Cradle Cap

[Tel]

Does anyone have any suggestions for cradle cap remedies that actually work or which don't cause irritation? My 4 month old has a reasonably nasty patch and so far I've tried olive oil, also the cream and shampoo from Boots which made his skin red raw. I'm half tempted to just leave it until he grows out of it but my HV has made a couple of comments making me feel it would be wrong not to do anything about it. All suggestions very welcome.

My daughter is two and a half and still has a few small patches, I've never tried very hard to get it off, but find that a good brush or comb after her hair is washed, when it's soft gets some off. It's never really bothered me and I'd ask your health visitor what her problem is?

My health visitor and Dr spent all their time saying mine would grow out of it and there is not alot you can do. It really isnt a worry (only to us Mums it seems!) I tried all sorts on baby1, the creams, lotions and shampoos and none worked, you're right Tel about the red raw skin. Owww! In the end with baby 2 I got into olive oil and it DID work for us. Put alot on as they are getting ready for a bath, I only occassionally used mild baby shampoo and then a nice gentle rub with a soft towel afterwards.

My daughter sufers with cradle cap, the best way to get rid of it is to was her hair and rub VERY gently with a toothbrush (I recommend a first toothbrush which is very soft) every time, its easier than trying to rub with fingers or nails. If its very 'crusty', put olive oil on it and leave overnight. But keep up with the toothbrush, it should stop it before it can get hold again.

I tried zinc and castor oil 'botty' cream and it worked better than olive oil. Rub it in and rub off with a towel.

My 3 month old son has cradle cap - initially I tried almond oil, which did not seem to be very effective, currently I am using Aveeno Oil. This was recommended to me at a postnatal group, and so far is doing an excellent job of moisturising my son's scalp. I have to admit that I gently rubbed the thickish bits of dried skin from his head while feeding him the other day.

I was told that making a paste with bicarb of soda works well. Leave it for a few minutes and then wash out. Might be worth a try.

If your kids have got hair, I find the plastic nit detector combs are useful (and you'll need them in later years anyway!) My youngest still gets cradle cap at 3.5, apparently it can be linked to exzma, so anything stronger than olive oil etc may well cause a reaction. If its really bad I found just rubbing the oil in the night before, & then gently combing through with the nit comb worked best. Hope it helps.

I can vouch for Aveeno cream too, I used it and it definitely helped. I do admit that when the flakes got really yucky and yellow I used to peel them off...but only if it wasnt very pink underneath. My daughter had it really badly, as the cradle cap came off, so did her baby hair! She started it at around 3 months but by 9 months it had gone.

Arachis (not sure about the spelling there) oil massaged into the scalp during the day and wash the hair/head with Dentinox cradle cap shampoo from Boots at night. I found I had to contiue with the shampoo for a while even when it looked like it had cleared up or it came back. I have to confess to being a picker and squeezer ( the nurse in me!) and I know you shouldn't but sometimes I couldn't resist helping the thicker bits off at times once the oil had soften them.

My son had bad cradle cap and I used grape seed oil which is much lighter than olive oil. Again, as suggested before, rub it on at night and it will moisturise the dry flaky bits so that they can be washed off the next day.

My son's cradle cap was really bad, I'd gotten fed up with cradle cap shampoos, so I used my shampoo l'oreal elvive, it was amazing how much came off after one shampoo. We got rid of the cradle cap once and for all just after his 3rd birthday when the dreaded head lice came along, so I'd agree with the combs.