What you should know about cradle cap

If you have a baby, there is some possibility that a series of whitish or yellowish scales have appeared on his scalp. It is what is known by the name of cradle cap and usually disappears between 6 months and 3 years of age. At first you should not worry since with a good treatment it disappears quickly. Do not lose detail of some curiosities of this skin condition that usually attacks the scalp of babies.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CRADLE CAP

• • Cradle cap usually appears during the first weeks of the baby’s life and is usually suffered by 12% of them.

• • These scales do not cover the entire head and are usually focused on one part of the scalp . If said scab is treated improperly or late, it can cause hair loss in the affected area.

• • Although cradle cap usually appears on the head, it can spread to other areas of the body such as the neck, ears or nose. If this occurs the condition is called seborrheic dermatitis .

• At first, the cradle cap hardly causes any discomfort in the baby. However, if the inflammation increases, it can cause severe itching on the child’s scalp.

CAUSES OF CRADLE CAP

The causes of the appearance of cradle cap on the scalp can be several. At first, its formation may be due to excess fat in the skin or the baby’s genetics. On other occasions, the summer heat can favor the appearance of these scales on the scalp. Although popular belief thinks that cradle cap may be due to breast milk that the baby takes, it is not true and the causes are other.

HOW TO TREAT CRADLE CAP

In the event that your baby develops the aforementioned scales around the scalp, it is important to start a treatment with which to put an end to said skin condition .

This treatment should be simple and natural since the baby’s head is quite delicate during the first months of life. The most advisable thing is to apply natural oils such as almond or olive oil. For this, it is advisable to take a gauze soaked in these oils and rub gently all over the affected area. Leave on for about 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

The area affected by cradle cap should be washed with a neutral shampoo and treated with such scales. It is then dried with a towel and gently brushed in order to detach said scabs from the scalp. If the inflammation is too intense, it is likely that the pediatrician will advise applying a specific shampoo to reduce the inflammation as soon as possible. The treatment usually lasts a few days, although it is quite likely that it may appear again. In this case, the treatment must be started again in order to solve such skin condition.

Cradle cap is a skin condition that should not be given too much importance since it usually disappears with the passage of time without further ado. An adequate treatment is ideal when it comes to ending these scales that form on the baby’s scalp. There are many myths and curiosities around this skin problem, most of them, as you have seen, are false. Do not give excessive importance to such a condition and follow the advice of your trusted pediatrician at all times.