How to cure itchy head after cradle cap on infant?

Updated on June 06, 2009
N.E. asks from McKinney, TX
31 answers

I hope someone can help/or have experience with this. My 9 month old son had cradle cap as a baby that went away somewhat on his own (with help from me picking of course). Well for the past 5 months his head itches sooo bad that he scratches all day but most intense at night. For this reason he scratches himself awake every 3 hours at night (draining me!). I have seen 2 doctors and a dermatologist and all they keep giving me is steroid and pseudo-steroid creams that do not work and I refuse to keep using. I have tried olive oil, jojoba oil, eucerin, aquaphor, etc all to no avail. The latest dr told me to use good ol' Selson Blue but that still didnt stop the itching/scratching. Anyone else have this issue and/or solution?

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Summary

Some moms suggested that there are a few things to try: This could possibly be an allergy to milk. Try eliminating milk for two weeks. Also, try clothes detergent that is free of perfume. If it didn't work, take your child to a pediatric allergist.

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M.K.

answers from Dallas on

Dear N.,
I have very sinsitive skin. I have tried all the things you have mentioned for itching scalp. The one I have used for years is MEDIDAN. I get it at Sallys . It last for a long time. The bottle is big and it only takes a small amount. Read all the writing on the bottle. You cannot leave out around children. Ask you Doctor if you can use it. I have used it for about eleven years without any side effects.
Good luck
MK

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J.B.

answers from Tyler on

If you don't find anything that gets rid of it, start looking at possible food allergies. Skin issues are most often associated with that.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I don't have experience with a baby ... but personally, my scalp itched...and even my knees itched/scabbed (from crawling on the floor with my kids). My dermatologist recommended Derma-Smooth scalp oil. It really helped...even my knees do not itch any more. After I got my scalp under control, the Derm mentioned I could used Selson Blue (or Head and Shoulders) as an alternate so I didn't have to order so much medicine (derma-smoothe). Sounds like you need to get the itching under control before the SB will work (and actually, you may not need it). Can you inquire whether Derma-Smooth is ok for babies? It has a steroid in it. My derm had samples of it, so it was great to try before you buy. For my babie's mild eczema on her body, we used aquaphor and Aveeno creamy wash.

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J.W.

answers from Dallas on

From my pediatrician, Use nutragina tgel or tsal or selsunblue. Put it on and let it sit for a a few minutes and then rise but be careful not to get it in their eyes because it is not tear free so they will scream.

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L.W.

answers from Dallas on

try boudreaux's butt paste found at wal-mart. it is in a yellow/white/red squeeze tube found in the diaper rash area. also, might try gently washing his hair in palomalive dish detergent... a little dab. years ago, i had an entire body rash. the dermatologist was old school. he prescribed to wash my hair with palomalive dish detergent and bath with a particular soap... and wash my clothes in ivory soap. maybe it was ivory soap to body wash. this was thirty-four years ago!

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L.P.

answers from Amarillo on

buy a small tube of lotrimin Af for feet and a same size tube of name brand antibiotic. Mix the 2 in a container with a lid. A cleaned out baby food jar will work. Every night before bed put this on the craddle cap and rub it in and in the morning us a gentle baby wipe to clean it back off. you must wash their hair every nightthe wiping in the morning is just to make sure there is none they will get on their hands then in their mouth. keep the remaindr. I use my vacuum sealer and put the closed container in a bag till next time I need it. You may want to apply the cream the first time during the day so you can watch and make sure there is no reaction

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C.F.

answers from Dallas on

A few drops of tea tree oil mixed in organic coconut oil (test a small patch to be sure there's not reaction). It'll be a bit oily but should help quickly. Also, if you are nursing, increase the amount of biotin-rich foods you are eating.

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E.F.

answers from Dallas on

Well, this probably won't be a really welcome idea, but my son had cradle cap and eczema from a very early age. His head has had periods of really bad patches, and also of just general itchiness. The best solution that I found was to shave his head. We did this for probably about a year, constantly keeping it short, washing with head and shoulders and applying creams (the short hair allowed us to actually get it on his scalp. Whenever we would let it grow out a bit, it would start itching. Finally, he has a normal little boy cut with a little itching, but nothing too severe, and it's not keeping him up at night. I can sympathize for sure with the frustration, though. Just an idea.

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N.W.

answers from Dallas on

Milk is the most common allegen. If you are nursing you might try a casein free diet for yourself. If formula feeding, try something new, unfortunately soy is the second most common allergen.

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T.Z.

answers from Dallas on

may want to try California Baby Calendula cream...
we just found it via our pediatrician and love it. Everyone I know that has tried it, has had great success with it.
I found it at Target as well as Whole Foods

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

I would suggest sticking with milder baby products like J&J or Aveeno. Have you considered it may be your laundry detergent? Do you use dryer sheets? My middle daughter had skin issues when she was a baby and in the end we just needed to keep using Dreft and not use dryer sheets. What a difference it made! It may also be an allergic reaction, so I would suggest visiting an allergist as well.

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

Creams and lotions are only treating the symptoms, not the underlying problem. To boost his immune system and let his little body heal itself try high quality fish oil and probiotics. I recommend the Projoba line. The fish oil is great, no fishy burps and only $15 a bottle. You can just pierce the capsule and squeeze it into his juice or formula. And the probiotics do not have to be refrigerated; just open a capsule and empty it into his juice or formula also.
While his body heals from the inside treat the symptoms on the outside with one of the Pureworks lotions, foams or sprays.
For more information:
www.projoba.net
www.protectedbypureworks.com
Register as a Preferred Customer for free and get wholesale prices.
Contact me at ____@____.com.

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D.A.

answers from Dallas on

Our hairdresser told us to get Tea Tree Oil and we put a small amount in our sons shampoo and it worked great.

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C.H.

answers from Dallas on

We used plain old cortizone per our ped. We did try selsun blue and it worked alright, but the ointment helped the most. Also, not bathing everyday helps as well. Bathing dries the skin out, so for babies with naturally dry areas of their skin, it can make the skin itchy and really dry.

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R.H.

answers from Dallas on

We used Cradle Cap Care by Gentle Naturals, it worked great and was not expensive. It's sold at target. Their homeopathic teething drops were great too. I washed his head with that and didn't use anything else. There was lots of flaking but then it just went away. I wouldn't put products that are not intended for cradle cap on his head. Cradle cap is a natural process and everything you put on his skin is absorbed into his bloodstream. He's too young to be subjected to harsh chemicals that have nothing to do with his condition-which is natural. Why subject his little body lice pesticides? Kudos for trying all the natural healthy oils. If you want to give him some essential fatty acids that are good for the skin and brain and nervous system-one tablespoon of Flax Oil per 32oz of milk is great. If you are nursing and you take two tablespoons a day it will be in your milk. Don't do the fish oils-a lot are contaminated with mercury. Only one company goes the extra mile to test it's fish oil and reject batches with mercury but I forget which company.

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K.F.

answers from Dallas on

I did not read the other responses so this may be repetitive. Both of my kids had bad cradle cap and we just used baby oil and it seemed to help alot.

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T.K.

answers from Dallas on

my daughter does the same thing but hers is excezma. So I assume with the steriod ointments the dr. gave you he probably thought it was that. The selson blue actually worked but, I have to keep her scalp oiled constantly. Also have to keep her nails cut. Other thing...have you checked for Lice? If none of this is working there is always a possibility of that. Before I tried the dandruff shampoo I wondered if it was lice my daughter had. Dandruff shampoo won't stop the itching if it is lice. hope this helps!

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter had this bad and Mustela cradle cap shampoo made it way WORSE. I took her to the doctor and she put her on fish oil supplements and it cleared up. Tastes nasty but we would sneak it in her bottles.

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R.C.

answers from Dallas on

I think the soap makes a difference for my son. He gets that behind his ears and scratches them through the night. It gets worse when I use certain brands of soap, like Johnson's. Shaklee just came out with a 99% natural line of baby care products. I use their Small Wonders tear-free soap and am trying this next. http://www.shaklee.net/recipeforhealth/product/30108

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R.D.

answers from Dallas on

N., he might have excezma. Try using the baby oil gel, it has a petroleum base and that might help add a little moisture to his head. Also steer clear of anything with perfumes in it. When you was his hair use a little Selson Blue, be careful because it will burn if it gets in his eyes. Wash his hair 2 times a week...too much washing could really dry it out causing more damage. It takes a minute for the scalp to get adjusted to the change so you've got to keep it up. Ask the doctors for ointments, NO creams! Triemcenalone (sp) worked really well for my children. Also there is a shampoo with oatmeal in it, I think it's Aveeno, they also make a body wash. I bathed my kids in the powder because I liked for it to be mixed in the water so it could soothe their entire body. Hope this helps.

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L.W.

answers from Dallas on

Hi N.,
I've had family members who have had itching scalp problems but not a baby, yet. I have used Scalpicin on all my family members with an itchy scalp problem with great sucess. It seems once the itch was stopped for a while the need to scratch was no longer there. Now, you might want to discuss the use of such with your son's pediatrician or your pharmacist. The pedciatician will probably want to know the ingredients so you might have to buy a bottle to be able to read them. Good luck.
L.

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J.W.

answers from Dallas on

Have you tried Dr. Ghali in Grapevine? I know it is a haul but he can figure it out..what ever is going on. Also, not sure if Dermasmoothe is an option. It requires a prescription.

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S.S.

answers from Dallas on

We used Tea Tree Oil when our daughter had cradle cap. It worked within a few days. You can find it at health food stores like GNC, etc.

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E.J.

answers from Dallas on

Go to the beauty store and salon and get the fairytale products. They are for lice, I know he doesn't have that but this line is amazing for the scalp. Let me know if you need more info by emailing me ____@____.com

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C.S.

answers from Dallas on

Hi N., Just a few things to try: This could possibly be an allergy to milk. Try eliminating milk for two weeks. In my opinon the steriods will not help at all, why do they still prescribe these (grrr). I had eczema for many years and it went away mostly after eliminating milk. I use a natural cream to help when I do have flare ups (have not given up ice cream entirely :) I do sell it so understand if you don't want to try but I would be happy to send you a sample. You may also want to switch your current shampoo as this could be a culprit. Some brands contain chemicals that can be irritating. Check out this link: http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=147083

p.s. I am currently mad at my man right now too! Is there something in the air? haha

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K.P.

answers from Dallas on

Dear N.,
I have some Pure, Safe and Natural baby products from Arbonne that I would be happy to let you use for a week. If they work and you like them, then you can buy them but we will make sure they give you the results you need first. I can drop them off to you tomorrow afternoon if you are close to me. I live in Argyle. If you are not close, I will put them in the mail to you. Let me know if you would like to try them. Arbonne has a fantastic Baby care line that has no animal products, by products and no harmful chemicals.
I hope you will try them for the baby's sake and your sanity!
K. Parker
###-###-####

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S.O.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like an allergy of some kind. We've been very happy with Dr. Homoky at acmhealthsolutions.com. He's successfully treated my hayfever/mold allergies and now he's working with my kids on food allergies. It's accupressure and I was very sceptical at first, but when it worked I became a convert. It is a little bit of an investment, but to avoid all the steriod cremes on a baby would be worth it in my book. Plus, he could tell you what your son is allergic too. It's just about $45 for a visit, including the initial visit where he will figure out what your son is allergic to. G

Good luck

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J.R.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter had the same problem. My solution that worked for me was old fashion Johnson & Johnson's baby oil. I'd rub it on her head, thick layer, massage it in and then I'd put a cap on her and let her sit for an hour. The baby oil loosens the cradle cap, then I'd take a baby brush (the one with the super soft bristles)and rub or scratch her head with it. I would go in circles until the cradle cap was gone. Caution not to rub to long in any one spot because it will bruise her head. Plus the oil stops the itching from the dry scalp. It's like a conditioner however her hair will be a tad bit greasy for a day or two or until you wash it with some adult shampoo. Hope this helps.

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

Don't listen to the doctors on this issue.

For my kids I only use Arbonne Baby Care line. That eliminates the need for rectifying treatments, because with it they don't get the cradle cap or itchy skin anymore.

However, when they do get a hold of normal shampoo, I massage the Arbonne baby oil onto their scalp before bed and wash their hair in the morning with Arbonne Baby Hair and Body Wash. That takes care of it no worries. When they get any eczema patches on their body, I just use the Arbonne Diaper Cream.

That'll do it! (I should sell this stuff, I recommend it so much!!)

God bless,
~A.

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L.T.

answers from Dallas on

When my grandaughter was 4 months old we were visiting my oldest daughter in Conneticut and her neighbors' son had cradle cap and told us about Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap Care(you might have already tried it) they had used on their son. It got rid of the Cradle cap & itching in a weeks time. We found it at Walgreens but it is probable available other places. We used it on my grandaughter and she has not had any problems with her head itching since but it took longer than a week. But now we are battling Eczema.

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S.T.

answers from Dallas on

Have you been to an allergist? Maybe he's allergic to something that he's eating or that is in the house. Try clothes detergent that is free of perfume. Cut out milk/cheese. There are some fruits/veggies that kids are allergic to. Just a though.

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