How to cure Infant cradle cap.
The benefits of borage oil.

Infant cradle cap is a non infectious and non contagious skin condition which affects about 50% of all babies. It is not an allergy, and it is not dangerous nor is it caused by poor hygiene.

This scaly and crusty skin rash on the scalp of young babies looks like dandruff.

Sometimes you can see it on and behind the ears, eyebrows and eyelids. If it appears on other parts of the body it is called seborrhoeic dermatitis rather than cradle cap.

In most cases it doesn't bother your baby at all.

Infant cradle cap. Photo courtesy by aidans world

In rare cases when it itches scratching of the area may cause inflammation, infections or bleeding.

Infant cradle cap is a temporary condition and usually clears up on it's own when baby is between 6 to 12 months old.

What causes infant cradle cap?

The cause is not clearly defined but is probably linked to the oil-producing sebaceous glands. With recently born babies these glands are very active and produce excessive quantities of sebum (greasy substance).

This results in sebum building up on the scalp and causing cradle cap.

Kopec Naturals Cradle Cap Comfort is the only baby cradle cap treatment that will open the congested sebaceous glands for proper release of sebum to occur. When the sebaceous glands are not working correctly skin becomes congested, crusty, dry and flaky.

Some believe cradle cap is related to overgrowth of normal skin yeast like Pityrosporum ovale and Candida.

Other speculations are that infant cradle cap is caused by baby's immature digestive system not being able to absorb enough vitamins of the B-complex.

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Cradle cap treatment.

What is the best cradle cap remedy ?
To cure cradle cap wash baby's hair frequently with a special cradle cap shampoo to prevent the sebum from building up.

Half an hour before washing baby's hair try to soften the scales with Cradle Cap Oil or olive oil. Try with a small toothed comb or tooth brush to brush of the softened scales.

Then wash baby's hair carefuly with a mild shampoo because the skin of the scalp may be a bit red and irritated after brushing off the scales.

If these home remedies for cradle cap don't have the presumed result you can try a dandruff shampoo. that contains sulfur, selenium, zinc,pyrithione or salicylic acid. Because those shampoos can be irritating for baby's skin it is best to consult a doctor first.

If the cradle cap is severe and has spread to other parts of the body your pediatrician may prescribe a hydrocortison cream as part of he cradle cap treatment.

Treating cradle cap with borage oil.

Treating cradle cap Photo courtesy by think20seven

According to a swedish study treatment with borage oil gives very good results. A demonstration done on 48 infants with severe cradle cap.

The infants were treated with borage oil twice a day and their cradle cap cleared within two weeks. When they stopped the treatment the cradle cap returned within a week.

If they continued the treatment until the infant was 7 months there was no relaps.

Mustela Stelaker lotion soothes and hydrates skin with Aloe vera and Borage oil and helps remove cradle cap quickly. You get the best result when used in combination with Mustela Newborn Foam Shampoo that gently cleanses hair and scalp maintaining the delicate balance of the scalp in newborns.

Can I use Ketoconazole shampoo for cradle cap?

If the cradle cap is itching it is most likely a yeast infection (Pityrosporum ovale also named Malassezia furfur). The yeast infection needs to be treated with anti-fungal cream.

The use of Ketoconazole shampoos twice a week as an anti fungal treatment appears to be safe and effective based on small studies. Research shows that the anti-fungal medication is not absorbed in the bloodstream.

What if the eyelids are affected?

Extra care is needed if baby's eyelids are affected by infant cradle cap. For cleaning the eyelids you best use a cotton swab with some diluted baby shampoo.

If you use a very mild baby shampoo for cradle cap like California Baby Calming Shampoo & Bodywash you can mix it 50/50 with warm water. With other shampoos don't add more than a few drops to a cup of water otherwise it may sting baby's eyes.

A teaspoon of baking soda added to a cup of boiled water is also a recommended remedy by some parents.

Other popular home remedies for cradle cap:

Herbal washes with chamomile or burdock.
Aloe vera
Tea tree oil
Cod liver oil.
Mix of 50%baby shampoo and 50% Head and shoulders shampoo.
Extra virgin coconut oil.
olive oil with a few drops of real lavender.

As you can see most parents use some kind of oil to soften the scales. Some even used butter and swear it works wonders. What ever treatment you decide is best for your baby fortunatly in most cases infant cradle cap will clear up on it's own.