Cradle Cap

(see also Dandruff Seborrhea)

Symptoms

Cradle cap derives its name from the skin condition affecting the scalps of babies. This eczema looks quite severe even when it is mild, with large, oily, yellow scales flaking from the baby's scalp. There is often a secondary yeast infection in the scaly area. The face often exhibits little red bumps and scales on the cheeks, and this can spread to cover the body. The rash may also become weepy. Cradle cap is sometimes difficult to treat, but it does disappear on its own, usually within a few months. It often emerges in association with a diaper rash. In a few cases, cradle cap is followed by a susceptibility to eczema.

Cradle Cap Causes

Cradle cap is not contagious, and, like dandruff, is a kind of seborrheic dermatitis. Underlying problems are related to a nutrient deficiency, which is common during pregnancy due to the increased need for nutrients. Lack of vitamin B or zinc in the pregnant mother's diet often leads to cradle cap in her baby. Since all substances the mother consumes enter the breast milk, allergies and diet should be taken into consideration. Everything from nicotine to Aspirinâ„¢ adds stress to the child's body, and the skin is an organ of elimination. Trans-fatty acids from margarine, shortening, commercial salad dressings and other refined oils are detrimental. Children bottle-fed with regular cow's milk are usually lacking essential fatty acids and other nutrients available in mother's milk. Also, cow's milk is more difficult to digest.

Cradle Cap Nutrition

Hydrogenated fats contain trans-fatty acids, which clog the liver and have a detrimental effect on fat metabolization. Most processed foods contain trans-fatty acids and should be avoided. Breast feeding mothers should avoid these fats. Instead, the nursing mother should eat foods containing healthy fats, including the unrefined, cold-pressed oil of nuts and seeds which contain the essential fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid. These essential fatty acids, which the body cannot manufacture itself, help maintain healthy skin. Cold-water fish like salmon also contain a beneficial
oil, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), which acts
similarly to alpha-linolenic acid to promote clear skin.

The nursing mother should eat plenty of raw foods and those rich in the B vitamin biotin, like brown rice, nutritional yeast, cauliflower, mushrooms and egg yolk, as a deficiency in this vitamin may be responsible for the development of cradle cap.

In order to prevent the development of a bacterial or yeast infection on the scalp at the site of the affected skin, the breast-feeding mother should eliminate refined sugar from her diet. Plain, unsweetened yogurt or kefir in the nursing mother's diet or added to the formula of bottle-fed babies will help promote friendly bacteria in the intestines, discouraging the development of a yeast infection on the scalp.

Cradle Cap Nutritional Supplements

A vitamin B deficiency usually causes cradle cap. In infants, a lack of biotin is common, since biotin is largely provided through the intestinal bacteria and these are not fully developed yet. Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus cultures should be supplemented foremost, since they replenish the natural intestinal flora.

In some children, cradle cap is related to an increased need for vitamin B6, which is a common deficiency during pregnancy. If the mother is breast-feeding, she should take this vitamin, along with a vitamin B complex.

Essential fatty acids, which are often lacking in bottle-fed babies in particular, should be supplemented by adding the contents of one evening primrose oil capsule to the feeding. If she is nursing, it can also be taken by the mother or rubbed on nipples before feeding. Cold-pressed flax seed oil also contains essential fatty acids that help clear up many skin conditions.

Daily dosages:

Most Important

Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus combination, 3 capsules or 1 tsp. for the breast-feeding mother, or empty half the contents of one capsule into a bottle once daily.

Vitamin B complex, 100 mg with extra 10 mg B6

Helpful

Evening primrose oil, two 500 mg capsules three times daily for the mother.

Cradle Cap Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies can be taken by the nursing mother to provide medicinal benefits to the baby through her milk, or apply herbal oils onto baby's scalp.

Apply almond or olive oil with a few drops of evening primrose oil to baby's scalp and leave it on overnight. Next day, remove the crusts by gently brushing the scalp with a fine-toothed comb to loosen scales.

Wash thoroughly with water and one hundred percent aloe vera gel only, or just a minimum amount of diluted shampoo. Repeat treatment if cradle cap is extensive. In some cases, it might be better not to use any water or soap for a while.

If the skin is very dry, massage baby's scalp with calendula oil to moisten and aid healing.

To balance the oil production of the oil and sweat glands, give baby 5 drops of burdock root tincture in 1 glass of liquid.

To help relieve the problem, give the baby 2 drops of wild pansy tincture in liquid daily for up to a week.

Once a day rub horsetail, oak bark or witch hazel infusion into baby's scalp, massaging gently. The astringent properties of the herbs help slow down the overproduction of oil.

Cradle Cap Homeopathy

A sample of the many other remedies that are prescribed are given below. If the remedies produce no improvement within three weeks, consult an experienced homeopath. Lift yellow and soggy-looking skin with olive oil. After washing, apply Calendula ointment. Keep the skin clean and dry. Take the following in the 6c strength every four hours for up to fourteen days.

Use Lycopodium when Calendula seems to have no effect on dry and scaly skin that is not infected.

Take Graphites for skin that is weepy, encrusted and easily infected.

Take Calc carb for cradle cap with a white, chalk-like crust.

Cradle Cap Tissue Salts

Give 2 tablets twice daily for one week.

Kali sulph is the principle tissue for a variety of skin conditions, including cradle cap. The skin eruptions are watery, yellow or dry, scaly and peeling. Heat aggravates the condition.

Nat mur is useful for eruptions that are clear and watery or dry and scaling.

For sour-smelling perspiration associated with creamy, honey yellow eruptions that appear to irritate the skin, use Nat phos.

If the skin looks very unhealthy, developing thick yellow eruptions and scabs that refuse to heal, use Calc sulph.

Cradle Cap External/Physical Therapies

To avoid infection, do not pick on lesions.

Rub the baby's scalp gently with vitamin E oil to speed healing.

Rub a few drops of concentrated whey into scalp until condition has cleared up.

Cradle Cap Other Suggestions

The baby's cradle cap could also be an indirect result of the nursing mother's intestinal flora problems and biotin or vitamin B12 deficiency. The mother should also avoid eating egg whites, taking any medication, sleeping pills or laxatives, or smoking or taking other drugs.

Cradle Cap Available Brand Name Products

Nutritional Supplements

Ultra Prim Evening Primrose Oil (Natural Factors)

Vitamin A (Natural Factors)

Wild Salmon Oil (Natural Factors)

Other Nutritional Supplements

Aloe Vera Gel (Nature's Herbs)

Aloe Vera Inner Leaf (Nature's Herbs)

Aloe Vera Juice (The Real Aloe Co.)

Herbal Remedies

Horsetail Leaves (Flora)

Dandelion Root Extract (Natural Factors)

Dandelion Root (Nature's Herbs)

Echinacea Angustifolia Extract (Nature's Herbs)

Echinacea-Golden Seal Combination (Nature's Herbs)

Garlic, Odorless (Nature's Herbs)

Kelp (Norwegian) Combination (Nature's Herbs)

Psyllium Seed (Nature's Herbs)

Red Clover Combination (Nature's Herbs)

External Therapies

Lavender Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)