Avoid These “Natural Remedies” for Cradle Cap

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Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis) isn’t a cause for concern – there’s no medical evidence that your baby is bothered by the scales on their scalp, as the condition isn’t painful or annoying. But there’s still a natural urge, especially as a parent, to help your little one look and feel as comfortable as possible.

The good news is that cradle cap generally goes away after a few weeks, and should be completely gone by the time your baby reaches their first birthday. With patience and gentle cleansing, you can loosen the scales and leave your baby’s scalp smooth as can be.

Cradle cap treatment might necessary if it’s been months and you’re worried about a skin condition, but these “natural remedies” for cradle cap should never be considered:

1. Picking at the Scales

There may be a subconscious desire to pull at the scales, but this should be avoided at all costs. Picking at the flakes on your baby’s scalp is one of the cradle cap home remedies that should disappear because of the risk it poses on your little one – this can lead to a disconnection in the skin barrier and cause pain and infection.

2. Applying Coconut Oil

Petroleum jelly. Coconut oil. Olive oil. In many instances, a family member will tell you that these are the best remedies for cradle cap. These products might bring back some of that missing moisture, but the oils can give the yeasts present on their scalp more substrate, which can ultimately lead to further irritation down the road. Because these oils are so concentrated, they’re hard to wipe away and can leave your baby feeling greasy after bathtime.

3. Harsh and Consistent Shampooing

Dandruff shampoo formulated for adult anti-dandruff shampoo should never be considered a cradle cap remedy. This will be too harsh for your baby’s scalp.

Even if you’re not using dandruff shampoo, overwashing your baby’s hair and scalp in general can dry out the skin even worse. You can give a daily bath and incorporate shampoo into the routine, but avoid washing your baby’s hair more than once every 24 hours unless it’s necessary.

Use Happy Cappy Instead

Looking for a cradle cap remedy? Consider Happy Cappy.

The easiest way to get rid of cradle cap is gently washing your baby’s hair and waiting for the natural oils to bring moisture back to the scalp. Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo and Body Wash is formulated specifically for treating flakes and irritation in children of all ages, and can be a useful option to relieving the symptoms associated with cradle cap.

Made with FDA-approved active ingredient pyrithione zinc, our shampoo has been proven safe and effective to provide relief from dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (known commonly as cradle cap). Here’s how to use it:

Wet your baby’s hair
Massage our shampoo directly into the scalp
Lather the shampoo, paying close attention to the areas with cradle cap.
Rinse the shampoo away and pat your baby’s head dry.

You don’t need to look for home remedies for cradle cap when you have the simplicity of a trusted, pediatrician-formulated shampoo. Get your hands on the best cradle cap shampoo today to start the journey to your baby’s softest skin yet.

Shop all our products for relief, soothing, and prevention today!