Cradle cap

Those yellowish, greasy or flaky patches on your baby’s scalp are almost certainly cradle cap — a very common, harmless newborn skin condition. It looks a bit unsightly and can worry new parents, but it doesn’t bother your baby and it clears up on its own. Here’s what it is and how to manage it.

What it is. Cradle cap (its medical name is infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis) shows up as greasy, yellow or brownish scaly patches or crusts on the scalp, sometimes flaky like dandruff. It can also appear on the eyebrows, behind the ears, or in skin folds. It’s thought to be linked to oil glands being stimulated by mum’s hormones still circulating in the baby, and it’s not caused by poor hygiene or anything you’ve done.

It doesn’t bother your baby. Cradle cap generally doesn’t itch or hurt, and your baby won’t be troubled by it — it’s mostly a cosmetic thing. It usually appears in the first weeks or months and clears up on its own, often within weeks to months.

Gentle ways to help it along. You don’t have to treat it, but if you’d like to loosen the scales:

• Wash the scalp regularly with a mild baby shampoo and gently loosen the scales with a soft brush or cloth.
• Soften first — massage in a little natural oil (like baby oil, or a plain vegetable oil) and leave it for a while, then gently brush and wash it out. This helps lift the crusts.
• Be gentle — soft brushing is fine, but don’t pick or scratch at the patches.

Don’t pick at it. However tempting, avoid picking or forcibly peeling the crusts, as this can break the skin and risk infection. Let the scales come away gently with washing and soft brushing.

When to see your doctor. Cradle cap is harmless, but check with your GP or child health nurse if: the area looks red, swollen, weepy or infected; it spreads or is very widespread; your baby seems itchy or uncomfortable (which may suggest eczema rather than cradle cap); or it isn’t improving. Occasionally a medicated cream or shampoo is recommended, but only on advice.

Cradle cap vs eczema. Cradle cap is greasy, scaly and doesn’t bother your baby; eczema tends to be red, dry, itchy and uncomfortable. If your baby seems irritated or the rash is elsewhere and itchy, mention it to your nurse or GP, as eczema is managed differently.

Cradle cap is one of those alarming-looking but completely harmless parts of new-baby life — it doesn’t hurt your baby, it isn’t your fault, and it goes away by itself. Gentle washing and a little oil can help shift the scales if it bothers you, but there’s no rush. Check in with your child health nurse if it looks infected or your baby seems uncomfortable.