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Cradle Cap
Cradle cap is a form of seborrheic dermatitis in which crusty, yellowish scales accumulate on a baby's scalp. Cradle cap is very common, affecting some 50 percent of newborns during the first few months of life.
Although somewhat unsightly, cradle cap is harmless; it causes no discomfort or itching and rapidly disappears with proper scalp hygiene.
The cause is unknown but is probably linked to the oil-producing sebaceous glands, which are located primarily on the scalp, face and genitals. During early infancy, these glands are very active and secrete excessive quantities of sebum, a mixture of cellular debris and fat. If the hair is infrequently shampooed, sebum accumulates on the scalp and causes cradle cap.
Parents sometimes inadvertently set the stage for cradle cap by failing to wash their newborn's scalp thoroughly for fear of injuring the fontanelle, or soft spot. The skin covering the fontanelle is just as resilient as the rest of a baby's skin, however, and will not tear or puncture easily.
How to tell if baby has cradle cap? If you notice yellowish, greasy-looking, scaly patches on the baby's scalp, cradle cap is probably the cause. Occasionally, scaling can also be seen around the hairline, nose, ears and eyelids. The condition usually develops in the first few weeks of life and disappears after a few months, but-if the scalp is not kept thoroughly clean it can continue to recur throughout the first year of life.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Cradle cap: Mix (?) drop grapefruit seed extract in a little oil and rub into the head until condition clears up.
