes. If you want to give it a try, rub just a small amount of vegetable oil (such as olive oil) on your baby's scalp, and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Then comb out the flakes with a fine-tooth comb or brush them with a soft brush. Make sure you follow up by washing your baby's scalp with a gentle baby shampoo — the last thing you want to do is leave oil (which can cause the flakes to stick) on his head. You might try leaving the shampoo on for a few minutes before rinsing, to help cut the oil.

Should I take my baby to the doctor?

Talk with your baby's doctor if your baby's cradle cap persists beyond age 6 months, is severe, or spreads beyond his scalp. She may suggest an over-the-counter or prescription seborrhea shampoo, or, for an inflamed scalp, a cortisone cream.

Can I stop it from coming back?

Once your baby's cradle cap is completely gone, it's unlikely to return, but to help remove dead skin while it's waning, you might want to give your baby more frequent shampooing. Don't overdo it, though, or you can further stimulate his oil-producing glands. A cleansing two or three times a week with a mild shampoo should be plenty.

Answer 4

It's usually caused by hormones changing after birth. When a child is born, he or she has the mother's hormones in their system. As the hormones diminish, skin can become dry or oily. This can also cause infant acne or a slight swelling of the breast tissue.

Try massaging baby oil into the scalp. After a few minutes, use a soft brush to gently remove the flakes. Cradle cap should only last a few weeks.

Answer 5

i'm no longer particular precisely what motives it, yet i imagine that is in undemanding words some thing some children get after being born. Their dermis even seems a touch crusty then too. My son had it and that i used comfortable organic Disney infant Cradle Cap Care and it were given rid of my sons exceedingly right away and it did not come decrease back. wish this helps.

Answer 6

Our pediatician told us that it is due to a fungus that feeds on oil. So he advised us to use mild dandruff shampoo (like head and shoulders) on our son's head 2-3 times a week and after his bath gently rub the top of his head with a cradle cap brush to remove the flakes.

Answer 7

the dead cells that are sloughing off from the birth. What u did to do is wash the baby's hair with a baby shampoo and get a good lather and take a baby brush and gently brush the baby's hair. Rinse, Repeat and when the baby's hair dry if you still see flakes - then dip comb in baby oil lightly (this is to not irritate baby's scalp) and flake the flakes off. This needs to be done every day untill the dead cells stop sloughing off.

Answer 8

It is dry skin. You have to take care of it, because sometimes it will not go away and when they grow alot of hair it is very hard to deal with. You need to put baby oil on the babies head and take the baby comb and gently comb through it do it everyday you will see a difference.

Answer 9

They skin on their scalp is either too dry or too oily. You can buy over the counter stuff for it at supermarkets. Or you can put baby oil (the baby oil gel is better) on it before bed. You can comb it with a soft bruch or comb but be gentle. It will go away with a little time.

Answer 10

I don't know what causes it, but if you put baby oil on her/his head about 20 mins before you give the little one a bath, it should help.