Why do babies get cradle cap?

baby cradle cap

Everything you need to know about baby cradle cap: causes and symptoms

Your child has been here for a few weeks, and every day,his personality and his body evolve. Especially her baby skin, which is particularly fragile. Today, you discovered small yellow patches on her pretty head? These are cradle cap, the common name given to seborrheic dermatitis. We tell you everything you need to know to master the subject.

Small babies can sometimes have cradle cap during the first few months after birth. If you notice that your child's scalp or face has some, don't worry. It is a common skin condition in little ones that can be treated easily. Zoom in on the characteristics of cradle cap, the causes of its appearance and the solutions to limit it and make it disappear.

How to recognize cradle cap in a baby?

What does cradle cap look like?

Cradle cap forms small, rough patches, with a yellowish-brown appearance and a little greasy to the touch.

Over the days, cradle cap dries out to form scales (also called squames) that fall off naturally. Does a few baby hairs appear at the same time? No problem, they will grow back without any problem.

Forehead, skull, head, hair, eyebrows... where is cradle cap located?

Cradle cap loves to settle on the baby's scalp. It can also be present on the upper part of the face, and sometimes goes down to the eyebrows. It is more rarely found on the body of children, particularly the armpits or the bottom.

When does cradle cap appear in babies?

Cradle cap can appear very early, from the first weeks of a baby's life. They last from a few days to a few months. They affect about two thirds of babies.

Until what age can babies have cradle cap?

Cradle cap usually ends up disappearing completely around 2 years old... even if sometimes, it likes to play extra time!

Is cradle cap caused by the milk I give my baby?

What is the connection between the formation of these crusts on your baby's head and milk, whether breast or infant formula? Absolutely none! So there is no point in changing your little one's diet, unless your doctor recommends it. In fact, this name comes from the resemblance of this skin manifestation to a few drops of milk that have overflowed from the pan and dried on a baking sheet.

What causes cradle cap in babies?

Is it linked to a lack of hygiene?

Since it does not come from milk, is it due to a lack of hygiene? Not at all! The frequency of bathing has nothing to do with it, cradle cap is a bit like dandruff in adults. It is the result of a natural reaction of the skin, and has nothing to do with a lack of hygiene.

Hormones, hyperseborrhea and cradle cap

Cradle cap is due to excessive sebum secretion in babies: the sebaceous glands that produce the lipid film on the skin to protect it, are very active. Hence the appearance, in certain places, of oily areas that stick dead cells. Thus trapped, these cells form these small crusts, mainly on the scalp.

And why are the sebaceous glands over-productive? Because of pregnancy hormones! Did you think you were done with them? You, perhaps, but not your baby yet, who has not necessarily eliminated them all in his body. However, good news: this means that when they have definitely disappeared, so will the cradle cap.

In the meantime, this hyperseborrhea promotes the development of a yeast that we all have on our skin: Malassezia Furfur. The proliferation of this yeast also contributes to the appearance of cradle cap by causing a skin reaction in the baby.

To summarize, the maternal hormones present in your baby's body stimulate their sebaceous glands too much, which encourages the presence of Malassezia Furfur. Ideal conditions to tickle the skin, and more particularly the scalp of your child, which responds by creating these famous cradle caps, also called "seborrheic dermatitis".

My baby has cradle cap: should I be worried? How can I get rid of it?

Two thirds of babies are affected: it is very common and completely benign, so don't worry! Cradle cap forms superficial patches, unsightly but not painful. They have nothing to do with atopic dermatitis or eczema, a skin disease also common in infants.

However, cradle cap can cause discomfort such as itching, and can sometimes be colonized by bacteria or fungi. It is possible to promote the elimination of cradle cap by adopting a specific care routine, including a shampoo suitable for washing the hair and a localized treatment.

Simple actions can limit the appearance of cradle cap on babies. To do this, you must:

• Clean your baby's scalp every day;
• Use a gentle shampoo to prevent cradle cap;
• Gently massage the scalp.

Finish this treatment by carefully brushing your baby's hair with a soft hairbrush.

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