Toddler cradle cap

[draught]

Does anyone have suggestions of how to treat cradle cap in a toddler? My 2 1/2 year old has had a low level of cradle cap most of her life. I thought it had gone away when her hair started growing, but have realised that it is still there - lots of scaly, scabby patches on top of her head. I have started combing it to try and move bits, but that isn't really treating it so any suggestions on how to get rid of it would be appreciated!

[mummy_to_4]

Ive heard rubbing olive oil into their scalp and leaving it for a lengthy period like over night helps as it softens the craddle cap and lifts it. In the morning comb through the hair and then rinse with water. You may need to do it a few times before the craddle cap is full gone.

[bb]

Hi !

I have been told two things about cradle cap ...

1 ... that there is nothing you can do to avoid it, or treat it, and

2 ... that if you ensure that the child's head is really, really, really well rinsed after having hair washed, and treated with some oil (I use baby oil with aloe vera on a cotton wool ball), it can be helped.

I am not sure which I believe, but being an optimist, I am giving the oil treatment a go with Master Hamish, and so far, so good !

Hope this helps !

B

[Chickadee]

Dealing with cradle cap once bub has a full head of hair is a test of patience. My Chloe has also had low level problems from an early age and too much hair. I tried the olive oil - it was hard to get it down to the scalp and she just ended up with a mass of greasy hair. Instead what I did was just to slowly & gently loosen the worst crusts, either with my fingernails or a comb, just after washing her hair so that it would be softened. I'd work in sections or patches, it would take half a dozen to a dozen sessions to really clear it if the crusts were bad. Chloe hated it, we usually did it in front of the tv to keep her distracted and happy.

For "maintenance" now, I just inspect regularly to catch it early & if necessary give her head a fingertip massage/gentle scratch to loosen crusts. I've found it forms first on her soft spot so tend to watch there most closely, but perhaps that's just her.

[draught]

Thanks all. I will just have to be persistent!

[pinkandblue]

A friend of mine used Egozit (I think this is what is called, you buy it at the chemist) on her 5 month old because he had really bad cradle cap. It cleared it up really well but most of his hair fell out as well.

You could give that a go but I'm not sure if your daughters hair will fall out though?

[willsmum]

Hi Draught,

One of Kaz Cooke's books recommends making a runny paste with bicarbonate of soda and water and rubbing this in. Leave for a few minutes then rinse out.

I tried this with Charli and it softened the crusts enough to pick a few off. I've done it a few times now and it seems to be helping. Also her hair is very soft now.

And it is a lot les messy than olive oil all over your pillow cases!

Vicky

[draught]

Thanks Vicky - that sounds like a much easier option!

[lucyp]

My little man also had cradle cap till recently - and we tried many remedies - but the one that really worked very well was by chance! I rubbed it into his hair and scalp a product called "Apres - The Ultimate Moisturiser" From Lanni (it is actually an oil)- It is totally safe to use on bubs and has worked a real treat on the cradle crap within days! Its also good for strectch marks,sun burn, and a multitude of other goodies. I think you can get it from most chemists or DJ's.

:)

[Ana Gram]

When does it go from cradle cap to dandruff??

My daughter has the same problem, I have found that washing her hair with Curash baby bath and then massaging baby oil into her head really helps. It hasn't gone completely though

[mumof2girls]

Just a quick question, are you sure it is cradle cap? I thought this about my daughter when she was younger and tried all the remedies out there but none helped. I found out later that it was actually psoriasis (sp) and the shampoo head & shoulders have fixed her problem after a couple of washes. Not sure if this will help you but thought would add it anyway :)

[draught]

How do you tell the difference? I have just assumed it was cradle cap because I didn't know that there were options!

[nemosmum]

my son had vey bad cradle cap when he was a very young baby also. I tried everything from old wives tales to the latest ideas but nothing worked-it just went from bad to worse. Then when he was 7 months old we got him allergy tested as he also had eczema. We found out that he had allergies and that it wasnt just cradle cap it was also eczema on his scalp -we noticed that he had started pulling at his hair and scratching his scalp alot. We have tried all sorts of treatments with no success. So last week after his first b'day we shaved his head in order to get to the problem (due to the fact that his had a full head of thick hair since birth). I have treated his scalp with some eczema cream and he has finally stopped scratching(now his poor litlle head can heal). I still notice a little bit of craddle cap which I cant get rid of either :mad: its so frustrating!!!!!

Orlandosmum

[pregasaurus]

My 6 year old has had what looked like cradle cap all her life, but we've just recently found out it was psoriasis as well. Get your GP to check it out, as on the scalp they tend to look identical. I put olive oil in her hair and leave it for a couple of hours (as I don't like putting the cortisone cream that is treating all her other 'hotspots' in her hair), get a fine toothed comb and get the worst of it off, then rinse in apple cider vinegar (this helps it as well as getting rid of all the oil!). Then shampoo and condition GENTLY as usual (the scalp will be sensitive after all that).

[JJsMamma]

Sorry this is a bit late, my son has had cc until recently i finally got rid of the last of it with the help of his nan. I just used a natural oil massaged into the head, left to soak in and then washed with something mild - i use an organic facial milk cleanser for his hair actually and then gently we lifted up the remainder of it. I had read it can be due to the mother ingesting dairy if you are BF, blocked oil glands/ducts and hot/sweating heads. So far it hasnt come back! Looks and smells so much better and Im sure he feels better for it. It wouldnt have come up sooner if he would sit still and let me lol.

[draught]

Thanks all for the tips. I am thinking it might be psoriasis as she has had it for over two years, but it never builds up and gets smelly - it just stays dry and flaky and thick. I will get the GP to check it next time we are in the area.
of course then we have the problem that she hates having her hair washed, or brushed......so any treatment will be fun (not)!

[JJsMamma]

Hi, you could try calendula oil by weleda - I use that and have had great results. There is also a range that caters to psoriasis/eczema and I use the Calendula Cream - also good. Contains antibacterial ingredients such as calendula and manuka honey. Can find in an health food store. I have read psoriasis/eczema may be related to allergys so could take her to a Naturopath? Hope this helps Amanda

[xkwzit]

Hi Draught
DD1 also had toddler cradle cap. To me it looked very diffferent to dandruf, because the scaley bits were fairly thick and looked yellow and were not flakey and dry. I didn't notice it being smelly.

My books didn't help at all because they said that cradle cap was v rare in toddlers. She had probably had it for ages, but it wasn't till I started putting her hair up in pigtails that I noticed it (it was right on the top of her head).

I just took to it every day for a while with a fine toothed comb - and once I'd got the worst of it out, it never came back.

Cheers

[draught]

Thanks X - I think I need to work out exactly what it is as I am confusing myself. In the meantime I will keep at it with the comb when she lets me!

[Supermum]

My number 2 cherub was born with a full head of hair and has never lost a strand. At 5 months her cradle cap was quite bad, very yellow and difficult to get to. I wet her hair - rubbed a load of warmed baby sorbolene on her scalp and then I popped her into a bath and played for 20 minutes. I combed it out with a baby comb in the bath and it got most of it off that day, the remainder a week later (I didn't want to irritate her scalp). No one actually told me about it but it worked and it's safe so what the hey!