Cradle Cap - Lehi, UT

Hi K.,
go get some selsun blue and put on scalp for 5 minutes and then rinse. do this for about 3 weeks when he takes his baths. My dd had this and she does have eczema and after the 3 weeks we never had to use it again. I hope this works and gl.

Believe it or not but Head and Shoulders workd really well. I didn't wash my baby's head everyday either. Its trial and error.

Try olive oil rub it in then use a comb to gently lift it off then shampoo...anyway this worked for us.

Hi K.!

My son who is going to be eight months here soon and is just now starting to get over his cradle cap. It started getting better when his hair started coming in really fast. I also thought at one point in time that he had Eczema on his scalp, he too had a yellow crusty helmet, it was seriously horrible at one point in time and it would shed flakes everywhere. I did the exact same thing you did with the oil and scrubbing and nothing made a difference. The doctor told me that he would grow out of it and it would just have to run its course. I of course still was determined to find something to help. So I did some research and found a product by Gental Naturals called Cradle Cap Care, they sell it at Babies R Us and some Wal-Marts it runs about $7.00 (which is a little bit expensive, but I bought it anyway). You massage it into the scalp with a brush maybe let it sit a few minutes then shampoo like normal (it smells sortof funny though). It didn't clear it up unfortunately but it made a BIG difference almost right away after his hair dried. I really suggest you check out gentlenaturals.com the site offers info on Cradle Cap and Eczema like symptoms, treatment, length of condition, comfort of baby, tips, etc. They also make a wash and a cream for baby Eczema which I never did try. I just had to let nature run it's course but it's finally getting better. I really hope this helps you out. Seeing that on your baby is no fun and I totally understand what your going through. Good luck to you! Check out that website if you have some time. :)

Hello, ouch that does sound painful I can see why your concerned, My daughter had a bad case of cradle cap and the way I was able to get rid of it was with a baby brush and every time I gave her a bath and wash her hair I would use the baby brush in a circular motion as I was rinseing her hair and it got better until it went a way. Well I wish you and your new bundle the best. Good Luck!

When you had you baby did the give you the scrub brush they used on him when he was born. When my son had cradel cap I was told by my dr. to use that every time I was just sitting holding him. Go in gentel small circles. the more you do it the more it stimulates new growth. My some enjoyed this and to this day enjoys to have his hair combed. If all else ask your DR.
B. M.

Eczema is always an allergies--either food or environmental. Cradle Cap that is this bad is a symptom of an allergy. You can go Western medicine route and have him blood tested, or if you are interested in an alternative diagnostic technique that is non-invasive I can share with you our doctor's number. I've taken both my son's to him for the same problem. The way you can tell if it's a food allergy is he will also have a red ring around his rectum--this is a food allergy rash.

Good luck!
J.

Hey K.,
my son also had really bad cradle cap at that age and has eczema as well, but what worked for us was dishsoap. I know it sounds crazy but it cleared his up after only one try! I just hung his head over the sink so it wouldn't get in his eyes or on his sensitive dry skin and it worked like a charm. Also I use coconut oil on his skin. Hope this helps!
L.

I just want to throw a new thought into the mix. My son had really bad cradle cap when he was a baby. He also had eczema. The doctor kept giving us the same suggestions you hear everywhere but it wouldn't go away no matter what we did. When he turned one I changed pediatritians and he suggested an allergy test. We found out that he is allergic to peanuts and eggs. One we cut those items out from my diet (I was nursing) and his, the eczema and the cradle cap problems cleared right up. That may not be your problem but it's always something to consider.

>eczema
my son has this. Be wary of allergies. Apply raw coconut oil to his skin whenever you think of it - esp after a soapless bath. Use Cetaphyl to wash him.

>cradle cap--the baby kabob
1.apply olive oil to scalp
2.sprinkle generously with sugar
3. massage gently - don't worry if it doesn't all come off
4. wipe off mixture
5. wash baby's hair to get all the oil and sugar off.

do this before each bath - 1-2 times a week until it clears up. (til his scalp stops over producing oil.)

Cradle Cap isn't supposed to itch. If it's itching, he may have an infection...I've heard of people using Listerine to clear up an infection but I've never tried it.

I would NOT use Selson Blue - It makes my skin itchy for days and since your son already has eczema...he'd be really sensitive to it.

K.,
You really should take him to the doctor, because of him being diagnosed with Eczema it could be a mix of both. And the doctor may give you a presciption for it. But it is normal for them to loose hair due to the cradle cap, so you don't need to worry about that.
Good Luck
E.

K.,

If he's bleeding, than obviously it is irritating to him. I would consider allergies. My DD had a horrible skin breakout/rash that her doctor said was "just exzema" when it was really an allergic reaction to the laundry detergent we had just started using. Did you change anything before the cradle cap got really bad. Another thing to consider is his soap use. It is really unnecessary to soap up a baby, or at best just use a little in his diaper area to clean up. Warm water should be sufficient for keeping him clean. Though I give my daughters a bath every night, we only use shampoo twice a week. Soap dries out skin, and the artificial ingredients in it can cause an allergic reaction. You might consider switching to castille soap, as it is much milder than some options out there. You can buy Dr Bronners at most health food stores, and in King Soopers. I really like California Baby brand liquid soap. My toddler has a horrible skin allergy to a very common soap ingredient, and CB & Dr Bronners are the only liquid soaps/shampoos we can use on her at all.

Best of luck,
S.

My 11 year old son also has eczema, and he does get it on his scalp. It can get bad because you don't see it because of his hair, and he doesn't say anything until I see him scratching. I don't have any experience with it with really small guys as he was diagnosed about 3 years ago, but it most definitely does get on the scalp. His dermatologist prescribed T-Gel shampoo and a prescription lotion. Irritating it as little as possible seems to work best in getting it to subside. Good luck.

my son had cradle cap also and he does have eczema as well. we use more natural products and it has taken care of the eczema (w/out a prescription or expensive cream) and we never see breakouts anymore. the brand of laundry detergent you use will make a difference in the eczema and i can make several recommendations if you're interested in the more natural alternatives you can get.

i have a site that might help you out. it's www.saferisbetter.com/jmej7

if you do request more info, i'll give you a call and get you the full details personally. i love the products b/c they have improved our health as well as saved us time and money. i would recommend them to EVERYONE! especially those with medical issues like eczema, allergies, asthma, etc.
hope thise helps.
J.

Hi K.,
Your story sounds very familiar to my story with my son. His cradle cap and eczema started at about 2 months old. It was very minor at first (just little spots) and then got continually worse. I tried all the usual recommendations. Some of these helped temporarily, but the condition got worse every time it came back (within days). It got to the point that when he scratched, he would leave deep bleeding scrapes on his face and head. I kept asking my Dr if it could be allergies, and he kept telling me, "No." The Dr said that it didn't look like allergies tohim. On my own, I cut out dairy from my diet (I was exclusively breastfeeding), and both the cradle cap and the eczema improved. From these results, our Dr finally sent us to an allergist. It turned out that our son is allergic to not only dairy, but wheat, eggs, peanuts, and almonds as well. In addition to cutting these items out of my diet, we followed a daily soak-n-seal regimen (soak baby in warm bath for 20 minutes, no soap. After the bath, pat baby dry, then seal water in skin with skin cream - my favorite is Vanicream). He's had clear skin ever since....

A couple of closing thoughts:
* Follow your insticts, if you suspect allergies, get your baby checked out. We've found the Dr's and staff at National Jewish to be extremely helpful and supportive.
* In the meantime, a soak-n-seal regimen might help while you're deciding what path to take....

Best of luck!

Hi K., my 4 month old son had pretty bad cradle cap too. Sometimes it would seem to go away on it's own only to come back overnight worse than before. I have started to give Paxton cod liver oil (liquid form) everyday. Not only does it eliminate the cradle cap but it's a great source of Vitamin D (which isn't found in breast milk) and Vitamin A. It's considered a "Super Food" and excellent for brain development. Paxton doesn't love the taste but it does have a peach flavor which helps!

Hope this helps and good luck.

L. & Paxton (4 months)

This sounds really similar to what my babe had and I also tried oil and scrubbing with no luck. I highly recommend trying California baby's "Calendula Cream", it worked almost instantly. Within hours it was noticeably reduced. After about a week of using it regularly his scalp condition was totally cleared up. He also has eczema on his face which it also helps with. It's all in all a great cream...you can also use it to head off diaper rash. Best of luck!

Be careful about the products you use. Don't use regular baby shampoo. Paul Mitchell makes a baby shampoo that is non-alkaline and far less irritating than the typical baby shampoos. Also make sure you are not using baby oil on his head. Baby oil is heavily scented and is very irritating to sensitive skin. Use an unscented vegetable oil. I bet you can find an unscented massage oil at the health food store that would be much less irritating. Also make sure you are using a very soft brush like a soft toothbrush.

One of my kids had this and our doctor recommended T-Sal shampoo (it's the clear one). I would just wash his hair with this, being very careful to keep it out of his eyes, since it's not tearless, and it cleared up the cradle cap. I never really scrubbed his head, just used that little gentle plastic brush/sponge they gave me at the hospital to brush it through his hair. Good luck!

Hi K.,
My 5 month old little boy, has had cradles cap that seems to come and go. What I have found most effective is to let my little guy soak in a warm bath. I don't use any soap, I simply let him soak up the moisture. Then I get him out of the tub and pat dry his little body. With his scalp I use his baby brush and brush off as much of the crusty stuff and then I put Eucerin Cream all over his head. I do that a couple times a day. I found that baby oil was not helping, in fact I think it made it worse. I just love the Eucerine, because it seems to sink into the skin and make it soft. I hope this helps. Good luck to you! L.

When my daughter was a baby, I had to take her to the dermatolgist for a birthmark and she told me to use either a medicated head and shoulders or t-sal. We use both and it seems to help with some light scrubbing. Don't expect it to disappear in one night but it will in time. My baby's doctor also recommended aquafer to help with the eczema and the scaling skin. Hope it helps.

Someone suggested Phisoderm liguid soap and a soft brush. It worked on all my kids.

My son had cradlecap as well and yes I did take him to the Doctor. Doc recommended Selsum Blue shampoo please becareful not to get into babies eyes while washing his hair. Two washes was all it took and it was gone. I gently scrubbed his head with a brush that was used in the hospital to wash his hair during his first bath, if you dont have one of those massage the shampoo gently with a soft baby brush. It will do the job. Be patient and it will clear up, trust me I have been through it. Also Cortizone creme with Aloe is really good for the Eczema, but really on the face, it's good on the head too if they dont have too much hair. However definetly consult your Doc first. Hope everything gets better. God Bless.

We have used the Gentle Naturals products for Eczema and love them. I would think the cradle cap stuff would be worth trying. As far as the eczema goes, we took our son to National Jewish for it and they said to give him a 10-15 minute bath once or twice a day (just before bed at a minimum) using Dove or Ivory soap at the very end (unscented). After that rub him down with Vanicream (you can get that at most pharmacies, just ask at the counter). His eczema is cured! That is after 3 years of tons of drugs with no relief. We now keep a low dose steroid on hand, but have only used it once or twice in the last year!

I'd recommend you try "California Baby" products. I have gotten them at Target and online at babycenter.com. Try the conditioner for his hair and if possible, maybe put the lotion on his head as well. These products took care of my son's cradle cap and eczema in all his little creases (neck, armpits, back of knees...etc.) I started with the shampoo, but that didn't cut it-the conditioner is a necessity! Good luck!

Hi K.. My almost 9 week old son has also been dealing with cradle cap. We also soaked his head with olive oil, let it get wet, used a fine comb to remove the scaly stuff, then washed his hair. Another idea I got from a book was to use camomile tea to soak his head, which also worked well. Camomile is supposed to be very soothing for the skin. How do you remove your son's cradle cap? I find the comb works best for me. Our book also recommends putting calendula oil on the head AFTER removing the cradle cap, as it has a healing effect. But if you have tried all of these things and are still unsure if it's just cradle cap, for your peace of mind I would consult your pediatrician. Here's some comfort (that our sons are completely normal): A friend of mine's one year-old still has it!

My second child had craddle-cap problems and had eczema as well. I used Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap Treatment by Baby Oragel. My friend let me use it; she said it cost around $8. It helped my son, but not for a long period of time. I stopped using it when I stopped getting the results that I wanted and started using Elidel on his eczema and his head. The craddle-cap went away shortly after that (a few weeks probably). I have heard that you want to keep the craddle-cap moist and so that is probably why the oil was suggested.

You have to get Mustela foam shampoo for newborns.I used it for my second baby and it worked great,better than olive oil.It washes away the cradle cap and keeps it away.One bottle lasted us forever.My friend also used it and loved it.It's not sold in supermarkets,I would just look online.

K., if you want any info our A.B.C. baby line from arbonne will get rid of it. My friends grandson had it and our pure safe and beneficial baby wash took care of it. If you would like more info or would like to connect with me to get a sample, I would be more than willing to help. L. Olmstead

Use an apricot scrub to wash it off and then use a very mild soap like Cetaphil to wash with. Then use a really mild lotion too like Cerave. they also have a wash.....(Cerave)

Hi! Both of my children have experienced cradle cap as babies and they both also have excema. After bathtime (and a couple times throughout the day) we applied almond oil to their heads. After a few days it usually got better. Once the growth of their heads/hair slowed, the cradle cap cleared up for good. If it doesn't clear up, I'd recommend seeing a pediatrician or a dermatologist. Hope that helps!!

Dear K., I can so relate to your quandry! Our little guy, now 11 months old, also had a horrible case of cradle cap. (We're over the worst of it, but still working on it.) Olive oil didn't seem to work, though I tried it multiple times. One day (just recently)it hit me that the oil was probably for softening up the scales, and that water would probably do the same. I gave him an extended bath, rinsing him in warm water frequently to make sure he wasn't cold, and began working at the scales. A fine-toothed baby comb worked better than a brush. Mixing in a little shampoo now and then helped too, as the scales are a bit oily. (He did lose some hair, but it was coming out as he itched anyway.) We're still hitting different areas bath by bath, but it seems to be working! Just an FYI: I would be a bit cautious of using any product with parabens in it. I checked the label of healing naturals and it has a couple of these. Parabens can have adverse affects on the hormonal system -- bad enough for adults, but surely worse for little ones. It might be wisest to stick with something completely and truly natural.

K.-

Our son had a really bad case of cradle cap as well and also has eczema. He would always scratch his head isecently to the point that it was keeping him up at night. I did some research and found that calendula oil is helpful in reducing the amount of oils that are produced, thus reducing the cradle cap. It seemed to help a little with the itching, but never really resolved completely. We took him to a pediatric dermatologist to have her look at his cradle cap and eczema. She prescribed a steroid ointment (better than a liquid form that our pediatrician gave us) and it improved within a week. We were amazed with the results. I was really nervous about using a steroid on my son, but the doctor assured me that she wouldn’t blink an eye before putting this on her own child if her skin looked like my son’s. I hope this helps. And I hope that your little one starts feeling better soon!

-J. (mom of a beautiful 7 month old boy and wife of a fabulous husband and father)

My first daughter had it really bad & I used the spray baby oil & those real fine tooth black combs. I would wash her hair & let her soak in the tub for a little while to make the area a little softer, then I'd spray with the baby oil & let that set for a little bit, then comb it out & then rewash her hair. That worked really great for us :) Good luck!

It makes sense that it would itch even if it's just cradle cap. Soak it with baby oil (rub on baby oil with a cloth and let it sit for at least 10 minutes) and scrub it with a very soft toothbrush. Obviously be careful of his soft spot and he probably won't like it. If it is really bad you'll probably have to do it every day.

hi there,
My middle child had this, I remember it was really bad at about that same time, I can gladly say it definatley cleared up! We used vasaline at one point. I would not go to the Dr., that would be time and $! My baby is now 9 and has a nice healthy head of hair! I can't remember how long it took but I would say by 6 months? You are a good mom! Good luck to you!

If it is cradle cap, my doctor had me use that T-gel shampoo and though it does not smell that great, it worked! Good LUCK!

My 9 year old daughter had the same thing just recently. It was some form of dermatitis that did require a liquid form of hydrocortizone to clear it up. I don't know for sure if they would do the same thing for an infant, but I would definately recommend seeing a dermatologist to see what they would recommend. We tried just scrubbing and combing it out, and had the same results with the bledding. Good luck! I hope this helps.

I would take my child in to the doctor because you wouldn't want the small pinpoint spots to become infected. In fact my child does have eczema and the only way that her skin clear up was through the presribed medicince and what a releif that was. I had a co-worker son that had the same sign f craddle cap and she took him in and way given medicine. It was told to her that her son has eczema as well. I hope your son skin heals soon.

Here is what I said about the last cradle cap request:
http://www.mamasource.com/request/18331793664864419841

Leave it alone. It icky looking, its gross, but it's normal. It is caused by a disfunction in the oil glands, which can be made worse by the oils and such that you use to try to get rid of it. This too shall pass. My daughter had a nasty case when she was about that age, but she had a ton of hair, so it looked like she had a really bad case of dandruff :( I know it's hard to leave it alone, but keep it clean and brush it with a baby brush to get rid of loose flakes.

I have a 3 month old who was having some problems around the 10 week mark - our pediatrician reccomended washing her hair with Head and Shoulders or Selson Blue. That really helped our little one!

Hi K.,

My second son had cradle cap off and on until the age of 3. I would suggest seeing a dermatologist. I was informed that cradle cap is in the same family of dandruff-- which is not dry skin but a reaction to certain outside conditions or exposures (for example-- winter). That is why the T-Gel works for many people. I would suggest a dermatologist if it severe because they have prescription strength shampoos that does wonders. It is important to know that dandruff and cradle cap cannot be cured but it can only be treated. As many of the other responders have said-- in order to know what it causing the cradle cap you will probably have to do some research - it might just be the change of seasons (that is when my sons would worsen). I hope that helps!

R.

Some more options from a couple months ago:
http://www.mamasource.com/request/7277764114921816065

Hi K.,
You might try Arbonne's Baby Care products. I am not sure if it works for cradle cap but I know it works for Eczema. Their products are botanically based, pH correct, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested,& formulated without mineral oil, dyes, or chemical fragrances -which are often things that cause irritation. There is also a 45 day money back guarantee so there is no risk to try it. You can go to their website www.arbonne.com for more information on their products or contact me at ____@____.com and I would be happy to meet with you and show you the products and give you a catalog. Good luck.
L. P.

Hi K.!

My daughter had that cradle cap REALLY REALLY bad. Her pediatrician told me to wash her scalp with Nutragena T-Gel. That was kind of scary to hear that because my daughter was only 12 weeks old, but I did it and it worked. Hers was very severe though so her hair came out anywhere that it was really really bad. I know it wasn't the T-Gel that did it...it was just that the hair was no longer connected in those places anyhow so when everything washed away it took her hair with it. She looked like a little old man for awhile because it was the hair on top of her head that was missing. Anyhow...that really worked for her but obviously ask you son's pediatrician if it sounds too weird. If you try that just wet his hair during a bath, use a dime sized amount, let it sit there for a few minutes, and gently use your nails while rinsing it off. I was amazed that it worked with one try! Good luck!!

I have used this method many times and everyone I have shared it with it had worked really well for and it never comes back. Take baby oil and message it into his head, then use one of those fine tooth baby combs brush his head, with some force but not enough to hurt him, then when you have gotten all you can put baby powder on his head to soak up the excess oil then wash his hair. You might have to do it a few times, don't get discouraged it will go away eventually if you keep at it.It works I swear it, just be patient with the whole process. I hope you can get it cleared up, and If you give him a break I bet the bleeding will stop. good luck ;)

When my son started scaling on his scalp and had some ecsema on his body, I tried using Aquaphor by Eucerin on his head and body. It seemed to clear it up rather quickly. It is definitely worth a try!!!

When our son was born a nurse suggested we put lotion in his hair and brush it out with a soft brush. It's gross, but you don't wash his hair immediately afterward (don't worry about clogging the pores, dry skin is more apt to do that than lotion). It cleared up in a few days ... granted, it wasn't as bad as your son's.

Colorado is a dry climate, so if you bathe your kid or wash their hair often, there skin will get even drier. If they are not overly dirty, let them go for 3 days at a time.

I am an adult with eczema and my son has mild cases of it, so a few things:

1.)Hydrocortisone is meant to inhibit the itch and unfortunately is about the only thing doctors will recommend at this age. When they get older, they can use stronger steroidal creams/ointments and benadryl, but at this age benadryl can kill a kid, so don't do it! Hydrocortisone doesn't really moisturize, so you have to combine skin creams with it.

2.) Creams are important and should be applied immediately after bathing. Lotion is too thin. No hot water even as they get older! I use Cetaphil, Aveeno, and even Grins and Giggles seems to be OK. But several others have suggested things that are worth a try.

3.) Avoid things with perfumes, harsh chemicals, or alcohol. They will further irritate and dry the skin. Dandruff shampoos are horrid for eczema! Start a log of things that do and don't irritate your child's skin.

4.) If none of the 40+ suggestions others have given work, my allergist has a treatment that works well for my hands when they are cracking so bad that I cry... but you'd have to adapt it for the head. He has me soak my hands in warm water for 5 minutes and then without drying them, coat them in petroleum jelly, and then cover them with socks (just to avoid the mess)and leave them on all night. You could probably soak your child's scalp using a luke warm washrag for 5 minutes (you might have to swap it out as it cools off), apply the petroleum jelly, and then stick a cap on them for the night. I've not tried this, but might be worth a shot. You could then try the lotion/brush treatment in the morning to get off the flakes (sort of a combination of eczema/cradle crap treatments).

my girls both have eczema and the doctor finally perscibed us some scalp oil to but on the eczema on thier arms, I bet it would help on his head. If he scratches at it, its propably bothering him, I would bring it up with the doctor next time you visit.

Go to the doctor! My daughter had the same thing, it itched her so bad, I would just lightly sratch it for her and she loved it and she cried when I stopped. I had to get a prescription for it it was so bad. It cleared after a while when I used the prescription everyday. It was ugly and it clearly bothered her, so that is why I paid for the prescription. I had to use 1 1/2 tubes of it. I think the oil thing makes it worse. I would bathe her at night and brush the baby shampoo in her hair and then apply the cream before bed. I would apply it again in the morning after I dressed her. Sometimes I would comb it in. The prescription was for Ketoconazole. Do it, he'll feel better and look great!

Certainly you should get professional advice and it sounds like you've had some of that - you may need more. Try plain yogurt on the cradle cap. It should sooth the itch, moisturize and help loosen it. It can be very healing to the irritated areas. You will be told that eczema is uncurable, I had it and got rid of it. In my case it was triggered by exposure to paints and eliminating sugar from my diet made a huge difference (many paints are chemically related to sugar). Be active in determining what is triggering this. If you are nursing you may have to go on am elimination diet. I had no corn, wheat, eggs, dairy, sugar or chocolate for a year when I had a nursing infant who kept breaking out. It was an adventure in diet and foods and I learned a lot! Never did pin down exactly what was causing him trouble but the skin reactions did clear up and never came back - it may have been a combination. Good Luck - don't give up.

hi K., I am a licenced cosmetologist and the best thing i have found that really works is paul mitchell baby dont cry shampoo. it is gental to use every day and it is safe for baby since it is a baby shampoo. also get a palmer, it is a brush that fits in the palm of your hand, gently scrub with it everyday, i do hope it helps it worked for me. also make sure you get the shampoo at a hair salon not at king soopers or target or places like that. good luck and be paticence!!!!

A few people told me to try Selsun Blue (dandruff shampoo) on my baby's cradle cap and I used it a few times, it went away and hasn't come back yet! It has been about 3 months since I used it. It worked for me and worked for others I know. Good luck!