Treatment For Cradle Cap In African American Babies

Both conditions are common in african american infants.

Treatment for cradle cap in african american babies.

This could then be either curly or wavy. How to treat your baby s cradle cap. Cradle cap is very common but. Don t be afraid to shampoo the hair.

According to the american academy of family physicians aafp about 10 percent of baby boys and 9 5 percent of baby girls have it. As a result its texture requires that it is handled with care to prevent damage. If the scaling is heavy apply mineral oil to the scalp for a couple of hours before shampooing. Most likely it s cradle cap also called seborrheic dermatitis or eczema also called atopic dermatitis.

How to prevent cradle cap in african american babies. A majority of african american babies are born with hair that is coarse and thick. Cradle cap shows up in the first few months of life as crusty white or yellowish patches on the scalp. Mild cases can typically be managed with special soaps and shampoos and by avoiding things that trigger a flare up.

This along with soft brushing will help remove the scales. Cradle cap usually doesn t require medical treatment as it usually goes away on its own. Cradle cap is an inflammatory skin condition that typically appears on a baby s scalp. The medical name for it is infantile seborrheic dermatitis.

Like other children they are also prone to cradle cap. The description sounds way worse than it actually is. Babies are known for their soft smooth skin but cradle cap is common in newborns. In fact you should wash it with a mild baby shampoo more frequently than before.

If your baby s seborrheic dermatitis is confined to his scalp and is therefore just cradle cap you can treat it yourself. Not all babies get cradle cap. It s an ailment that s actually quite prevalent in african american infants. What is cradle cap.

In the meantime wash your baby s hair once a day with mild baby shampoo. Even if you don t treat the cradle cap it usually clears up on its own after 8 months. It shows up in roughly 10 percent of babies most often between the ages of 3 weeks and 12 months.