The flaky, crusty scalp you see on your baby is actually not much of an issue for your baby, but it does usually have a nasty-looking appearance, and no parent wants their infant to have to deal with the effects of cradle cap. There are several tactics you can use to try and hasten the departure, such as regular brushing and bathing. Some baby shampoos are better than others for dealing with it, and if you’re trying to get through bothersome cradle cap symptoms in the fastest manner possible, these are the ones you should choose.
What is Cradle Cap?
Cradle cap is an unsightly manifestation of scaly or crusty patches on a baby’s scalp, and while these patches are not believed to be painful by some doctors, they can be difficult to quickly remove. It’s also possible that these scaly or oily patches might appear on your baby’s nose, ears, eyelids, or in the area around the groin. It’s a fairly common condition in newborns, and it looks a lot worse than it is.
The condition will generally clear up in a matter of a few weeks or a few months, but if it happens to persist, or if the flakiness seems particularly severe, you may want to contact your doctor. Some doctors will recommend a medicated shampoo or lotion to treat the patches, or they might recommend a mild shampoo that will help to loosen and remove some of the scales. Whatever you do, it’s important that you don’t try to scratch the scales or patches in an attempt to hasten their removal, because this can make things worse.
Is this Different from a Dry Scalp?
Both dermatitis and dry scalp are conditions which result from your baby having dry skin, but there are some key differences between these two conditions. When your infant is experiencing dry scalp, it is much more similar to baby dandruff than anything else, and it most often results in your baby developing flaky skin. In some cases, the scalp itself may seem reddish or yellowish, and it might feel rough when you touch it. You may also notice that dead skin flakes off fairly often.
Dermatitis starts out as dry skin and then progresses into a somewhat different condition. Instead of just having flaky or scaly skin, this usually also include bumps which are rough and crusty, and which are raised. You’ll generally be able to identify dryness by the fact that your baby’s scalp will actually feel very dry to the touch, as opposed to dermatitis, which will feel much more oily when you touch it.
What Type of Baby Shampoo Should I Use Against Cradle Cap?
The kind of shampoo you use for your baby when treating dermatitis, will be a shampoo that is specially medicated, and one which has been specifically formulated for babies. For a simple case of dryness, you can look for an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains selenium sulfide or pyrithione zinc. When dealing with dermatitis, you’ll need something stronger than an anti-dandruff shampoo, and this will be one that contains salicylic acid.
This might sound severe, but it happens to be very effective at helping to remove the scaly, oily patches that appear. When applying this medicated shampoo, make sure that you leave it in place for at least two minutes, so it has a chance to work in. For more severe cases, you may want to repeat the process once or twice more. This treatment should be used at least twice and no more than seven times a week until you notice that symptoms are beginning to clear up. It sometimes takes as long as one full month before symptoms improve, and if they don’t, you should consult with your doctor.
Effective and Easy to Use Brushes for Cradle Cap
Using a good medication is just one of the strategies you should use when trying to manage your infant’s irritation. It can be very helpful to brush your infant’s hair gently every day with a brush specially designed to help relieve the symptoms. To find out more about our innovative brush or to find a brush for yourself, view the list of retailers that carries the Bean-b-Clean. After a period of regular brushing, the cradle cap will generally clear up all by itself, and you shouldn’t have to deal with it for much longer.