Treat cradle cap in toddlers
How to treat cradle cap
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Cradle Cap
Is this your child's symptom?
- A scaly rash on the scalp that starts in newborns
Symptoms of Cradle Cap
- Yellow scales and crusts attached to the scalp
- Occurs in patches
- Scales can be greasy or dry
- Not itchy or painful
- Begins in the first 2 to 6 weeks of life
Cause of Cradle Cap
- Cradle cap is probably caused by hormones from the mother. These hormones cross the placenta before birth. The hormones cause the oil glands in the skin to become overactive. They then release more oil than normal.
- Dead skin cells normally fall off. The extra oil causes these cells to "stick" to the skin. These cells form yellow crusts and scales on the scalp.
When to Call for Cradle Cap
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Baby less than 1 month old with tiny water blisters or pimples in a cluster
- Your child looks or acts very sick
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Baby less than 1 month old with any water blisters or pimples
- You think your child needs to be seen
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Raw rash behind the ears
- Rash spreads beyond the scalp
- Cradle cap gets worse with treatment
- Cradle cap lasts longer than 12 months
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Mild cradle cap
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If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.
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Care Advice for Cradle Cap
- What You Should Know About Cradle Cap:
- Cradle cap is a common skin condition of newborns.
- It's caused by overactive oil glands in the scalp.
- It's harmless and will go away on its own. But it takes time.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
- Shampoo Daily:
- Wash the hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo (such as Head and Shoulders). Do this twice a week. No prescription is needed. Note: The daily use of anti-dandruff shampoo isn't approved until after 2 years old. But, using it twice a week is fine.
- On the other days, wash the hair with baby shampoo.
- Scalp Massage:
- While the hair is lathered, massage the scalp with a soft brush. You can also use a rough washcloth or your fingers for 5 minutes. Don't worry about hurting the soft spot.
- Baby Oil:
- If the scalp has thick crusts (scales), put some baby oil on the scalp. Do this for 15 minutes before shampooing to soften the crusts.
- Wash all the oil off, however, or it may worsen the cradle cap. (Reason: The oil blocks the oil glands on the baby's scalp.)
- Do not use olive oil. (Reason: may increase the growth of yeast)
- Cradle cap lotions for loosening up the scales are also available without a prescription. Apply the lotion 15 minutes before shampooing.
- Steroid Cream:
- If the rash on the scalp is red and irritated, use 1% hydrocortisone cream. An example is Cortaid. No prescription is needed.
- Put this on once a day.
- After 1 hour, wash it off with soap and water.
- Do this for 7 days or less.
- Expected Course:
- Cradle cap will eventually go away on its own between 6 and 12 months of age. Usually, it doesn't cause any symptoms (such as pain or itching).
- Therefore, treatment is optional. It is mainly done for cosmetic reasons.
- Shampoos, lotions and brushing will reduce the thickness of the scales. They will usually make them go away sooner.
- Return to Child Care:
- Cradle cap cannot be spread to others.
- Your child does not need to miss any child care.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Gets worse with treatment
- Lasts over 12 months of age
- You think your child needs to be seen
And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.
Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.
Last Reviewed: 11/02/2022
Last Revised: 01/13/2022
Copyright 2000-2022. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.
Cradle: scales on baby's head
Cradle cap refers to the appearance of whitish or yellowish crusts on the scalp of infants. It should be clarified that this is not a skin disease. and if the aesthetic problem for the baby.
Many parents think that the cradle occurs because their children drink breast milk. . This is a common misconception as the causes of cradle caps vary, such as a genetic factor or hormonal changes. In principle, there is nothing to worry about, although there are times when things can get complicated and you need to start treatment to get rid of such crusts.
Index
- 1 Cradle cover
- 2 Cradle cover treatment
Cradle cover
These scabs appear quite often on the scalp of babies. They usually occur in the first weeks of life and consist of the accumulation of dry fat on the baby's scalp. In principle, no treatment is required as it usually resolves with time.
Crusts usually appear in the head region, although there are infants who have them behind the ears or on the eyebrows. The problem is mostly aesthetic, Therefore, many parents decide to undergo treatment to remove such scabs.
The causes of the cradle cap are varied. may be due to a hormonal disorder the child is suffering from, genetic factors, or external factors such as time.
Cradle cap treatment
As we mentioned above, in the vast majority of cases, the cap is not something that affects the health of the child, but rather an aesthetic problem. Therefore, treatment is not mandatory at the discretion of the parents. When scabs usually appear on other than the scalp, such as on the eyebrows, many parents decide to start treatment.
Normal - the cradle cover will disappear over time. . There are products on the market that cause these crusts to soften and eventually disappear.
Baby Body Oil is ideal for removing the cradle. Just apply a little oil on the scalp and massage. You must wait a few minutes for it to take effect, and finally rinse your head with a little soap and water. With the help of a sponge, the scabs fall off. This treatment must last several days to be effective.
As we have said, this type of treatment is not mandatory in most cases. If the situation worsens, it is important to initiate appropriate treatment. This occurs if the cover of the cradle is too large or if the scabs themselves are infected. The infection is easy to detect: the scabs turn yellowish and the edges become visibly inflamed.
If this happens, The first thing parents should do is go to the pediatrician to see if the child has scabs. . In such cases, treatment will include corticosteroid creams and ointments to help stop the scab from becoming infected. With proper treatment, the scabs should disappear without problems.
In short, the cradle of the cradle is not due to the fact that, in the opinion of many parents, the child swallows breast milk. This is not a disease, but in most cases an aesthetic problem.
There is no need to start treatment, because after a few months these scabs will fall off and disappear. There are times when the aforementioned scabs or scales can become infected and inflamed, so it's important to start treatment to prevent the problem from getting worse. and cause skin condition.
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You may be interested
Baby cradle | Best Home
If Your Child Has a Severe Case of Dandruff They may have a condition known as cradle cap. This condition is treatable, and knowing how to spot it quickly will make it easier to deal with.
In this article
What is a cap?
Also known as infantile seborrheic dermatitis, lullaby dermatitis is a skin disease that affects babies. It starts on the scalp and then spreads to other parts of the body. It is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by red bumps the size of less acne and develop to form a yellow crust of the skin that flakes off when touched. Cradle cap usually affects infants during the first three months of life and may continue until the first year of life.
Is cradle cap contagious?
The simple answer is no. The skin condition is not contagious and harmless. It will not cause your child any distress, including itching.
Causes of Cradle Cover in Babies
Although no specific cause has been identified for cradle cover, there may be several underlying causes that lead to this condition.
-
sebaceous glands
Excessive production of sebum by the sebaceous glands can cause cradle caps. Sebum keeps the skin soft and supple. However, if the glands are clogged for any reason, they interfere with weight gain. This causes yellow scales on the scalp.
If your child is exposed to damp heat, such as in places with high humidity in the summer, this may cause the lid to cap. Heat dries out the sebaceous glands, exhausting it. Due to dampness, your baby may also suffer from: diaper rash.
-
fungal infection
Fungal infections such as the sebaceous fungus Malassezia can cause lullaby cap.
-
Vitamin deficiency
A severe deficiency in biotin, one of the B12 vitamins, can cause your baby to cradle.
Deficiency of certain enzymes that convert essential fatty acids is also associated with cradle cap symptoms.
other causes
- too much Wash your baby's head It will dry out the sebaceous glands. Some shampoos may be too harsh for your child's sensitive skin.
Common cradle symptoms
There are some signs you can look out for when it comes to skin conditions.
- Yellow or brown scales on the scalp, shoulders and neck.
- Excessively oily skin.
- White skin that flakes off when touched.
- Dry scalp with red pimples
How long does the carrycot cap last?
The good news about the carrycot cap is that it will disappear on its own. Although it usually appears in the first three months of your baby's life, it should go away by the eighth to twelfth month of life.
Carrycot cover treatment
There are several treatments you can use to try to reduce the chance of your baby having a cradle. These include:
- Drying can dry out your baby's sensitive skin. If you live in an area where you can't turn off the air conditioner, use a humidifier on a low setting to help your child's skin retain moisture.
- Massage your baby's scalp, then use a soft-bristled brush made specifically for babies and brush the scalp daily.
- An important treatment for cradle cap is oil treatment. While it may seem counterintuitive, the oil will help rebalance your baby's skin while nourishing and moisturizing it.
- Use a shampoo specially formulated for children. Read the list of ingredients and make sure nothing causes an allergic reaction.
- Use a mild scalp moisturizer after shampooing. Talk to your doctor about the safest brand for your child's skin.
Sometimes even the formula you feed your baby can cause illness. Talk to your doctor about your condition and choose the brand that's best for your child. - Make a paste of equal parts water and baking soda and apply generously to the affected area. Leave this paste on for a while before washing it off with water. This method has proven to be particularly effective in removing the cradle.
How can I prevent a bassinet in babies?
Although it is impossible to completely eliminate the possibility that lullaby dermatitis will not develop, there are certain steps you can take to reduce the injury.
- Brush your baby's scalp daily with a soft brush.
- Keep baby's scalp dry and clean.
- If you oil your baby's scalp, be sure to wash it off with a mild shampoo.
- Try to maintain ideal temperature and humidity conditions for your baby.
word of caution
- Under no circumstances should you try to remove the yellow crust on your child's scalp. This can cause skin peeling and bleeding. Be careful when brushing your teeth to keep your baby's scalp healthy.
- If your child's skin becomes damaged in any way, be sure to clean it daily to prevent fungal or bacterial growth.
Tips for breastfeeding moms
If you decide to breastfeed your baby, you can follow these tips to help keep your baby from cradle.
- Do not eat large amounts of sugar. Sugar can increase the growth rate of fungi and bacteria in your child.
- Studies have shown that if a mother consumes foods known to cause allergies, they can be passed on to the baby and cause allergies. Therefore, it is best to avoid common allergenic foods such as milk, eggs, and gluten.
- Limit your intake of saturated animal fats such as red meat and chicken. Instead, you should consult your doctor about this.
- Lactobacillus acidophilus is a microbial bacteria that fights cradle cap. You can consult your doctor and get the capsule on the same day.
- Eat a diet that is neither rich nor spicy.