Cradle cap, also known as seborrheic dermatitis is a disorder in which yellow crusts and greasy scales are formed on the scalp of the baby. It common to babies aged between two days to three months. Although it is not a harmful disorder but can be unsightly and uncomfortable.
Cradle Cap Home Remedies
There are several home remedies for cradle cap which can be tried at home and are safe for your infant. Some of the popular home remedies for cradle cap are:
1. One of the simplest and effective home remedies for cradle cap is to rub the scalp of your baby with washcloth or fingers in order to loosen scales.
2. Massage the scalp of your baby with cold-pressed vegetable oil. Wait for fifteen minutes and then comb the hair of your baby gently in order to remove flakes. Now wash off the oil from your baby's scalp.
3. Using dandruff shampoo like the Selsun Blue to wash your baby's head can also prove to be beneficial. Make it a routine to wash two times in a week for couple of weeks.
4. Another effective home remedy is to take little amount of baby oil and rub it on your baby's scalp. Now use a toothbrush in order to gently scrape away the dry skin from the scalp.
5. Mothers who are breastfeeding should remember to take a healthy diet. They should avoid refined sugar and consume food rich in essential fatty acids.
6. Take a teaspoon of vegetable oil and mix one drop of essential oil of lavender to it. Massage your baby's scalp with this mixture.
7. You can even use teabag of herbs such as; meadow sweet, slippery elm bark, chamomile, burdock or comfrey root. Just take a teabag of any of these herbs and dunk it into a bowl of hot water. Now allow this tea to cool down. Once cool, you can wash the scalp of your baby with this solution.
8. For thick cradle cap you can use mild mineral oil like the Baker's P and S liquid. All you need to do is apply this oil on your baby's scalp at night. Next morning use a fine toothed comb in order to comb out the scales gently. After combing you can wash the scalp. It is one of the most effective home remedies for cradle cap.
9. In cases of cradle cap affecting the region behind of the ears or behind onto the neck of your baby, then it is always a good idea to apply 0.5% or 1% of hydrocortisone cream on the region. Using this cream three times a day will help in making the crust go away.
10. Cod liver oil when given to your baby in small quantities can prove to be very effective in treating cradle cap. Just take some milk in little quantity and add cod liver oil into it. Now feed your baby with this milk.
11. Apply vitamin E or cod liver oil on the affected area at night. Next morning gently brush it out.
12. Rubbing extra virgin coconut oil on the scalp of your baby can also help in curing this problem.
These were some of the effective home remedies for cradle cap which are simple to follow and convenient to use.
Read more Home Remedies for Cradle Cap. Also know useful Home Remedies for Dark Spots on Face.
