However, some babies can have more extensive cradle cap with thick scaling. In these instances, cradle cap treatment will likely require prescription medication.
The good news is that, no matter what it looks like, cradle cap is almost always a harmless condition. The goals of treatment are simply to improve the look of the skin and ease any dryness and itchiness.
This article explains the various treatments for cradle cap, including these and alternative treatments. You’ll also learn when to call the doctor and what the outlook is for babies with cradle cap.
Home Remedies
For mild cradle cap, time is often the best treatment. Sometimes treatment may be necessary, though. Or you may just want to get rid of the flakes for cosmetic reasons.
Home remedies are often all you’ll need. The most common recommendation is to wash your baby’s hair often with a mild baby shampoo, then use a soft brush to remove the scales.
If the scales don’t come off easily, you can:
Rub a little baby oil, mineral oil, or petroleum jelly into your baby’s scalp to soften the scales. After 10 to 15 minutes, use a soft brush to remove the scales. Then use baby shampoo to get rid of the oil. Leaving the oil on too long can make cradle cap worse.
Over-the-Counter Therapies
If your baby’s cradle cap isn’t helped with home remedies or is extensive, your pediatrician may recommend some over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. Don’t use these without first talking to a healthcare provider.
OTC treatments include:
Steroid cream or lotion: Over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream may help with tough cases, such as when the scales look red and irritated. Antiseborrheic, anti-fungal, or anti-dandruff shampoos: Products such as Selsun Blue, Sebulex shampoo, or Neutrogena T-Gel are generally used a few times a week.
Prescriptions
Sometimes, OTC treatments don’t work well enough. This may especially be the case when cradle cap causes crusty red patches or thick, greasy yellow or brown scales. Severe cradle cap can lead to scalp infections. Those need to be treated with prescription antibiotics.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Essential oils are the main type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment for cradle cap, but they should not be used on babies under 6 months old.
The oils most often recommended for cradle cap include:
Lemon oilGeranium oil
Essential oils are extremely potent and should never be used without first being diluted by a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil.
A common ratio is 2 drops of essential oil in 2 tablespoons (Tbs) of carrier oil. To use it:
Rub the oil mixture into your baby’s scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes. Brush off the flakes. Shampoo your baby’s hair to remove the oils.
Remember that even “natural” remedies can have dangerous side effects or interact badly with medications or supplements.
Never use CAM treatments on your baby without approval from their healthcare provider. Also consider talking to a certified aromatherapist about the safest way to use essential oils.
When to See a Doctor
It’s important to know when you should go straight to seeing a doctor versus trying to treat cradle cap on your own. It’s possible that your baby may need a prescription medication right off the bat.
It’s also possible that they may have an additional health concern that needs addressing.
Even those who were checked out by a healthcare provider may need to return for an evaluation—and perhaps a treatment change—if certain signs and symptoms arise.
Make an appointment with a healthcare provider if your baby has:
Scales on your baby’s scalp or other skin symptoms do not go away or get worse after home carePatches drain fluid or pus, form crusts, or become very red or painfulYour baby develops a fever (may be due to infection getting worse
Babies with widespread seborrheic dermatitis and other symptoms, such as failure to thrive (slow weight gain) or chronic diarrhea, may have other conditions. These include Leiner’s disease and Langerhans cell histiocytosis X, both of which are rare.
After Treatment
Even after your child’s cradle cap is treated, you may have to continue using an antiseborrheic shampoo to keep it from coming back. Many children outgrow cradle cap by the time they’re a year old. Some children do continue to have some scale until they are much older. It usually becomes much milder and less noticeable, though.
Summary
Cradle cap will usually go away on its own. To remove scales, shampoo or rub baby oil or petroleum jelly on the scalp and use a soft brush.
In more extensive cases, steroid creams, special shampoos, antibiotics, or antifungals may be needed. Ask your healthcare provider before using essential oils or any other CAM treatments.
Get immediate medical help for blisters or pimples on the scalp of a baby less than a month old.
A Word From Verywell
Cradle cap may be caused by maternal hormones overstimulating the baby’s oil glands before birth. Some experts think it may be a mild scalp yeast infection. Regardless, it’s not a sign that you, as a parent, have done something “wrong.” Initial symptoms can’t be prevented.
If your baby is otherwise healthy, it’s likely nothing to worry about. But if you have any questions or concerns, call your healthcare provider.
