Cradle Cap./dry Skin?

Updated on April 15, 2011
M.R. asks from Nanuet, NY
12 answers

My 4, almost 5, month old had dry skin on his scalp. He had cradle cap but I'm not sure this is that anymore because it's not oily its more dry and flaky. Any tips for what I can use on head since it's under his hair?
Thanks

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K.C.

answers from Chicago on

Hi, my son had the same thing. I used baby oil on his head, brushed it over the scalp and it loosened the dry skin and flaked off. It would come back periodically but then just went away for good.
Good luck!

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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

All of my kids had cradle cap and it was dry and flaky (never oily). I use Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns. You can get it at Babies R Us.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Phoenix on

Baby oil and a baby brush. That did the trick for my daughter

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M.B.

answers from Rochester on

M.,
You don't need anything special, in fact you don't have to do anything about it. Rinsing it with water is the best; patting down his hair with a wet washcloth is okay too. I wouldn't use any soap with SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) in it, or propylene glycol, among other things, because they are NOT good for your baby! regardless of whether it is 'formulated' for baby or not. FDA does not have restrictions on what can go ON your (or your baby's) body, only IN it.

Look up some of the stuff in your baby shampoos and soaps online, and likely you would not use them again. Even on your pets. I have a nicely scented and scrubbed toilet now.

good luck,
M.

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

We were told to use dandriff shampoo. So our LO got head and sholders for months after birth. :)

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J.C.

answers from New York on

Call the dr. ans ask if you can use Nizoral - it works GREAT!

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J.C.

answers from New York on

my daughter had the same issue at about 2 months. my mom ( a pediatric nurse) placed a nice thin layer of extra virgin olive oil on her scalp right up to the hair line and let it sit for about 15 minutes. then she took a fine toothed baby comb and combed the gook out. the flakes come out with oil. she would clean the comb on paper towels and just keep combing over and over and cleaning til it was all gone. do this gently of course. afterwards she shampooed with baby shampoo. and that was that. it was all gone! good luck!

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C.M.

answers from New York on

My son had cradle cap as well. Unfortunately, know matter what I did, it always came back. It finally went away for good when he was around 6 months. Hang in there! Its not gonna last forever.

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

The only thing that worked for my little guy was hydrocortizone cream.

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R..

answers from Chattanooga on

I always used a soft-britstled toothbrush when she is in the bathtub to gently scrub her head. When her hair is dry, I will use it to flake off the bigger flakes that come off easily. Works for me. :)

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A.H.

answers from New York on

My pediatrician recommended Head and Shoulders for my daughter when she was about that age.

C.F.

answers from Boston on

I would slather his head with baby oil ( put it on a cotton ball and just rub it all over his head) before bed time and in the morning brush it out w/ a tiny comb, gently and it would help A lot! You're going to have to probably do it a few times but it works awesome !! good luck

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