Cradle Cap Remedies

Cradle Cap Remedies
Parents should know that cradle cap isn't a serious matter and a few months is what is needed for it to get resolved on its own. Nevertheless, here are some cradle cap remedies which can be followed to manage the symptoms of the condition.

Clinically known as infantile seborrheic dermatitis, cradle cap happens to be one of the most commonly occurring health issues for newborns and young babies. This disease is characterized by scaly patches on the baby's scalp. Cradle cap is one of those medical conditions whose definite causes have not been identified yet. However, doctors assume that the hormones which pass on from the mother to the child may be one contributing cause of cradle cap. These hormones are responsible for causing abnormal production of oil in the oil glands and hair follicles of the baby. An yeast (fungus) called malassezia is also considered as a responsible factor for causing this illness. What are the available options for cradle cap remedies and what are its characteristic symptoms? Know as you read on...

Cradle Cap Symptoms

There are not many cradle cap symptoms, expect for patchy scaling or thick crusts on the baby's scalp and skin flakes or dandruff. Parents might also watch out for greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales and mild reddening of the affected area. The baby's ears, eyelids, nose and groin might be the other places which may bear similar scales. Mostly, the affected babies are not really bothered by all such symptoms. The disease is not contagious and do not cause any itching in the infants, in most cases.

Cradle Cap Treatment and Remedy

As aforesaid, your baby will be cured of cradle cap without any kind of treatment. However, to speed up the recovery time, you can have your baby's hair shampooed once a day. Use shampoos which have been especially made for babies and are mild by nature. Brushing the scalp with a soft brush helps loosen the scales. If shampooing does not show any improvements, then you might need to visit a pediatrician. He/she might prescribe a stronger shampoo which probably, is used for adults. Redness and inflammation can be reduced by a daily massage of the baby's head with hydrocortisone cream.

Home Remedy for Cradle Cap

Use of lavender oil is one of the effective cradle cap remedies. Gently rub the oil over your baby's scalp and let the oil stay overnight. The next morning, get your baby's scalp washed with a mild shampoo. If you still notice any oil flakes, then repeat the process.

Before you take your baby for a bath, you can rub some warm baby oil on his or her scalp. The warm oil will help loosen and soften the skin of the scalp. After sometime, brush to loosen the patches and thereafter, wash the baby's scalp and rinse.

Cradle cap remedies also vouch for the benefits of witch hazel. This shrub extract is available at any local drug store. Make a dilute solution of witch hazel with some warm water and dab your baby's scalp using a cotton ball swab with the solution several times a day.

Common and natural cradle cap remedies also include the use of virgin olive oil and tea tree oil. Make a mix of the two oils and dip a cotton ball in it and dab the affected areas of the baby's scalp. Before shampooing, loosen the scaly areas using a soft brush. After rinsing, ensure that your baby's head is dried well.

Apart from all the above cradle cap remedies, nursing mothers must add foods rich in biotin, in their diet. Biotin is known as an effective treatment for cradle cap and it is found abundantly in foods such as eggs, greens, cereals, liver, nuts and milk.

Generally, cradle cap remedies which are followed at home are good enough to take care of the condition. However, if parents notice that the patches are spreading to the baby's face or other parts of the body, then this would be the time when they must not hesitate in seeking medical advice and help.
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source:wikipedia