Baby Health Clinic
Frequently Asked Questions Parents have about their Baby



'Cradle Cap'
Seborrhoeic dermatitis in infants
How to manage infant 'Cradle Cap' seborrhoeic dermatitis?
If the scalp is affected (the most common presentation) the parents can try simple measures:
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Regular washing of the scalp with a baby shampoo, followed by gentle brushing with a soft brush to loosen scales and improve the condition of the skin.
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Softening the scales with baby oil first, followed by gentle brushing, then washing off with baby shampoo.
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Soaking the crusts overnight with white petroleum jelly or a slightly warmed vegetable or olive oil, and shampooing in the morning.
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If these methods do not achieve softening, a greasy emollient or soap substitute, such as emulsifying ointment, can be used, which helps to remove the scales more easily.
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Do not pick the scales off as this can cause an infection • Do not use peanut oil (because of the allergy risk) • Do not use olive oil as research has shown that it may not be suitable for babies’ skin and is linked with infections • Do not use adult shampoo or soap
Book a GP appointment if the above simple measures are not effective or:
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your baby's cradle cap does not get better after a few weeks of treatment
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your baby has cradle cap all over their body
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the crusts bleed or leak fluid
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the affected areas look swollen
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Bleeding, leaking fluid and swelling could be signs of an infection or another condition like atopic eczema or scabies.
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NICE advice : a topical imidazole cream (clotrimazole, econazole, or miconazole). The frequency of application and duration of treatment depends on the prescribed topical treatment:
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Clotrimazole 1% cream: apply 2–3 times daily.
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Econazole 1% cream: apply twice daily.
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Miconazole 2% cream: apply twice daily.
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Treat until symptoms resolve. If symptoms persist longer than 4 weeks with treatment, seek specialist advice
National Health Service (NHS 2023) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cradle-cap
https://ihv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/PT-Managing-cradle-cap-FINAL-VERSION-7.4.22.pdf
Institute for Excellence in Health and Care (NICE) 1.3.2020 Guidelines : Seborrhoeic dermatitis - infants https://cks.nice.org.uk/seborrhoeic-dermatitis.
The recommendations to use clotrimazole, econazole, or miconazole cream are based on the British National Formulary [BNF 66, 2013] and the manufacturers' Summaries of Product Characteristics [ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2012a; ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2012b; ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2013c