Grown-ups get dandruff, babies get cradle cap. Both conditions are due to a harmless and common skin issue called seborrheic dermatitis, which causes rough, scaly patches and flaky skin on the scalp?not really what you want when you?re showing off your beautiful newborn to friends and family. Unfortunately, most babies get cradle cap, and it usually appears between one and three months of age, says Michele Ramien, a paediatric dermatologist and clinical associate professor at the Alberta Children?s Hospital in Calgary.
What causes cradle cap"
No one is entirely sure where cradle cap comes from, but there are some theories. ?It usually occurs on areas of the body that have lots of oil glands, such as the scalp, face, upper chest and upper back,? says Ramien. ?Oil glands are more active in babies because hormone levels are high during the first year of life.? Another possibility is the presence of a yeast called Malassezia, which is normally found on the skin and grows in the sebum secretions produced by oil glands. Should you see a doctor"
Cradle cap is often mistaken for eczema, another dry-skin condition. But while eczema can be itchy and irritating, most babies remain blissfully unaware that they have cradle cap. The scaly patches are white or yellow in colour and can be dry or greasy. ?Cradle cap isn?t contagious or associated with poor hygiene,? says Julia Orkin, a paediatrician at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and chair of the Canadian Paediatric...