Cradle Cap?

Question

My son is almost 5 weeks old. He has cradle cap. Everything i have read indicates that cradle cap only affects the baby scalp. His skin is breaking out as well. The doc said that this is from the flakes dropping on his face, and causing irration. Has anyone whose child every had cradle cap every have it with a breakout of bumps on his/her back. Also, if your child has had cradle cap how long did it take to go away. The doc has already told me what to use.

Answer 1

My son had cradle cap, too. It started at soemwhere around three weeks, I think, and it lasted FOREVER! I think it finally went away at about 6 months.

His skin breaking out is probably the cradle cap spreading from his scalp to other surfaces. I really doubt it's from the flakes dropping. That sounds crazy to me. On my son, it spread from teh top of his head down to behind his ears and his neck and down his forhead. Have you read any of the 'What to Expect' books? I can't remember if it is in 'What to expect when you're expecting' or 'What to Expect the first Year', but there is a section on cradle cap and it does say in there about how it can spread. Sometimes if it is left untreated, it can spread all the way down the back and into the diaper area, and cause all the hair on the head to fall out.

We tried all of the garbage that his doctors recommended (baby oil, combing it gently, expensive cradle cap treatments) and none of it made any difference. Finally, a relative of mine with a two year old and a nursing degree recommended Aquaphor cream. Within a few days, you could see a major difference, and within two weeks, it was gone.

Answer 2

At about 1 month, babies do get baby acne. It goes away eventually, but may come and go for a couple months. Just keep him clean...and try using Cetaphil in the bath instead of baby bath stuff, it's very gentle. If it is eczema, put Aquaphor on his spots. For the cradle crap, you really only need a tiny bit of baby oil on a warm wash cloth...and lightly scrub the area when you give the next bath. You can also use a baby comb or brush to get it loose. You may have to do it once or twice more. It should be gone in a matter of days. If his skin issues don't clear up, go back to the DR.

Answer 3

Stick with soaking the scalp in baby oil for 20 minutes before the bath. Bath as normal and wash out the baby oil with baby shampoo. The cradle cap will brush right out afterwards. really bad cradle cap might take 2 or 3 applications. Baby's skin is too sensitive for the harsh chemicals in Selsun Blue, plus if you got into their eyes you could cause lasting damage or at the very least have a very angry grumpy baby for a few days with sore eyes.

Answer 4

Yes...it can spread and get worse. My cousin's baby had a very bad case..it ended up spreading to his face, neck, body, hands, and feet. It actually turned into ecxema (not sure how to spell that). His doctor told him it would probably last more than a year, unfortunately.

As far as the flakes dropping onto his face and causing irritation, that doesn't make sense. It's just spreading, that's all. To treat it, just rub baby oil on the affected areas and gently rub it (three times a day) to release the flakes. My daughter had it on her head and this procedure took care of it in two weeks. Best of luck with your little angel.

Answer 5

My son is 3 and still has cradle cap. His scalp is thick flakes of skin under his blond hair. I don't want to use medicated stuff on him. I use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner Aussie Moist. I may of spelt that wrong but it really works. It helps a lot.

Answer 6

both my kids have had cradle cap, it's not nice but if treated correctly it only take a few days to start to clear up, try using qv bath oil as well, it works really well on my girls i use it every day and cradle cap has'nt came back

Answer 7

Cradle cap is actually Seborheic Dermatitis. and can affect any skin surface. Try using a good lotion and with dr. permission hydrocorisone on his back.

Answer 8

my daughter had it when she was about 3-5 weeks old and we used baby oil on it to make it go away as for the bumps we just used a mild baby soap and some baby lotion, aveeno worked best. the bumps are normal. if i remember right it lasted about a month or so. good luck and congrats on your new baby...

Answer 9

its takes a while. depending on how good the mother is on putting the cream on the hair every day.When a baby is really young like a month or two they get rashes really easily so you really got to watch out and have medication on hand.

Answer 10

IT WON'T GO AWAY BY ITSELF. BRUSH HIS HAIR WITH A BABY BRUSH AND WASH THE HAIR EVERY DAY. USE A WASH CLOTH ON HIS BODY, THAT HELPS TO GET IT OFF. USE LOTION ON HIS BODY AND OIL ON HIS HEAD. START THIS NOW.