Other Names:
Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis

Symptoms:
Thin, whitish, flaky scales. Or thick, yellow, greasy crusts. Sometimes it spreads to the eyelids, external ear canal, and nose.

Cause:
Cradle cap is the most common scalp disorder of infants. About 50% have it at some time. There is an overproduction of sebum, a waxy oil substance that may plug the sebaceous glands, leading to inflammation and acne formation. The entire scalp can become covered with a thick mat of sebum and dead skin cells.

Possible causes include food allergies. Of 187 infants which had it, in later years 67% later had an allergy (whereas 20% have allergies in the general population).

The problem most frequently develops within the first 3 months and usually 3-4 weeks after introduction of a new food. When that food was withdrawn, cradle cap cleared up. Most likely to cause problems: milk, wheat, eggs, oranges, beans, peas, and sometimes oatmeal.

A deficiency of vitamin B6 and zinc may be involved.

Treatment:
• Gently remove the crusts. Shampoo 2-4 times a week with a mild soap. Massage the scalp gently, but firmly enough to remove the flakes. Do not break the inflamed skin underneath.

• Massage vegetable oil into still-adhering flake areas; let set for a few minutes, then shampoo it off.

• Repeat 1-3 times a week until the condition is gone.

• Include vitamin B6 (10-25 mg daily) and zinc (15-25 mg daily) in the infant's diet. Check for food allergies (see "Pulse Test").