Cradle cap
Content:    Signs of cradle cap About cradle cap Treatment Options Infection See Your Dr If What worked for you	Overview: Cradle cap is yellow, thick, greasy patches or crusts on the scalp; Cradle cap generally resolves without treatment; DO NOT pick lesions and First line treatment is to use shampoo daily and then gently rub scalp with a soft cloth
Cradle cap is a yellowish crust that occurs on the scalp of babies.  It is not contagious; It is not caused by poor hygiene; It occurs most in the first 3 months of life; It generally resolves within a few weeks or months with no treatment; Occasionally it continues into the toddler years; About half of all babies are affected with cradle cap and, It is generally mild.
Signs of cradle cap:
Yellow, thick, greasy patches or crusts on the scalp; May develop into a thick, scaly layer; Skin often flakes off, like dandruff; Reddening of the skin can occur; Not usually itchy, and it does not bother the baby; Can also occur on the forehead, eyebrows, eyelids or around the ear; Hair loss may occur when a patch falls off or is removed and, Occasionally a bright red rash in the groin can occur (may be confused with thrush).
About Cradle cap:
A form of dermatitis called seborrhoeic dermatitis; There is inflammation of the oil (sebum) glands in the skin; Babies are born with active oil glands for water proofing against fluid in the mother’s womb.  Once a baby is about three months old, the oil glands usually become inactive until puberty; Cradle cap is thought to occur when the glands of the scalp make too much oil; The oil traps the old skin cells which then form the yellow scales and, Sometimes children who had cradle cap may develop dandruff around puberty when the oil glands again make more oil than is needed.
Treatment Options:
Treatment is optional as cradle cap will usually resolve by itself; Cradle cap may come back after treatment as the oil glands may still be over active; Do NOT pick at the scales as this increases the risk of infection and, If you choose to treat the cradle cap, try the following options in order.
First option  Shampoo baby's hair frequently with a mild baby shampoo. Use a soft brush, soft toothbrush or cloth to loosen the scales.	Second Option Massage oil gently into the scalp eg olive or baby oil or use vaseline (soft paraffin; Note: While olive oil is generally recommended, some experts suggest it may worsen cradle cap; Leave overnight to soften the scales; Gently brush with a soft hairbrush, soft toothbrush or cloth in the morning to remove the scales; Wash with baby shampoo or sorbolene to remove the oil and, Repeat daily for up to a week until scales are gone.
Third Option Try the above options first; Egozite® can be bought without a prescription at a pharmacy.  It contains    o   Salicylic acid 6% - helps to remove the scales    o   Base – olive oil and castor oil lotion.  Helps to soft the scales; Egozite usually starts loosening the crusts in 2-5 days; How to use Egozite: Apply on a dry scalp to crusts only.  Avoid non-crusted areas; Wipe away any lotion from non-crusted areas with dry cotton wool; Do not comb or remove crusts forcibly; Apply twice daily for 3-5 days without washing the hair; Then wash with a baby shampoo or sorbolene; Continue using Egozite on any remaining crusts twice daily, until resolved; Some hair may fall out with the crusts. Healthy new hair growth will follow; Avoid if baby is sensitive to any of the ingredients; Avoid contact with eyes. Do not swallow; Do not apply to reddened or non-crusted areas; As with all medicines, keep out of reach of children; If irritation occurs, freely wash affected area with water and discontinue use; *       Notes: The manufacturer suggests Egozite can be used for any age baby.  They recommend a patch test to avoid sensitivity. Apply a small amount inside baby’s wrist or elbow and if a reaction occurs, discontinue use and, *       Some experts recommend avoiding this product or reserving for severe cases as the salicylic acid may be absorbed into the baby’s system.	Fourth option: It the above treatments do not work, worsen the cradle cap or if you are concerned see a doctor.  They may suggest anti-dandruff shampoos. These usually work, but they contain ingredients which may irritate the scalp, and can hurt if they get into babies eyes. Steroid creams are generally unnecessary and best avoided unless recommended by a doctor.
Infection:
Infection can occur under the scales.  The skin becomes redder and small blisters appear which may pop and weep. Minimise the chance of this by not picking the scales off the scalp If infection occurs see a doctor immediately for antibiotics, this can be contagious.
See Your Doctor If:
If your baby's cradle cap isn't getting better or seems to be spreading to other areas of the body - including the face and body.
What worked for you:
I used shampoo every day for 6 days and rubbed my baby's hair with a soft baby brush.  By the 6th day it was completely cleared up. Mother of Bailey 5 months. My daughter had cradle cap for about 4 months and it didn't resolve on its own. I read this article and we tried shampooing every day with no luck. We then tried massaging baby oil into her scalp and it worked really well. We used a soft tooth brush and the scales came away within a few days. Mother of Hailey 13 months.