How To Treat Cradle Cap

My baby has cradle cap!

First thing’s first. If your baby has developed the tell-tale scales and flakes of cradle cap, there’s no need to worry. According to the NHS, cradle cap ‘is a harmless skin condition that is common in babies’. In fact, it affects around two thirds of babies and the good news is, it isn’t painful for your little one.

However, picking at the scales can be painful – so please refrain, however tempting it may be! It can also expose sore skin underneath the scales that could become infected. So... no picking.

What causes cradle cap?

Cradle cap looks like yellow, crusty or oily, scaly or rough patches on a baby or toddler’s scalp. It is not caused by poor hygiene, it is not an allergy, it is not dangerous and it is not contagious.

Rather, it is thought to be linked to excess sebum from the sebaceous glands, which can be very active in babies causing greasy areas on baby’s scalp that accumulate dead skin cells. These cells can form small crusty patches on the scalp.

How can I help my baby’s cradle cap?

The scales of cradle cap are not easy to remove. The NHS website states that cradle cap ‘usually clears up on its own, but there are things you can try to make it better’.

This includes washing your baby's hair with a mild unfragranced baby shampoo, using a baby oil or vegetable oil to gently massage and soften the crusts. The NHS also states that you can use the same baby oil or vegetable overnight before washing hair in the morning. Here at Kokoso Baby, we also recommend using a baby brush to massage baby's scalp and loosen the flakes that the oil has softened overnight.

Will my baby lose their hair if they have cradle cap?

It’s often the case that baby’s delicate hairs become matted through the scales and therefore come away with the scales. However, this is nothing to worry about and the hair will grow back without a problem.