ABOUT THE DISEASE
Cradle cap is infantile seborrheic dermatitis causing a patchy, greasy, scaly and crusty skin rash mostly on the scalp of recently born babies.
SYMPTOMS
- • Patchy scaling or thick crusts on the scalp
- • Greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales
- • Skin flakes
- • Possibly mild redness
Similar scales may also be present on the ears, eyelids, nose and groin.
CAUSES
The exact cause of seborrhoeic dermatitis is not known. It is thought that babies who develop this condition may produce more oil (sebum) from the sebaceous glands in their skin due to the mother`s hormones still in the baby`s circulation. Yeast germs from the Malassezia species may also cause this disease.
DIAGNOSIS
- Physical examination
TREATMENT METHODS
Cradle cap usually doesn`t require medical treatment. It gets cleared on its own within a few weeks to months. In the meantime, washing the baby`s hair once a day with mild baby shampoo and brushing the scalp lightly with a soft brush helps loosen the scales.
If the cradle cap doesn`t improve with frequent washing or if the rash spreads to other areas, a medicated shampoo containing antifungal medication ketoconazole and hydrocortisone cream can be applied.
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