SlashHair.net

The sex, politics, religion and philosophy of fashion, esp. of hair, by session hairdresser and stylist Ian Robson

Home Resume Prices Cotswold Dates Contact Articles

INFANTILE SEBORRHOEIC DERMATITIS

First of all it's important for me to say that these are *my* views on cradle cap. Should you have any doubts, take your baby to the doctor.

Identification of Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is found on the babies scalp. It's a scalp condition. It shows it's self as: thick, yellow, greasy, crusty, scaling flakes of dead skin on the scalp. A lot like a bad case of dandruff. Sometimes there is a little redness and it can occasionally be found in the eyebrows, eyelids, forehead, ears, behind the ears and the nape of the neck. The condition is temporary, harmless, not itchy and not distressing for the baby, 'only for the mother!'

"The cause of cradle cap is unknown". Quite. I think that *one* of the causes is simple. Alkaline. When a baby is born 'she' emerges from an acid environment. Her skin is slightly acid. Soap is normally alkaline. A chemical reaction occurs on the new skin. The skin becomes dry. Fat secreted by the sebaceous gland gets trapped under and/or combines with the dry skin and there you have the problem. It's possible in severe cases for a slight fungal infection to occur.

Treatment of Cradle Cap

Very Simple. Use an acid balanced shampoo (PH 5.5 - 5.6) especially formulated for babies and children i.e. Urtekram Children's Shampoo from day 1. Urtekram Children's Shampoo is perfect for newly born babies hair and skin. Shampoo the hair and scalp properly! Method: Put a small amount of Urtekram shampoo in the palm of your hand. Rub hands together and apply to the babies hair. Massage gently into the scalp being careful on the soft fontanelle. Rinse very well with clean warm water. Repeat using slightly less Urtekram shampoo. You can wash the hair every day to start with. Then, after the cradle cap has cleared up, three times a week is about normal. It may take two people to wash the babies hair. One to support the baby, one to wash.
If the baby has red, dry patches on her body, use the Urtekram soap.

My Advice

Don't rub in any oil to loosen the skin.
Don't use a soft brush to wash the hair.
Don't use any form of medicated or anti-dandruff shampoo containing sulphur or salicylic acid unless prescribed by your doctor/paediatrician.
Don't rinse the babies hair in the dirty bath water.

SlashHair.net

INFANTILE SEBORRHOEIC DERMATITIS

Identification of Cradle Cap

Treatment of Cradle Cap

My Advice

Further Reading