Cradle cap on the face: what parents should know

Cradle cap is infantile seborrheic dermatitis. Although it often starts on the scalp, it may involve the forehead, cheeks, eyebrows, nose, or areas near the ears. Facial patches can be dry-looking, yellowish, or slightly oily, with mild redness underneath. The rash may come and go and does not reflect poor hygiene. Heat, saliva, milk, and fragranced skin products can make an already sensitive area look more irritated. Eczema, contact irritation, and infection can resemble it, so the exact appearance and how the baby feels matter.

Rinse the face with lukewarm water and use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser only when needed. Pat rather than rub, then apply a thin layer of plain moisturiser to dry patches; see Emollient Therapy for moisturising principles. Wipe away saliva or milk gently and change damp bibs. Avoid picking, exfoliating, fragranced wipes, essential oils, and adult dandruff shampoo. Keep all products away from the eyes and mouth. If simple care does not settle the rash, a clinician may consider whether Topical Antifungal Treatment is appropriate.

Contact a clinician if facial skin becomes very red, swollen, painful, cracked, blistered, or covered with pus or spreading crust. Seek prompt advice if the baby has fever, seems unusually sleepy, feeds poorly, or the rash reaches the eyes. A rash that repeatedly flares despite gentle care also deserves review so treatment matches the diagnosis.

Which facial areas look like cradle cap, and which might be eczema or irritation? What cleanser and moisturiser should I use? Are there products I should avoid around the eyes, nose, or mouth?