What should you know about ear cradle cap?

Cradle cap, also called infantile seborrheic dermatitis, can extend from the scalp to the outer ear, behind the ear, or the crease where the ear meets the head. The skin may look yellowish, white, or slightly red, with soft flakes or thicker scale. It is not caused by poor hygiene and is not something a baby catches from another person. Scratching or forcefully lifting scale can create small breaks in delicate skin.

Clean the outer ear gently with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, then pat dry. Do not place cotton buds, oils, creams, or medicated products into the ear canal. A clinician may suggest an emollient to soften scale before gentle washing; see Emollient Therapy for treatment context. If the area is inflamed or another cause is suspected, a clinician may consider Topical Antifungal Treatment. Keep the baby’s nails short and avoid peeling attached crust.

Arrange medical advice if the skin becomes weepy, swollen, warm, painful, cracked, or develops pus, or if the baby has a fever or seems unwell. Seek prompt assessment when redness spreads or the ear itself appears swollen. A clinician should also review scale that persists, repeatedly returns, or affects the ear canal, because eczema, infection, or another rash can look similar.

Ask whether the scale is limited to the outer ear, which product is suitable for an infant, and whether any treatment should be kept away from the ear canal. Ask how to recognise infection and when a follow-up is needed.