Does Cradle Cap Cause Hair Loss

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Cradle cap is another one of those uninvited guests like neonatal acne, eczema, diaper rash, and milia that cone to visit your baby during the first few months of their life. This scaly, flaky visitor might look dangerous, but in reality, it’s completely harmless.

However, one question that parents often search online and look for is, “does cradle cap cause hair loss?” If you are also one of those parents, here is your answer from an experienced pediatrician.

What is Cradle Cap?

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as “cradle cap,” is a common, benign condition that often affects children. It is typically caused by the overproduction of oil in the skin. It results in the development of thick, yellowish, or whitish scales on the scalp.

Often, a child’s torso is also affected. The appearance of seborrheic dermatitis can certainly be alarming for parents. Rest assured, however, that the condition can be addressed, and children do not suffer any lasting effects from it.

Can Cradle Cap Cause Permanent Hair Loss?

If you are wondering, “can cradle cap cause hair loss in babies?” Yes, temporary hair loss can sometimes be indirectly caused by this condition. While rubbing your child’s skin or scalp dry with a towel after bathing, it’s possible for the scales to loosen and come off. As the scales are removed, they can sometimes cause clumps of hair to come off as well.

It can certainly be upsetting for parents to see bald patches on their child’s scalp. However, rest assured that the hair loss is not permanent. Your child’s hair will grow back in due course.

It generally takes one month for new hair to achieve a growth of 0.5 to one inch. On average, a child’s hair will grow by five to six inches every year. There is no magic formula for encouraging hair to grow faster.

Does Cradle Cap Affect Hair Growth?

Yes cradle cap can also indirectly affect your baby’s hair growth. However, this is usually the case of severe cradle cap. The inflammation caused by this condition can cause irritation and itching on the baby’s scalp, which will give them an urge to scratch it.

Babies can’t understand that they should not scratch their cradle cap, and as a result of

vigorous scratching, the hair follicles can get damaged, which can affect the natural growth cycle.

How to Prevent Hair Loss From Cradle Cap?

Here are a few things that you must do if you want to prevent excessive hair loss and baldness from cradle cap.

Use a Medicated Shampoo

The best way to reduce the scaling and prevent hair loss is by regularly washing your baby’s hair and scalp with a cradle cap shampoo. A shampoo and body wash that is specially formulated for babies and is free from any skin-irritating chemicals like fragrance, sulfate, dyes, parabens, and phthalates is the best cradle cap shampoo for your baby.

Wash your baby’s scalp at least 2 to 3 times a week with lukewarm water to remove the excess oil buildup and loosen the scales.

Massage the Scalp

While shampooing, gently massage your baby’s scalp with your fingertips or a cradle cap brush to soften and remove the stubborn scales. This will prevent unnecessary hair loss that may occur from removing dry scales.

Some people may choose to dry brush their hair once daily, as it may help promote blood circulation and aid in healthy hair growth.

Don’t Pick at Scales

It’s best to avoid picking at the scales. Attempting to remove them forcibly is more likely to result in patchy hair loss. And because this can result in breaks in the skin, it may even cause an infection.

Prevent Scratching

It can be hard for the babies to resist the itch. So make sure that their nails are clipped at all times so that they won’t accidentally damage the scalp’s skin or cause scratch marks. You can also use mittens to cover baby’s hands and prevent scratching.

Avoid Natural Remedies

Using natural remedies like applying coconut oil or olive oil may sound like a good idea to moisturize and soften the scalp. However, in reality, it can make your baby’s condition worse, especially if any oil residue is left behind on the scalp. So it is best to stay away from anything like this and instead use a medicated shampoo with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, apple fruit extract, and provitamin B5.

Treating Cradle Cap

You may sometimes hear other parents recommend using an anti-dandruff shampoo formulated for adults. Unfortunately, products formulated for adults can irritate a child’s sensitive skin and eyes.

It’s best to use a baby shampoo for cradle cap that has been formulated especially for a child’s sensitive skin. To date, the only product developed specifically to manage the flaking and scaling of the scalp in children is Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo & Body Wash.

It is a pediatrician’s solution that in some cases can bring results in just one to two washes. Most people see results in 1-2 weeks. However, some children may need to use it longer if they have significant scaling. After using this cradle cap shampoo and gently patting the skin dry, parents can apply fragrance-free moisturizing cream for babies to soften scales and soothe redness.

Happy Cappy products are clinically tested to be safe, gentle, and effective for children of all ages with seborrheic dermatitis symptoms. It is the only children’s body wash for seborrheic dermatitis that is free of potentially irritating ingredients and contains 0.95% pyrithione zinc as an active ingredient. It has also been awarded as the “Best Seborrheic Dermatitis Shampoo for Babies” by Verywell Health.

Conclusion

Hair loss is a natural thing in babies under the age of 12 months. However, if your baby is experiencing cradle cap and you are wondering, “can it cause hair loss?” Then the answer is yes.

Cradle cap can cause temporary hair loss in babies, but don’t worry, the hair will eventually grow back. Getting the scaling and inflammation under control is essential. You can prevent excess hair loss by regularly cleaning your baby’s scalp with a cradle cap shampoo for babies and massaging their scalp with a cradle cap brush while shampooing.

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Dr. Eddie Valenzuela

Dr. Eddie Valenzuela is an award winning pediatrician and the founder and CEO of Pediatric Solutions, LLC.

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Why is my baby losing hair?

Baby hair loss is a natural process that every baby goes through in the first year of their life. It is also known as telogen effluvium. However, if your baby is also experiencing flaking, scaling, and redness on the scalp along with hair loss, it is best to consult a doctor. They may be experiencing cradle cap.

Can Cradle Cap Cause Baldness?

Cradle cap can cause temporary hair loss which is usually due to the dry scales coming off and the scratching. However, it does not cause permanent baldness.

Will hair loss from cradle cap grow back?

Yes, once the scaling, irritation, and inflammation are reduced, the hair will eventually grow back normally.

Does removing cradle cap help hair growth?

Removing cradle cap the right way which is by gently massaging the scales with a medicated shampoo and then gently removing them with a cradle cap brush, can help promote blood circulation in the scalp and help with hair growth.
However, this is not magic, and the hair growth will go back to its normal cycle, which was disrupted by inflammation.

How can I prevent my baby from losing hair with cradle cap?

The best way to prevent hair loss from cradle cap is by:
By not forcefully scrubbing or removing the scales.
Not picking at the scales.
Use a medicated cradle cap shampoo to loosen and reduce the scales.