Cradle cap is a condition in which babies have white or yellow patches on their scalp. It’s a form of dandruff that affects babies and aside the scalp, you may find it on the baby’s forehead, nose, armpit, around the ears and the bottom area. It’s a common condition that can cause your baby’s hair to fall out. The patches can take hair with them when they fall off
The exact cause is not known but it can occur when oil glands that are normally found in the baby’s skin start producing too much oil
This condition is harmless, it’s not contagious and it’s not as a result of poor hygiene.
If you notice your baby has cradle cap, don’t be tempted to scrape your baby’s hair because this can worsen it
Here are a few things that can help:
- Use a mild baby shampoo to wash the hair
- Apply vaseline to soften and loosen the patches
- Brush the hair gently with a soft brush
- Avoid shampoos and creams that contain ingredients used for treating dandruff except your doctor says so
If you notice symptoms are not resolving, see a doctor
