How to get rid of cradle cap fast

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As a doula and mother of two, cradle cap is something I deal with all the time. I love to present my clients with a good solution for their problem so off I went to find the best way to treat cradle cap in newborns. Cradle cap appears usually within the first few weeks but can show up anytime during the first 12 months. While it typically can clear up on its own within a year, parents often want to get rid of it as soon as possible.

What is cradle cap?

Cradle cap is a thick, yellow, scaly layer that appears most commonly on the babies scalp but can also show up on eyebrows, forehead, around the nose and behind the ears. The main difference to dry skin is the consistency. While dry skin is often flakey and - well - dry, cradle cap can bel slightly oily or sticky when removed from the skin.

Why did my baby get cradle cap?

Cradle cap has nothing to do with baby’s hygiene and its not contagious, it’s simply a reaction triggered by leftover hormones that triggers baby’s oil glands and sends them into production overdrive. Often paired with yeast overgrowth that can cause an inflammatory reaction, it’s just a normal occurrence while baby’s body adjusts to being on the outside.

Should I be worried about my baby’s cradle cap?

There is no reason to be worried about your baby’s cradle cap to begin with. However, if your baby seems uncomfortable, the scales appear on other body parts, are bleeding or leaking fluid or if is no Improvement after trying at home treatments - it’s time to contact your GP.

So how do I get rid of cradle cap?

There are several ways of treating cradle cap, for the skin picker under us, you technically CAN carefully pick off the scales but due to the risk of damaging the skin and causing infection this is not recommended.

There is an abundance of products available to treat cradle cap, starting with cradle cap shampoo, brushes, sponges and combs, But my number one treatment for cradle cap in babies is a combination of the Neals yard baby massage oil and a silicone cradle cap brush. All you have to do is to put a drop of the oil on the silicone brush and gently massage It over the affected areas before washing it off. (please be extra cautious if you are using it around the eyebrow area) You can do this during bath time or even put the oil on a while before the bath to give it some more time to soak in. How long it takes for the cradle cap to disappear depends on the severity but I have seen cradle cap completely vanish within 1-2 weeks if this method was used daily!

*This is not medical advice, please consult your GP if you are unsure about your baby’s cradle cap

** Always make sure to patch test any oils and ointments to rule out allergies