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If your baby is anything like mine, their precious little head smells SO GOOD right after they're born.
And then... as the months go on, these unsightly yellow flakes start to peel off of their scalp.🤢
What is cradle cap?
Cradle cap, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a common skin condition that affects many newborns and young babies. It appears as greasy, yellowish, or brown scaly patches on the baby’s scalp. While it can look concerning, it’s usually harmless and not painful or itchy for your baby.
What causes cradle cap?
Cradle cap happens due to an overproduction of oil (sebum) in the baby’s skin and hair follicles. This can trap dead skin cells, forming those scaly patches. It’s believed that hormones passed from mom to baby during pregnancy might stimulate these oil glands. Cradle cap is not caused by poor hygiene and isn’t contagious.
How can you avoid cradle cap?
While you can’t always prevent cradle cap, maintaining good scalp hygiene and care can reduce the risk of it developing. Here’s what you can do:
Regular Gentle Washing: Wash your baby’s hair and scalp with a gentle baby shampoo 2-3 times per week. Avoid overwashing, as it can dry out the scalp.
Brush the Scalp Gently: Use a soft-bristled baby brush to loosen and remove flakes after washing. This also stimulates circulation in the scalp.
Keep the Scalp Moisturized: A baby-safe moisturizer or natural oil (like coconut or olive oil) can help keep the skin hydrated.
Don’t Overuse Products: Using too many products on your baby’s scalp can lead to buildup. Stick to simple, fragrance-free baby shampoos and oils.
Now the part you've been waiting for...
How to Get Rid of Cradle Cap
If your baby already has cradle cap, you can follow these steps to treat it:
Oil Treatment:
Before bath time, gently massage a small amount of baby oil onto the scalp.
Let it sit for 15-30 minutes to loosen the flakes.
Use a soft baby brush or fine-toothed comb to gently remove loosened flakes.
Shampoo:
Wash the scalp with a gentle, fragrance-free baby shampoo to remove the oil and flakes.
Rinse thoroughly to avoid leaving any residue that could clog pores.
Use Baby Powder:
After rinsing the soap from baby's scalp, sprinkle a little bit of baby powder over the hair. This helps to absorb the remaining oil out of their hair so they don't look greasy. (It smells amazing too!)
Shampoo Again:
Finally, wash baby's scalp one final time with baby shampoo and pat dry.
Cheers to your clean, snuggly baby!
xoxo,
Sierra
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