Cradle cap - does it just go away if you leave it?

[dizzy77]

DS2 is 10wo and has a healthy crop of cradle cap on his scalp (impressive cornflake texture). I'd been olive-oiling it and he ended up smelling of cheese, and when he got a rash on his cheeks a few days ago I switched to bathing with plain water. The cheek rash has now gone and the CC seems to be receding away either side of his forehead like a widows peak.

DS1 had it rotten and I tried everything so have dentinox, nit combs etc around the house. He went through a really itchy/scratchy phase during the various treatments which was horrid but his hair soon grew over it and as far as I can see its mostly gone (the gp was no help beyond putting dentinox on repeat prescription). I'm inclined not to bother with unctions this time if anyone can share experience which backs me up/persuades me otherwise.

Nope, sorry. Best way is to rub baby oil into it, leave it for 30 mins and brush it out. It won't go unless you clear it.

I found Vaseline brilliant. Leave it on for a few hrs and it combed straight out , no rash

Just pick it

I did that with DS and that worked eventually. When DD arrived I couldn't languish on the sofa quite as much so it didn't get picked, but it still went away eventually.

So from my case study of two, I think it doesn't matter.

It does in that they grow out of it, yes. But it will look crusty for a good while.

I thought it would, but in our case didn't and DS is 2. I was lazy but people were commenting and making me feel rubbish, rightly so I guess!! Dentinox was amazing, if only I'd known!

I would second the vaseline too. In my experience if left, it just gets worse.

My BIL still had it into his teen years - his parents never did anything about it, just assumed it would go away - and he now has little bald spots on his head where it was worst.

My boys all had it and it went away...eventually ds3 is eight and his is now all goes, ds4 has a tiny bit, he is five but obviously once thy have a decent amount of hair you can't see it anymore.

My dd is 2.5 and has a bit of cradle cap, olive oil and an it comb is good at getting off but there is no need to really and you have to be careful as you can make their scalp sore.

it is fabulous to pick at tho

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cradle-cap/Pages/Introduction.aspx

I've found that the baby hair falls out and reflows faster once the cradle cap goes. This time I have massaged copious amounts of coconut oil onto his scalp and used a soft toothbrush. The smell is pleasant and absorbs nicely so no greasiness.

I don't think you are meant to pick it as it really hurts them.

My ds had it and I just kept it really well moisturised and knew he would grow out of it. The Dettinox did work but it took about 5/6 washes.

Olive oil is actually too thick and often makes it worse. Coconut oil is lighter and much more effective. Massage in and then gently brush with baby brush. You may need to do this over several days to remove it.

Thanks for all the input overnight! I have Vaseline and almond oil in the house and will follow the leave-it-in-for-a-few-hours approach. Next time I pass a body shop will also grab coconut oil. Mmm, that smell makes me think of holiday.

Ooh I'm so glad I'm not the only one who loves a good pick at their DC's head! DD's cradle cap has nearly gone thanks to Dentinox, but there's still the odd bit to feed my guilty habit. Certainly doesn't hurt her.

Oilatum moisturiser or oilatum anti dandruff shampoo, only things that cleared it up for DD

I was told it would eventually go away on its own, when DD has it as a newborn. I stuck it out for week but it got worse and i couldn't bear it and the urge to pick it was overwhelming.

I got rid of it using dentinox shampoo - it took ages!! But did eventually go - you need to persevere. Then when she was 15 months it came back! But went soon after using dentinox again.

Now I use dentinox every few hair washes to keep it away.

had weeks ahhhhhh

Baby oil here, washed hair with baby oil in place of shampoo while in the shower with me and then combed in the morning. Worked a treat - tried baby shampoo for ages but didn't help at all. Doc suggested baby oil and if that didn't work he'd give me something stronger.

Almond oil left overnight and then brush very very gently over the scalp with a tangle teezer brush. Dont use any pressure, just let it move over the cradle cap. The plastic edges catch the bits that are ready to come off. I did also have a surreptious pick now and again when BFing. but the tangle teezer was the best for lifting without damaging the scalp. Cleared my DTs cradle cap up brilliantly.

I don't think it does. Ds had it until 9 or 10.

Dd has it now age 7. A couple of washes with Head and Shoulders usually sorts it for a bit, but it still comes back

Coming back to the thread after a couple of days oiling, picking, brushing and dentinoxing. Ds2's scalp is definitely improving in the sense it is less crusty but the rest of him (including his face) is much drier, with flaky patches, presumably from the dentinoxing in his bath water. So is this the time to move to oilatum etc? And how does one wash a baby's hair in oil? (Sorry on phone, difficult to namecheck) I'm worried about slippery bath times!

On the advice of a health visitor I smeared almond oil on my 10weekold's head, left it for a few hours / overnight, shampood it off with normal baby shampoo, then gently combed it once dry to get the looser flakes off. Then did that every day, hv said for a week but it had all gone after 3 or 4 days. Since then I've just used water or oilatum on his head and it's been lovely and clear for weeks, even though he has v dry skin elsewhere. Good luck!

Freebuttonbee wow to the tangle teezer! Just bought one and ran it through DS2's hair after oiling first thing and OMG its like the best scratch ever! DS2 unperturbed.

[shocked] at the cost though - over £10. It is many years since I bought a hairbrush. Recouping the investment will add weight to my argument (with DH) to keep the boys' hair longer than he'd prefer .