Any tips for getting rid of cradle cap?

Question

I have a 2 1/2 month baby girl with a full head of hair and she has cradle cap, her dr told me to use vaseline but all her hair gets in the way. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Rub the scalp with olive oil every day, twice a day until its gone. It will go quicker iof you shave her head (it will grow back quicker than you think!).

Answer 2

Treatment

While the advice to apply (vegetable or mineral) oil liberally to the scalp is common, letting it soak in overnight or for lesser periods of time, some medical sources say that Malassezia yeast thrive in oily environments. The softened scales can then be brushed away with a soft brush, toothbrush, comb or cloth, but if not done very gently, this can worsen the condition and bring about temporary hair loss. There has been no study done on these recommendations.

There is broad disagreement regarding the role of shampoos. Some sources warn againt frequent shampooing, others recommend it. Mild baby shampoo is often recommended, while never specifying what "mild" actually means. Baby shampoos often contain detergent surfactants, perfumes, quaternium-15 and other eczemagenic irritants. Again, no studies have been performed. Switching to a shampoo with the least amount of potential irritants seems prudent. Keratolytic shampoos (e.g with sulfur or salicylic acid) are not recommended as they sting eyes and may worsen the dermatitis.

In stubborn cases some doctors recommend the use of dandruff shampoo, while others warn against the use of medicated shampoos in neonates due to systemic absorption. Be careful if using dandruff shampoo, as it may irritate the eyes.[1]

Steroid and tar preparations have also been used but have significant drawbacks. Immunomodulators (tacrolimus/Protopic, pimecrolimus/Elidel) have not been approved for babies under two years. Ketoconazole shampoos and creams are taking first place in medical treatment of moderate to serious cradle cap. Research so far indicates that this anti-fungal medication is not absorbed into the bloodstream.

There have been several studies where cradle cap cleared swiftly and completely followed by the injection of biotin, either to the baby or the breastfeeding mother. In one study, injection of B-complex worked well also. Injection directly into the vein (rather than into the muscle) is recommended. Small amounts of oral biotin have not shown efficacy in a more recent trial, and many cradle cap compendia have since said that biotin supplementation is ineffective. This is not correct. Oral supplementation with liquid biotin is favored by some physicians, but a well-designed study is needed to ascertain the effective dosage in oral supplementation (if there is one) or the effect of injected biotin/B-complex in a larger sample. Biotin is a very safe vitamin with no known toxicity, and well worth trying.

A Swedish study found good results from massaging the scalp with small amounts of borage oil twice a day.

Other home remedies recommended in various alternative sources and parent forums are herbal washes (e.g burdock or chamomile), aloe gel, and tea tree oil shampoo. Tea tree oil and aloe can be sensitizers; any worsening should be an occasion to discontinue the remedy in question. Both remedies have been tested in medical trials and found useful.

Answer 3

Place a warm wet cloth on the spot for a few minutes to soften(after bath is best).
Rub a generous amout of baby oil or olive oil into area and leave for about 10 minutes.
Use a fine tooth comb to gently pick/scrape off the cradle cap.
Leave the baby oil on (yeah, it doesn't look pretty!)
Do it bit by bit over 2 or 3 days to ease any discomfort to the baby.

Your baby will lose hair but better that than a scabby scaley head.

Answer 4

My grandson had a bad case of cradle cap when he was little and what I did was about 20 minutes before giving him a bath I put a bunch of baby oil or lotion on his head and hair and let it sit there, then I took a tiny baby comb and while I was giving him a bath washed the lotion out of his hair with baby shampoo and then combed his hair. It was really quite gross since the cradle cap came off in big flakes, but it came off. Be careful when using the comb that you don't scratch your baby's head and be prepared for some of the hair to come out when you comb it. The first time I did the baby's hair I freaked out when his hair was coming out in the comb, but it is okay, it won't hurt it was just the hair that would fall out of your head normally when you brush your hair. Keep doing this every day or other day and the cradle cap will be gone soon.

Answer 5

well I have a few great suggestions!
1) put some baby oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil on the scalp and rub it in a bit then gently scrape with a comb or bush. it comes right off.
2) Tea tree shampoo and conditioner but careful not to get it in her eyes since it's not a baby shampoo. works well every so often from preventing the cradle cap as well.
3) a little bit of head and shoulders works like a charm
all of these have been suggested by nurses and they all work very effectively! good luck!

Answer 6

In his damp hair put a small amount of baby oil in his hair and then take a comb and gently scrub at it until the cradle cap flakes off. Wash it out after your done. Do this every morning/night until all the cradle cap is gone.

Answer 7

Rub some baby oil into her scalp and that should help loosen some of the flakes. When we left the hospital they gave us a brush to use on his hair that's kind of like a cleaning brush, but with soft plastic bristles and that really helped my son. They do make shampoo for cradle cap if nothing else works.

Answer 8

Well cradle cap is a form of dry skin accumulated, from oily skin if that makes any sense. What worked well for us was baby oil or olive oil rubbed into the scalp with a cotton ball, then letting it soak for about 15-30 min. Washed out during her bath. Make sure her hair is dry after a bath.

Answer 9

Wash your baby's hair regularly. It is not hard if you wash only their hair. Follow step 2 if you are not sure how to do this.
Have a large bowl or sink full of clean warm water. Gather the needed supplies: Towels, wash cloth, shampoo, water pitcher or cup with spout for pouring. Swaddle (wrap the baby up) in a blanket or towel exposing only their head. With the baby's head resting on your forearm, tilt him lowering his head enough to wash it.
Using the pitcher, wet the baby's head. Dry any water that may have gone in the eyes with the wash cloth.
Put a dime-size (or less) dollop of shampoo on the palm of your hand and gently message it into scalp. This is the part that gets rid of the cradle cap. Using your finger tips (not your nails), continue to massage the affected area in a gentle circular motion. Use the wash cloth to wipe any shampoo away from baby's eyes.
Place him again in the tipped position in order to rinse his hair. Place a wash cloth above his eyes, this allows you to keep the soap out of his eyes
Dry his hair with a towel and comb it. The combing will also help to loosen any flaky skin and stimulate the scalp.

If that doesn't work try Johnson and Johnson hair oil. Baby hair oil is now contains Avocado and Pro Vitamin B5. Its skin conditioning properties helps prevent flaking of soft skin from baby's scalp. Avocado and Pro-Vitamin B-5 nourishes hair roots and strengthens the hair.

Answer 10

My children all had cradle cap; the best solution is to take baby oil and apply after each bath on the scalp area, then either brush or comb gently through hair! Good luck!

Answer 11

My son used to get it but thankfully he didn't have any hair when he was younger. If I remember we used to use baby oil. We used to put it in at night before bed. Also use a comb to help loosen some of it up. It will be a little extra work with more hair. The comb should help get it down to the scalp.