What Is Cradle Cap?
Cradle cap is the common term for seborrheic dermatitis (seb-eh-REE-ik
dur-muh-TYE-tis) of the scalp in infants.
Seborrheic dermatitis, also called seborrhea (seb-eh-REE-uh), can show up:
- on the forehead and face
- behind the ears
- in the diaper area, armpits, and other skin folds and creases
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis)?
Babies can develop seborrheic dermatitis when they're between 2 weeks and 12 months
old. It usually starts with cradle cap. A baby with cradle cap will have slightly
red scaly or crusty yellow patches on the scalp. It may also start on the face or
diaper area and
spread to other parts of the body.
Seborrhea looks:
- red and moist in skin creases and folds (like the neck and behind the ears)
- yellowish with greasy patches or crusts
- scaly or flaky
Seborrheic dermatitis might look uncomfortable or irritating to the skin. But it
usually isn't itchy and doesn't seem to bother infants.
What Causes Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis)?
The exact cause of cradle cap isn't known. It's likely due to a combination of
things. Too much skin oil (sebum) in the oil glands and hair follicles and a type
of yeast found on the
skin called Malassezia may play roles in the development of seborrheic dermatitis.
How Is Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) Diagnosed?
Health care professionals can diagnose cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis by
the way the skin looks and where the rash is. Babies with seborrheic dermatitis are
usually well and the condition should get better on its own or with treatment.
How Is Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) Treated?
Cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis in infants usually clears up on its own in
weeks or months. In the meantime, you may want to loosen and remove the scales on
your baby's scalp:
- Wash your baby's hair once a day with mild, tear-free baby shampoo.
- Gently remove scales with a soft brush or toothbrush.
- If the scales don't loosen easily, apply a small amount of mineral oil or petroleum
jelly to your baby's scalp. Let the oil to soak into the scales for a few minutes
to several hours, if needed. Then use a soft brush or toothbrush to remove scales.
Shampoo your baby's hair as usual.
If regular shampooing doesn't help, your doctor may recommend a mild steroid cream
or antifungal shampoo.
For seborrhea on other parts of the body, your doctor may recommend a mild steroid
or antifungal cream.
Do not use over-the-counter steroid or antifungal creams or anti-seborrhea shampoos
without checking first with the doctor.
What Else Should I Know?
Sometimes seborrheic dermatitis in the diaper area or skin folds can get infected.
Talk to your doctor if the rash gets worse or there are any signs of infection (the
skin looks red, starts to drain fluid, or feels warm).
Cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis in infants usually get better by 12 months
of age. Seborrhea may come back around puberty as dandruff.
Date reviewed: February 2019
