What is Cradle Cap?

You’re used to staring at your beautiful baby, and with all those hours spent feeding you think you know every inch of their adorable little body. But suddenly one day you notice their head is covered in dry, flaky, yellowy scales. And you might panic. But don’t, because it’s just cradle cap and it’s extremely common – at least 50% of babies get it!

The good news is there’s nothing to worry about. While it may look serious – and rather unpleasant appearing as yellow or white scales on their scalp – it isn’t and thankfully it doesn’t seem to bother babies too much. It often looks worse than it really is.

Doctors are unsure of the exact causes and why some babies experience it and some don’t; it is not caused by allergies or bacterial infections – and it is not contagious. There’s a theory that hormones from the mother could be a contributing factor resulting in too much oil on the baby’s scalp. Yeast growth on the skin, in combination with the over-production of this oil, may also play a role in the development of cradle cap. 

However, cradle cap has nothing to do with hygiene or anything you have done – or aren’t doing – which is a common worry for many first-time parents. It can sometimes be stubborn to clear up without help but with a few simple steps, you can manage it easily within your normal routine.

So what can you do to treat it? 

Wash your baby’s hair with a mild, non-medicated shampoo, such as Mustela Newborn Foam Shampoo followed by the Mustela Cradle Cap Cream. Leave the cream on overnight and wipe it off the next morning with a washer dampened with water or wash it off with the shampoo again if you prefer. Repeat this process for 14 days, even if cradle cap seems to disappear as you want to make sure all the fungal/yeast cells have gone.

Continue using the Mustela Newborn Foam Shampoo, made with 99% natural ingredients, in your baby’s bath routine, to help prevent the cradle cap from coming back.

Make sure you do not pick or scratch the scales as that will only cause more irritation and possible infection. 

There really is no guaranteed way to avoid cradle cap, however maintaining good hygiene practices, including washing their hair regularly and brushing it daily will help. 

However, if your at-home remedies don’t seem to be working or the condition gets worse, you should speak with your doctor who may recommend further treatment.