Need help for cradle cap!!!

Gina - posted on 06/02/2009

My son was diagnosed with seborrhoeic dermatitis (cradle cap) when he was an ifant. His pediatrican prescribed a shampoo called Nizoral and he had also told me that I could use Nutrogena T Gel (both products had the same effect). I started using these products and I must say that they both worked equally well. The cradle cap cleared up and it was all down hill from there.

Renee - posted on 06/02/2009

Try cuticura soap order online with Walmart. I used it on all four of my babies and it works even for dry dead skin.

Carla - posted on 06/01/2009

I'm not sure what kind of oil you used but my daughter used Olive oil on her baby's little head and it worked well.

Jessica - posted on 04/10/2009

i don't know why you would put oil or lotion on their heads for cradle cap.(sorry don't mean to sound harsh) Oils can clog pours making it even worse. My son had it because he had to be on a high dose of iron and it caused his skin to become oily which dried him out. The dr said DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF OIL! Clogged pours can cause dryess as well as baby acne. Use a little bit of head and shoulders taking care not to get it in their eyes. Only bath them every other day and avoid using a brush a lot because it can break up the skin on the scalp and make it look worse than it really is. If you insist on picking at it, make sure you cant get it in once piece.

Jessica - posted on 04/10/2009

i don't know why you would put oil or lotion on their heads for cradle cap.(sorry don't mean to sound harsh) Oils can clog pours making it even worse. My son had it because he had to be on a high dose of iron and it caused his skin to become oily which dried him out. The dr said DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF OIL! Clogged pours can cause dryess as well as baby acne. Use a little bit of head and shoulders taking care not to get it in their eyes. Only bath them every other day and avoid using a brush a lot because it can break up the skin on the scalp and make it look worse than it really is. If you insist on picking at it, make sure you cant get it in once piece.

Rebecca - posted on 04/10/2009

my doctor suggested Selson Blue shampoo once a week.  Just be careful because it will burn the childs eyes.

Lisa - posted on 04/10/2009

Quoting Angela:

Both my daughters have it as well. I have tryed almost everything and have read some GREAT advice. The one thing to never use is VASOLINE!!!!!!! I have learned that from experience. If you can think of anything else that might have worked for you, i'd love to hear it as well.

 

Thx.

Okay now I'm curious... why no vaseline?  Its the last thing I tried and it seems that its just a pain to wash out of hair but is there another reason???

Angela - posted on 04/10/2009

Both my daughters have it as well. I have tryed almost everything and have read some GREAT advice. The one thing to never use is VASOLINE!!!!!!! I have learned that from experience. If you can think of anything else that might have worked for you, i'd love to hear it as well.

Thx.

Rhonda - posted on 04/10/2009

My daughter had cradle cap for years. I happened to come across this product at wal-mart "Cradle Cap Care". It has cleared it up.....it took a couple of months because it was so bad but, it works. I hope this helps!!!

Rhonda - posted on 04/10/2009

My daughter had cradle cap for years. I happened to come across this product at wal-mart "Cradle Cap Care". It has cleared it up.....it took a couple of months because it was so bad but, it works. I hope this helps!!!

Leah - posted on 04/10/2009

my son had it untill almost 3 years old i tried alsorts of shampoos but my doc advised me to use olive oil rub it into scalp leave overnight and washed it out next morning..... it worked !! there was still a bit after first application but did it a couple of times and it cleared up altogether hope this helps :-)

Tasha - posted on 04/09/2009

With both of my kids I left the baby oil on for about 30 mins., then washed and combed it out with a very fine tooth comb. Good luck!

Lynn - posted on 04/09/2009

we did the same thing with our son.  The only thing we found was the baby oil on the head sorry

Kim - posted on 04/09/2009

I would try letting the baby oil soak into her skin for at least ten minutes before you try to comb it out. I found a cradle cap set at Wal-Mart, and after I had used it a few times on my youngest, it cleared up. Her hair will be oily for a couple of days, but hopefully this will help it clear up. Another thing you can do is try to avoid the baby shampoos with a high wax content, since it contributes to cradle cap :)

Dena - posted on 04/09/2009

Quoting Tiffany:

I am a cosmotologist and this is what I did for my son and also what I reccomend for clients.  It works.  Take Sea Breeze you know the face stuff and use a cotton ball and apply to affected areas.  After you put it on brush it.  Do this for a couple days and it should start to flake off.  you may have to pick at it.  What cradle cap is, is dead skin stuck together with oil.  So after you get rid of it, since you are only able to bathe her once a week you may continue to use the Sea Breeze so that the oil and skin don't build up on her scalp.

I would not reccommend this method. i was told that this would help my dandruff problem when i was about 15 years old and it only made thigns worse. Sea Breeze has a drying agent in it that tightens the skin (pores) and prevents the good oils from getting in.

Dena - posted on 04/09/2009

Have you considered the fact that it may be dandruff? I had cradle cap whe I was a baby and my mom couldn't get it to stay gone, now I have extremly bad dandruff (so bad in fact that nothing on the market helps)Try a little lavender oil mixed with equal parts of Grape Seed oil, leave on for 5-10 minutes then wash her hair as usual. This helps me keep my dandruff under control and it's all natrual.

Stephanie - posted on 04/09/2009

I went through the same things with my daughter. Finally we saw a pediatrician who told us to use selsun blue. It worked in just a couple of days..Good Luck

Ingrid - posted on 04/09/2009

Your child's eczema may be aggravated due to an allergic reaction to something. If you have verified the allergies, check your water. Yes, your water! An environmental engineer suggested that hard water combined with the various chemicals in over the counter soaps can aggravate skin conditions such as eczema. Most hardware stores sell units that "soften" your shower water.

Ingrid - posted on 04/09/2009

Your child's eczema may be aggravated due to an allergic reaction to something. If you have verified the allergies, check your water. Yes, your water! An environmental engineer suggested that hard water combined with the various chemicals in over the counter soaps can aggravate skin conditions such as eczema. Most hardware stores sell units that "soften" your shower water.

Angie - posted on 04/09/2009

Quoting Lisa:

Need help for cradle cap!!!

My daughter is just over a year old and still has horrible cradle cap! Her hair is growing more and more but you can still see it underneath. I've tried the oil and brushing/picking it off but it just keeps coming back. Because of exzema, we only bathe and wash her hair weekly. Any suggestions???   Yes,  Arbonne Baby wash, lotion and oil .  I know you have tried the oil but what I have learned is that most products out there have mineral oil in them.  Mineral oil is actually DEHYDRATING and sucking the natural oils out of the skin.  It forms a sort of suran wrap  on our bodies and holds in toxins and won't allow us to release them either.  Just simply changing what you use on her will help her skin to work properly.  There are no nut oils in the line and all are free of any harmfull ingredients.  This will hydrate and let her skin breath..  good luck!  Angie

Kesia - posted on 04/09/2009

MY SON HAD IT AS WELL... I USED OLIVE OIL AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MIN AND THEN BRUSHED IN CIRCLES... I DID IT EVERY MORNING FOR A WEEK AND IT WORKED..

Kesia - posted on 04/09/2009

MY SON HAD IT AS WELL... I USED OLIVE OIL AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MIN AND THEN BRUSHED IN CIRCLES... I DID IT EVERY MORNING FOR A WEEK AND IT WORKED..

Kecia - posted on 04/09/2009

baby oil on the scalp and rub it in and then use a fine tooth comb (nit comb) and it gets it off without damaging the scalp or the hair. You will then never know they had it

Chandra - posted on 04/09/2009

I was told while my son was in the NICU to use a soft toothbrush and when giving a bath put shampoo on his head and do circular motions around his head and then just rise it off. It helps stimulate the scalp. Its really good for the scalp and my son loves it!! Hope this helps!

Christine - posted on 04/09/2009

Hi.  Our midwife told me to use olive oil when that happened to our first baby.  Not sure what kind you're using but if you haven't tried olive oil, it might help!

Tiffany - posted on 04/09/2009

I am a cosmotologist and this is what I did for my son and also what I reccomend for clients.  It works.  Take Sea Breeze you know the face stuff and use a cotton ball and apply to affected areas.  After you put it on brush it.  Do this for a couple days and it should start to flake off.  you may have to pick at it.  What cradle cap is, is dead skin stuck together with oil.  So after you get rid of it, since you are only able to bathe her once a week you may continue to use the Sea Breeze so that the oil and skin don't build up on her scalp.

Sheryl - posted on 04/09/2009

My daughter is 10 and was just diagnosed with excema - behind her ears and on her scalp, but the doctor said it is also called cradle cap. She prescribed an ointment and Neutragena Tgel shampoo and it cleared up also. She also recommended good old dial bar soap - the original gold bar. It has an antiseptic in it, like the Tgel shampoo, and I know that is what my mom used when my sister had it years ago. The Tgel smells bad, and I would double check before using it on a one year old, but it does work. Good luck!

Melinda - posted on 04/09/2009

My daughter had cradle cap as well. I used Selsen Blue to wash her hair and then I put lotion that had no perfume on her scalp. Sometimes it would get in her hair but its ok. The lotion really works and I would put it in when her hair was wet. I hope you can find something that works.

Sara - posted on 04/09/2009

When my daughter had it my doctor recommended to use olive oil, brush it, wash it, then put Cortizone 10 on it.  You might have to do this a couple of times but I know that her my daughter it worked.  You should probably do this every other day to every 3 days for it to work.

Sara - posted on 04/09/2009

When my daughter had it my doctor recommended to use olive oil, brush it, wash it, then put Cortizone 10 on it.  You might have to do this a couple of times but I know that her my daughter it worked.  You should probably do this every other day to every 3 days for it to work.

Jasmine - posted on 04/08/2009

if you r avoiding baths because of the eximma, try using a shallow, large tupperware tub or even her old baby bath tub in the middle of your kitchen floor. lotion her up first , put bubbles and toys in the water and let her play. gradually see if she will dip her hair in the water or let u pour small amounts over her hair. make a game of it. reverse psycology works to, especially if dad is the one pouring the water and giggling while mom is "don't make a mess, don't dip hair, u guys are silly" dads are great partners cause they enjoy it too.

Jasmine - posted on 04/08/2009

i have 5 kids all of which had cradel cap. i did the baby oil, fine tooth comb brushing front to back. once it is cleared up i used melaleuca shampoo. the tea tree oil in the shampoo keeps it from comming back. it also repells lice if your little girl is in daycare or playing with other kids

Cassandra - posted on 04/08/2009

I had the same problem with my oldest son and the pediatrician recommended neutragena TGEL and it worked great.

Cassandra - posted on 04/08/2009

I had the same problem with my oldest son and the pediatrician recommended neutragena TGEL and it worked great.

Cassandra - posted on 04/08/2009

I had the same problem with my oldest son and the pediatrician recommended neutragena TGEL and it worked great.

Tammy - posted on 04/08/2009

Both of my boys have had cradle cap. What I've used is a shampoo designed especially for this you can get it at Wal-mart, Target and Babies R Us, It's called Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap Care. It comes in a green bottle and has Winnie the Pooh on the front. Even though it looks a little gimmicky, it works great! Just put some on right before a bath, rub it in good, then go through with a baby comb or brush and just be digusted by all the skin coming up! Then give her a really good shampoo. Should be gone within the first few times

Tammy - posted on 04/08/2009

Both of my boys have had cradle cap. What I've used is a shampoo designed especially for this you can get it at Wal-mart, Target and Babies R Us, It's called Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap Care. It comes in a green bottle and has Winnie the Pooh on the front. Even though it looks a little gimmicky, it works great! Just put some on right before a bath, rub it in good, then go through with a baby comb or brush and just be digusted by all the skin coming up! Then give her a really good shampoo. Should be gone within the first few times

Lisa - posted on 04/08/2009

You guys are all awesome, this is such a great resource!  I appreciate all the different suggestions and thanks for taking the time to respond.  One last question... how do you get a 12 month old to let you wash only their hair without taking a bath?  With more frequent bathing we see an imediate reaction which leaves washing in the sink I guess?  Any good techniques out there?

Lisa - posted on 04/08/2009

Quoting Amanda:

No oil and no scrapping... i learned through cosmetology school that scrapping with a fine tooth comb damaged there hair folicle and by the time there 40-60 yrs old there be bald where you used the comb unfortunally i did use the oil and comb method on my daughter and she has very fine hair there and it dosnt grow much so theres proof i believe.... but i did use oil and a baby comb very carefully on my son and it worked for him and i know they tell ya not to bath them but really if you look in medical books they tell you that not bathing them on a daily basis or everyother day basis worsens it the cradle cap needs to be cleaned often to clear up.... so i hope this helps... just try as many suggestions as u feel right something got to work... good luck and think she wont be going to kindergarten with it :)

Thanks Amanda!  Another good point to keep in mind, hopefully I haven't already caused damage.

Lisa - posted on 04/08/2009

Quoting Shannon:

I have three children and I also used baby oil and such but my youngest son had exzema so when you mentioned that a lightbulb went off for me....are you sure it's cradle cap and not part of the exzema? My Owen, had what we thought was cradle cap and in the end was more exzema we got a prescription from the dermotoligist that was for exzema on the head/under the hair. I only had to use it maybe three times and it worked...also you may want to try Johnsons Baby Shampoo on her hair if your not--it's mild and I still use it on Owen and he is 5--hope this helps

Thanks for mentioning the possible link to her excema, it had never crossed my mind.  As it happens, we had an appt with her pediatrician today and I brought it up.  It IS a possibility so now I'm more aware and need to keep an eye on it.  And vaseline was the recomendation as long as it continues to work.  Thanks again!

Kathy - posted on 04/08/2009

Thirty years ago my first daughter had CC and we found that if we softened the affected area with Vaseline for a half-hour or so prior to washing her hair, followed by a vigorous shampooing with a fingernail brush, against the grain of the scales, we could rid her of the problem.



We had to be careful not to be too enthusiastic in our scrubbing so as not to damage her skin and cause discomfort. After reading the first page of posts, it seems there is a central theme: soften the scales of the affected area with something (Vaseline, lotion, olive oil, etc.), let it "soak" for a period of time to soften and loosen the scales of dead skin and then remove the debris by mechanical means, i.e. brush, comb or scrubbing fingers, shampoo and rinse well. And of course, ask your doctor for her/his OK :-)



Good luck. I remember how "YUCKY" it made me feel to look at that stuff on my precious baby's head!

Kathy - posted on 04/08/2009

Thirty years ago my first daughter had CC and we found that if we softened the affected area with Vaseline for a half-hour or so prior to washing her hair, followed by a vigorous shampooing with a fingernail brush, against the grain of the scales, we could rid her of the problem.



We had to be careful not to be too enthusiastic in our scrubbing so as not to damage her skin and cause discomfort. After reading the first page of posts, it seems there is a central theme: soften the scales of the affected area with something (Vaseline, lotion, olive oil, etc.), let it "soak" for a period of time to soften and loosen the scales of dead skin and then remove the debris by mechanical means, i.e. brush, comb or scrubbing fingers, shampoo and rinse well. And of course, ask your doctor for her/his OK :-)



Good luck. I remember how "YUCKY" it made me feel to look at that stuff on my precious baby's head!

Stacey - posted on 04/08/2009

My daughter who is now eight months old has exzema really bad as well.  We were told to use Cetaphil, which is in the woman's face lotion type isle like in Walmart.  It is the most mild form you can use.  I use it on her entire body including her head.  Granted she still doesn't have much hair, but that along with the Cetaphil lotion makes it okay for us to bathe her everyday.

Mom of 2.

Jasmine - posted on 04/08/2009

i used that baby milk bath johnson n johnson and a nit comb it worked wounders they never got it back and got it all out first time

Michele - posted on 04/08/2009

My little boy suffered bad with cradle cap i used Johnsons baby oil gel. Put in on before bed and massage into the scalp then next day carefully comb and the cradle cap will come off then wash ur daughters hair u should see a massive difference Michele x

Michele - posted on 04/08/2009

My little boy suffered bad with cradle cap i used Johnsons baby oil gel. Put in on before bed and massage into the scalp then next day carefully comb and the cradle cap will come off then wash ur daughters hair u should see a massive difference Michele x

Claire - posted on 04/08/2009

Try a shampoo containing ketoconazole, like Niz-shapmpoo, available in pharmacies. It's along the same lines as Selsun Blue, but stronger. Just use a little bit when washing her hair in the bath, massage into the area and leave it in for 3 to 5 minutes then rinse out. This has worked for many people I know.

Apple - posted on 04/08/2009

dont use baby oil-use olive oil at leat 2 hours b4 u wash her hair, and also conditioner-johnsons do a baby one. my daughter also had eczema-but i still washed her hair every other day. 2 round washing up bowls with warm water-u need 2-one to rinse completely-or a bucket, but the more u wash oil and condition and brush/comb everyday the faster it will go

Rhonda - posted on 04/08/2009

The best advice I was given by my childs doctor with my 4th child was danruff shampoo. It really does work wonders. Try it!!! I tell all my friends to use it on their babies.

Kristy - posted on 04/08/2009

My son had that too, and the health Nurse told me to use Vasilene on his head and let it soak for 1/2 to 1 hour and then put him the bath and use a soft brush and brush it out. i found it worked awesome. I hope that helps!!