Does your baby have small yellowish crusts on the scalp? It is probably cradle cap, the appearance of which is common in infants. What are the symptoms, the causes? Everything you need to know to treat them gently.
During baby’s first monthsit happens and is common that milk crusts appear on his scalp but also on his buttocks and on certain skin folds of the body (the armpits, the folds of the arms, behind the knees, the ears). Also called seborrheic dermatitis, it occurs very frequently in infants and is benign. They take the form of crusty patches that are quite greasy or, on the contrary, dry, whitish or yellowish in color. They may also be surrounded by redness.
Usually they occur before six months, but sometimes they can last in time, until the age of 2 to 3 years. It is also considered that about two out of three babies are affected by this skin disease. What are the causes of their appearance? How can we treat and prevent them? We take stock.
Milk crusts: the causes of their appearance
Rest assured, despite their name, cradle cap has nothing to do with food or a hygiene problem. It’s well known, baby skin is particularly sensitive, being very fine and less acidic than that of an adult. Cradle cap forms in reaction to excess sebumwhich is itself produced by the sebaceous glands, which are found in the dermis just under the skin.
Another factor. They may also be due to “the abnormal proliferation of malassezia-type yeasts (a kind of fungus), naturally present on areas of skin with too much sebum”indicates the website of the Health Insurance.
Cradle cap: can it get worse?
Cradle caps are without consequences for the infant’s health. But they are unsightly and can become very irritating. They can also extend to the face, between the eyebrows, or even to the baby’s bottom area, and be infected by bacteria or yeasts (Candida). In other cases, cradle cap can also be the first sign of atopic eczema in children (or atopic dermatitis).
Also note that cradle cap is not not contagious.
Cradle caps: how to treat them?
If it is better to remove the milk crusts when they are installed, it is however important to act delicately so as not to irritate the baby’s scalp. To remove them, do not scrape the cradle cap dry, at the risk of further irritating the scalp or even superinfecting it.
It is rather advisable, at first, to soften the plaques by massaging them gently using appropriate care: a liniment, sweet almond oil (if the baby is not allergic) or any other emollient care . Do this before the bath and don’t worry, it won’t hurt your baby or his skull. The Mustela brand also offers a special milk crust cream, to be left on overnight.
For washing your toddler’s hair with cradle cap, you can use a mild shampoo, without rubbing it too much. And if you need comb her hairprefer a brush with soft bristles.
Cradle caps: natural methods to make them disappear
There are many natural and non-abrasive methods to easily get rid of cradle cap on baby’s scalp. The petroleum jelly, for example, helps soften the plaques and loosen them. To do this, simply apply it gently to the baby’s head, leave the ointment to act for a few hours before the stocking, brush the scalp and finish with a mild shampoo.
L’chamomile hydrosol, preferably organic, can also be a natural solution to eliminate cradle cap. Simply spray it on the area to be treated, let it dry, apply a calendula creamknown for its anti-inflammatory action, or a sweet almond oil for the moisturizing and soothing side, and the next day just do a simple shampoo.
Finally, you can also opt for a homeopathic remedy. Depending on the state of cradle cap, the treatment will be different and adapted to your baby. Better to consult a doctor.
Cradle caps: how to prevent them?
In infants, cradle cap is a common occurrence. In some cases, we can avoid their appearance in washing baby’s scalp regularly, gently, not forgetting the fontanel area (at the front of the skull) and rinse thoroughly. Washing can be done daily or every other day is enough. The main thing is not to neglect the shampoo stage and not to scratch the plaques.
Good to know : the best way to prevent cradle cap is to brush your baby’s hair daily with a soft brush and massage the scalp well after each shampoo. A simple and free tip! Finally, if the phenomenon increases or you observe more serious inflammation, it is better to be vigilant and consult a pediatrician.
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