Help! Weeping scalp from cradle cap

[4fullstop]

My DS is 3.5 months & has shocking eczema all over, which I'm slowly bringing under control with mild steroid creams (and other constant management). His cradle cap is horrendous, goes really flaky & crusty constantly. We put olive oil or Dermaveen bath oil on his scalp, leave for an hour or so, then bathe him, & give his scalp a good hard rub with the washcloth to remove the crusty bits :eek: This has been working ok - his scalp will look alright for maybe 10 hours, before going flaky/crusty again. But now it's starting to get weepy - like his skin isn't regenerating as fast as it's flaking away :confused: Any suggestions wat I can do - put on it? I don't want to rub it so hard in case this irritates it more..... But don't want to leave the yucky bit on there either (he gets smelly! :()

We're seeing a dermatologist, but not for another 3 weeks, so any advice is appreciated!

[missie_mack]

I would stop rubbing it as weeping is a sign of infection. Give the dermaveen a break use some bicarb and see if that helps the weeping heal a little. I even went as far with DS to use bicarb as a gentle exfoliant on his scalp and then used the steriods after patting dry.

Hope your bubba improves soon, it sounds painful for everyone :(

[Ana Gram]

Missie mack is right, weeping is usually infection and if it is smelly, that is another sign.

Go to the doctor to check for infection as you will need antibiotics to clear it.

[4fullstop]

:crying: Sounds like I've made him worse! Thanks for the advice - will get to the Dr's again.

I steer clear of bicarb - tried it with DD2, and it nearly scalped her - went SO dry & red, it was horrible. But I have heard a lot of others use it... just not for my kids!

[SuperGranny]

hi ,, I think I would use the olive oil by the bottle. I think that would be the more gentle way to soften the scabs so they could be washed off without much rubbing. Marie.

[BabyPaparazzi]

Try using just a sorbolene cream, but apply it multiple times through the day and let it soak in, then use the deermaveen to wash it out in the bath. Try not to rub it hard, it will stimulate the scalp more. You can use a fine tipped brush to gently lift it by running in the opposite direction. It can take a few days of treating like this before it starts to go away.

[missie_mack]

I steer clear of bicarb - tried it with DD2, and it nearly scalped her - went SO dry & red, it was horrible. But I have heard a lot of others use it... just not for my kids!

Bicarb in the bathwater will help with healing though and make the water soft. If your nearly scalped for DD last time you used it I would guess you rubbed too hard and too long. But at least use it for the bathwater as it will aid the healing and dry up the weeping. I've used it quite successfully after major issues include my CS scar and a major burn that took up my whole foot on advice from my skin specialist (I have terrible issues with my skin and can't use anything like dermaveen when it is playing up)

[Linda01]

I used to use heaps and heaps of olive oil on my ds at first as that was advised. He had it really bad too and would get weepy and smelly. I look back at pics and think my poor poor baby, he looked so bad with his cradle cap but now he is as smooth as a babies behind lol. It will get better with time.

Dermeze worked wonderfully.

Trial and error, its different for everyone

[Amara]

My son had horrendous cradle cap and dermAveen on its own fixed it up. I would not mix it with olive oil. Olive oil made my son's worse. I also did not scrub it. Just oiled it left it and washed it off.

[c38]

Olive oil sometimes makes eczema worse as it may be a triiger factor.

See your GP he may have a bacterial or fungal infection that needs specific treatment, such as antibiotics or an antifungal.
Meanwhile, just oil in the bath and an intense moisturiser like Dermeze or QV Intensive, also the steroid and maybe an anti fungal if prescribed



Some generic info here
http://www.allergy.org.au/content/view/173/148/

http://www.eczema.org.au/

And these are an Action Plan and general Care Plan you could print out and get the Dermatologist to go through and fill in with you.

http://www.allergy.org.au/images/stories/aer/infobulletins/pdf/ascia_eczema_action_plan_2008.pdf

http://www.allergy.org.au/images/stories/aer/infobulletins/pdf/ascia_eczema_care_plan_2008.pdf

[Ana Gram]

It is going to be different for everyone which is the most annoying thing about it. It is very important to NOT put anything on the weeping eczema in case it is infected, as that will just make matters worse.

We have recently tried hazelwood. We are at the point after nearly 7 years, where we try everything. It was supposed to be a hazelwood necklace but it was too small to fit over DD's head, so she wears it as a bracelet and it has cleared up the eczema on her legs and arms. So I have ordered a bigger one for a necklace to see if it works on her face and scalp.

[Mischief]

I would stop rubbing it as weeping is a sign of infection. Give the dermaveen a break use some bicarb and see if that helps the weeping heal a little. I even went as far with DS to use bicarb as a gentle exfoliant on his scalp and then used the steriods after patting dry.

Hope your bubba improves soon, it sounds painful for everyone :(
Definitely use bicarb, it works the best of anything. :hugs:

[Maximum22]

Hi have you tried the baby brand mustela? They sell it at alot of pharmacys it's a really fabulous gentle brand of baby shampoo, wash, nappy rash cream cradle cap cream ect... It's a little bit more expensive but it really works, get your son checked for infection first by the doc but I really recommend this stuff!!! It's worth it's weight in gold :) hope he gets better xo

[The C Team]

I've heard that popping a asprin (the fizzy kind) into the shampoo and then placing it onto the head is a gentle way to lift cradle cap.
Good luck!

[4fullstop]

Thank you again everyone! As someone has said - it's hard because all kids react differently to different things. I'll try the bicarb in the bathwater - I'd been told to put it on the scalp as a paste - maybe that made it too strong!

My poor poor bubba - he got a mitten off yesterday and scratched and scratched until 1 side of his scalp was just shredded and covered in blood. When I went to get him from his cot he'd rubbed blood all down his face too :crying: He's now got a moisturising dressing on, and his poor little head is swathed in bandages :crying: Doesn't seem to be bothering him, but it's killing me. He's on antibiotics & has had a swab of the weepy scalp fluids sent off for testing.

So thank you all for your advice... Will have new plans of action once the bandages are off!

[tomtom]

Hi have you tried the baby brand mustela? They sell it at alot of pharmacys it's a really fabulous gentle brand of baby shampoo, wash, nappy rash cream cradle cap cream ect... It's a little bit more expensive but it really works, get your son checked for infection first by the doc but I really recommend this stuff!!! It's worth it's weight in gold :) hope he gets better xo

I used Mustela after a miriad of things and found this to be best for us. It's hypoallergenic I paid around $17 and very worth it. The distributers are Making a Splash Pty Ltd. You could check out there website and see if there is a stockist near you.

Good luck I hope you find something for your bubba

[pinkbella]

Olive oil made DDs worse!!

DD ended up with eczema so she's had to use steroid cream... Along with prescription formula to clear it up.
She still constantly screened her head if she's tired or fustrated. Dr reckons it's now a habit rather than it actually being itchy.

When her skins really bad we use dermeze and keep her wrapped until it soaks in.
When it isnt too bad we massage QV cream then Alpha Kerri Rich Cream 5 mins after and it seems to work!

Hope you find a solution soon. It's so distressing isn't it :(

DD is 8.5 months now n won't crawl cause She just rubs her head on the floor :(

[pinkbella]

Mistake didn't help as used that at the hospital since birth. Paed said to steer clear of any creams with perfume as it can make eczema much worse.

Also cetaphil works for some but it has sweet almond oil in it. Lucky I didn't try it as DD tested positive for almond allergy!!

[4fullstop]

Mustela's no good for him - I got samples in the Bounty Bag from hospital, and maybe it was the perfume in it, but it made him much redder :( I'd love a baby who could smell like all the beautiful baby washes!

[Ana Gram]

It is heart breaking :hugs: But those of with kids with eczema completely understand.

DD has always had scalp eczema that has gotten worse over the years because it is so hard to treat because of the hair. She went to her dad's house last week and they didn't do the current treatment we are using (which is almond oil) and we are back to square one as she has ripped her scalp apart.

[Ana Gram]

Mustela's no good for him - I got samples in the Bounty Bag from hospital, and maybe it was the perfume in it, but it made him much redder :( I'd love a baby who could smell like all the beautiful baby washes!

Yep, anything with fragrance was a problem for us too, just made it ten times worse. And anything with tons of chemicals - apart from the steroid cream.

[pinkbella]

It is heart breaking :hugs: But those of with kids with eczema completely understand.

DD has always had scalp eczemab that has gotten worse over the years because it is so hard to treat because of the hair. She went to her dad's house last week and they didn't do the current treatment we are using (which is almond oil) and we are back to square one as she has ripped her scalp apart.




My DD still has no hair cause it's so raw from her scratching it!!!! :(

How do u ladies stop bub from scratching at night? DD is still wrapped n in a woombie she learnt how to reach her face even in the woombie!!!!

[4fullstop]

How do u ladies stop bub from scratching at night?
I put mittens on & he's swaddled, but he escapes & the mittens come off :(
I've been thinking of cutting the legs off a Bonds Wondersuit (coz it's too hot) and using it as a top - because you can fold the ends of the sleeves over like mittens, and I think they'd be pretty hard to escape :laughing: Can still rub, but not scratch with nails at least. I'm open to other suggestions!