How To Get Rid Of Cradle Cap In Toddlers

As a mom, you might be very explicit concerning the well being and well-being of your little munchkin. And if you discover yellowish and scaly patches on its tiny head, you begin panicking. Well, there may be nothing a lot to fret as it is a pores and skin situation referred to as cradle cap. It will not be as unhealthy because it appears to be like, and as a rule, it disappears by itself. However, we perceive your concern and have to eliminate it on the earliest. Just a little endurance, time, and energy, together with some pure cures, are all you require to eliminate cradle cap for good. Scroll all the way down to learn how.

Table Of Contents

What Is Cradle Cap?
What Causes Cradle Cap?
Signs And Symptoms Of Cradle Cap
Age Group Affected By Cradle Cap
How To Get Rid Of Cradle Cap Naturally
How To Prevent Cradle Cap

What Is Cradle Cap?

Cradle cap is a medical situation that causes crusty or oily and scaly patches on a child’s scalp. It is medically referred to as childish seborrheic dermatitis. Although it’s not itchy, it might probably trigger thick white or yellow scales which are tough to eliminate.

The precise reason for cradle cap is unknown. However, there are are a few components that may very well be the culprits. They are mentioned intimately under.

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What Causes Cradle Cap?

Two causes that may very well be the contributing components for cradle cap in toddlers are:

• Hormones which are handed from the mom to the newborn earlier than beginning. These hormones might set off an excessive amount of manufacturing of oil within the oil glands and hair follicles.
• A yeast (fungus) referred to as Malassezia that grows within the sebum throughout the hair follicles, together with micro organism.

Adults may also develop cradle cap. But after they develop the same situation, it’s generally referred to as dandruff or seborrhoea. The precise reason for this situation additionally stays unknown. Nonetheless, Malassezia furfur, the identical fungus answerable for cradle cap in infants, is assumed to play a job within the growth of seborrhoea.

So, what are the indicators and signs of this situation?

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Signs And Symptoms Of Cradle Cap

The commonest signs of cradle cap are:

• Patchy scales or thick crusts on the scalp
• Oily or dry pores and skin on the scalp, typically lined with thick white or yellow scales
• Flaky pores and skin
• Mild redness (in some instances)
• Presence of comparable flakes on the eyelids, ears, nostril, and groin

Let us now have a look at the age teams which are susceptible to creating cradle cap.

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Age Group Affected By Cradle Cap

Babies aged between two weeks and three months are on the highest danger of creating cradle cap. Although normally, cradle cap disappears earlier than the newborn completes one yr, it can be seen in infants above 12 months.

The unpleasant look is greater than sufficient purpose for desirous to eliminate cradle cap. If your child has ended up creating this situation, don’t fear. Given under are a few of the greatest dwelling cures that may assist in treating cradle cap naturally.

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How To Get Rid Of Cradle Cap Naturally

1. Coconut Oil
2. Baking Soda
3. Breast Milk
4. Essential Oils
5. Vaseline
6. Lemon Juice
7. Almond Oil
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
9. Aloe Vera
10. Argan Oil
11. Castor Oil
12. Olive Oil

Home Remedies To Treat Cradle Cap In Infants

1. Coconut Oil

You Will Need

Coconut oil (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Massage slightly coconut oil gently into your child’s scalp.
2. Leave it on for 20 minutes earlier than washing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this as soon as day by day.

Why This Works

Coconut oil is broadly used for its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties (1), (2). It moisturizes and softens the scaly scalp, reduces irritation, and fights microbial infections (if any).

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2. Baking Soda

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 2 teaspoons of water

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with some water to kind a paste.
2. Apply this paste to your child’s scalp and go away it on
3. for a minute or two.
4. Wash it off.

How Often You Should Do This

You should do that as soon as day by day, ideally earlier than bathing your child.

Why This Works

The anti-inflammatory and neutralizing properties of baking soda assist restore the pure pH of your child’s scalp (3). This, in flip, helps scale back the flakiness. Baking soda additionally has antibacterial properties that remove any microbes current within the scalp (4).

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3. Breast Milk

You Will Need

Just a few drops of breast milk

What You Have To Do

1. Take just a few drops of breast milk and gently apply it to your child’s scalp.
2. Leave it on for a couple of minutes earlier than washing it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You should do that as soon as day by day.

Why This Works

Breast milk is a wealthy supply of varied antibodies that increase your child’s immunity (5). Its topical software softens the dry and scaly scalp, thereby making the elimination of the flakes simpler (6).

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4. Essential Oils

a. Tea Tree Oil

You Will Need

• 2 drops of tea tree oil
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Add two drops of tea tree oil to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and blend nicely.
2. Apply this combination on to the scalp.
3. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Wash it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this as soon as day by day.

Why This Works

Tea tree oil is broadly used for treating numerous pores and skin illnesses on account of its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (7). The antifungal properties of tea tree oil remove the Malassezia species of fungi, which is likely one of the causes of cradle cap (8).

b. Lavender Oil

You Will Need

• 2 drops of lavender oil
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix two drops of lavender oil with two drops of coconut oil.
2. Apply the combination to your toddler’s scalp.
3. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes after which bathe your child.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this day by day.

Why This Works

The antifungal properties of lavender oil battle the fungi which are answerable for the formation of cradle cap (9). It may also assist in softening the scales and make their elimination simpler.

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5. Vaseline

You Will Need

Vaseline (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Apply some Vaseline to your child’s scalp.
2. Leave it on for an hour or two, after which you’ll be able to brush your child’s scalp gently.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this day by day for every week.

Why This Works

Vaseline has wonderful moisturizing properties that may soften the dry and scaly scalp of your infant. The softened flakes fall off simply, and the cradle cap will vanish in every week (10).

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6. Lemon Juice

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice with two teaspoons of coconut oil.
2. Apply this combination to your toddler’s scalp.
3. You may also scrub evenly with a lemon peel to dislodge the flakes.
4. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes after which wash it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this as soon as day by day or each alternate day.

Why This Works

Lemon has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and bactericidal properties that may assist in combating seborrheic dermatitis-causing yeast and micro organism on the scalp (11), (12).

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7. Almond Oil

You Will Need

Almond oil (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Apply slightly almond oil to your scalp and therapeutic massage gently.
2. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Using a gentle brush, gently comb your child’s scalp.
4. Once the oily flakes come off, you possibly can bathe your child.

How Often You Should Do This

You should do that at the very least as soon as day by day.

Why This Works

Almond oil is shortly absorbed by the pores and skin. It can assist dislodge the particles and flakes from the hair follicles, thus serving to you eliminate cradle cap. It additionally has anti-inflammatory properties and can assist soothe any irritation in your child’s scalp (13), (14).

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8. Apple Cider Vinegar

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of water

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons of water.
2. Apply this combination to your child’s scalp.
3. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes after which wash it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You should do that twice every week for two to three weeks.

Why This Works

The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar performs an vital function in eliminating cradle cap. ACV restores the misplaced pH of your child’s scalp, which accelerates therapeutic (15). Its anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties scale back irritation and battle the microbes answerable for inflicting cradle cap (16).

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9. Aloe Vera

You Will Need

half of tablespoon of aloe vera gel

What You Have To Do

1. Take some aloe vera gel and apply it on to your child’s scalp.
2. Leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

You should do that day by day, ideally after bathing your infant.

Why This Works

Aloe vera gel is used for treating quite a lot of pores and skin circumstances, together with cradle cap. The soothing and moisturizing properties of aloe vera can assist in dashing up the restoration of the scalp (17). The antifungal properties of this gel supply safety from the potential threats like Malassezia species of fungi (18).

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10. Argan Oil

You Will Need

5-6 drops of argan oil

What You Have To Do

1. Take just a few drops of argan oil and therapeutic massage it gently into your child’s scalp.
2. Leave it on for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Bathe your child.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do that as soon as day by day.

Why This Works

Argan oil is a wealthy supply of vitamin E, which is thought to heal many pores and skin circumstances. The therapeutic and anti inflammatory properties of argan oil assist in treating cradle cap (19).

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11. Castor Oil

You Will Need

Just a few drops of castor oil

What You Have To Do

1. Apply just a few drops of castor oil to your toddler’s scalp.
2. Massage gently and go away it on for an hour.
3. Bathe your child and take away the dislodged flakes from his/her scalp utilizing a gentle brush.

How Often You Should Do This

You should do that every day.

Why This Works

Castor oil helps to seal within the moisture of your toddler’s scalp (20). This can hold it well-moisturized and assist in eliminating cradle cap completely.

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12. Olive Oil

You Will Need

Olive oil (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Apply some olive oil to your toddler’s scalp.
2. Leave it on for an hour after which wash it off.
3. Using a gentle brush, take away the dislodged flakes out of your infant’s scalp.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every day till you discover an enchancment in your child’s situation.

Why This Works

Olive oil is one other common treatment for eliminating cradle cap. It is sort of moisturizing and can assist in softening and dislodging the thick flakes and crusts on the scalp. And its antifungal properties defend the scalp from fungal infections (21).

Following these cures will not be all the time sufficient. Your infant would possibly nonetheless be on the danger of creating cradle cap once more. Hence, you have to contemplate following just a few tricks to forestall the recurrence of this situation. They are as mentioned under.

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How To Prevent Cradle Cap

• Wash your child’s head every day.
• Use your fingers or a brush with gentle bristles to rub in your child’s scalp gently. This can enhance blood circulation within the scalp.
• Try and improve your biotin consumption by consuming meals like eggs, almonds, cauliflower, spinach, cheese, and mushrooms.

Other than its unpleasant look, cradle cap will not be a significant concern with regards to your toddler’s well being. The dwelling cures mentioned on this article are fairly efficient in serving to you eliminate it for good. But if you don’t get hold of the specified outcomes even after utilizing these cures for some time, speak to your physician.

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Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

Does cradle cap have an effect on hair development?

Although cradle cap doesn’t straight have an effect on hair development, it might trigger hair loss whereas combing and making an attempt to get it off your child’s scalp.

How lengthy does it take for cradle cap to go away?

Cradle cap normally disappears by itself earlier than an toddler completes 12 months. But in some instances, it’s noticed in youngsters aged above 1 yr as nicely.

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