Is cradle cap safe in children?

Cradle cap, also called infantile seborrheic dermatitis, causes greasy or dry scales and patches on the scalp. It can also affect the eyebrows, behind the ears or other skin folds. The flakes may look uncomfortable, but a child may have little itching or tenderness.

It is not caused by poor hygiene and it is not something a child catches from another person. The scalp can become temporarily pink beneath the scale. Scratching or forcefully lifting flakes can create small breaks in the skin and raise the chance of irritation.

Wash the scalp with a mild child-safe cleanser, rinse well and pat it dry. A clinician may suggest softening thicker scale with a suitable emollient before gentle brushing. Loosened flakes should slide away easily; do not pick, scrape or pull attached scale.

Keep oils and medicated products away from the eyes and mouth, and do not use adult dandruff treatments unless a clinician recommends them for your child. Wash brushes and avoid sharing items that touch an irritated scalp. Improvement can be gradual, so continue gentle care rather than increasing pressure.

Arrange medical advice if the area is painful, weeping, crusted, bleeding, markedly swollen or has an unpleasant smell. Contact a clinician if the rash spreads beyond the scalp, your child seems unwell, or gentle care is not helping. Urgent assessment is needed for breathing difficulty or sudden facial swelling.

Ask whether the rash looks like cradle cap, which cleanser or emollient is suitable, and whether a medicated treatment is needed. Mention any broken skin, discharge, fever, itching or products already used on the child.