Understanding Cradle Cap in Infants

Cradle Cap: Harmless Skin Condition in Babies

• Description: A common, self-limiting skin condition in infants, often appearing as seborrhoeic dermatitis on the scalp. It can also occur elsewhere on the body.
• Duration: Usually resolves spontaneously within 6–12 months.
• Cause: The exact cause is uncertain, but may be linked to overactive sebaceous glands producing excess sebum (oil). Possible hormonal influence from the mother's hormones lingering in the baby.
• Mechanism: Excess sebum causes old skin cells to adhere to the scalp, preventing them from naturally detaching.
• Associated organism: presence of Malassezia yeasts (potential treatment option).
• Contagious?: No.

Diagnosis & Appearance

• Location: Typically on the scalp and face, sometimes the diaper area.
• Scalp/Face appearance: White or yellow, greasy scales and crusts that may flake off.
• Diaper area appearance: Small, dry skin flakes.
• Skin Tone Considerations: Scales appear similar across all skin tones; underlying skin may appear pink/red in babies with light skin, or lighter/darker than surrounding skin in babies with darker skin tones.
• Potential Hair Loss: Temporary hair loss is possible during or after scaling. This is a common concern of parents.
• Symptoms: Not itchy or painful; infant is not bothered by it

Treatment & Management

• Self-limiting: Cradle cap often resolves on its own.
• Gentle Cleansing: Washing the baby's scalp with gentle care can help prevent scale buildup.
• Emollient Application (e.g., petroleum jelly): Applying a light emollient to the scalp, potentially at night, gently loosens the scales .
• Brushing & Shampoos: Gently brushing the scalp, followed by washing with a baby shampoo, can be effective.
• Avoidances:
• Avoid using olive oil or peanut oil; olive oil is not necessarily unsuitable, but may not be suitable in this context. Peanut oil may be unsuitable due to allergy risk
• Avoid using regular soap or adult shampoos.
• Avoid picking at crusts to prevent infection.
• Severe Cases: Consider topical imidazole creams (e.g., clotrimazole, miconazole) or a 1% hydrocortisone cream if significant inflammation is present.

This quiz explores cradle cap, a common skin condition in babies characterized by greasy scales on the scalp. Learn about its causes, appearance, and how it resolves over time. Understanding cradle cap will help you recognize and manage this harmless condition effectively.