All of the above products and many other baby care items are available at our pharmacy. Seborrhoeic Dermatitis - what is it? Seborrhoeic Dermatitis is an exaggerated form of cradle cap. It presents as a thick, rough, scaly rash seen mostly on the scalp, face, behind the ears, eyebrows and along the hair line. Although rare, it can occasionally occur under the arms and in the nappy area. The skin under the thick scale can ‘flare’, becoming red and aggravated if baby is hot or sweaty. What causes it? It is caused by an over activity and inflammation of the sebaceous glands, the same as in cradle cap. However, seborrhoic dermatitis differs to cradle cap in that it is believed to be a fungal infection within these glands. Babies generally outgrow Seborrhoeic Dermatitis within a few weeks or months of treatment. Treatment Use a diluted anti-fungal shampoo on a daily basis until the seborrhoeic dermatitis is controlled. The shampoo is best to be left on the scalp for a period of five to ten minutes then rinsed off. Sometimes this treatment may have to be continued over a period of one to two months to prevent reoccurrence. During the treatment your baby’s scalp may become irritated by the shampoo. This is normal as long as the baby is not distressed and the redness subsides within an hour after treatment. In severe cases of seborrhoeic dermatitis your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory steroid cream. Similar to cradle cap, the dead skin or scale behind the ears, hairline and eyebrow areas will need to be massaged off regularly. Use a small amount of olive oil to soften the scale and gently massage. This will keep the skin free of build up allowing it to breathe. The regular use of a soft baby brush is also advised. As sweating can irritate the condition it is advisable not to over heat your baby. Do not over dress your baby or over heat their environment. In these circumstances, cotton fabrics work best. Where to go for help If you are worried about your child consult your GP, Early Childhood Clinic, Pharmacist or Pharmacy Nurse. WARNING: This booklet is intended to provide basic information for the general public. It is not intended to, nor does it, constitute medical advice. Readers are warned against relying solely on the information contained herein, or changing medical schedules or life activities based on the information it contains without first consulting a doctor. cradle cap & seborrhoeic dermatitis Baby health Treatment Cradle cap is a very common problem affecting babies from around 4-6 weeks of age. It often reoccurs throughout childhood, affecting children up to the age of 3-5 years old. Cradle cap is a What is it? very common Cradle cap first appears as small yellow patches or dry flaky skin on a young infant’s scalp. It usually occurs on the top of the scalp over the front fontanelle (the soft spot on top of a baby’s head), but it can quickly spread over the entire head if untreated. problem affecting infants from around 4-6 weeks of age. What causes it? Cradle cap is caused by over activity of the sebaceous (oilproducing) glands on the baby’s scalp. If the scalp is not massaged or stimulated, this over-activity leads to a build up of natural oils and dry dead skin cells that form scales. A thick yellow-brown crust on the baby’s head results and the skin beneath the crusts can become red and inflamed and prone to infection. It is not a form of dandruff and does not indicate poor hygiene or lack of care. If cradle cap becomes thick and widespread, it can become quite smelly. This is due to dead skin and oil build up. Treatment is simple and can be done in one of the following ways: 1.Apply Wild Child Cradle Cap Oil or Pure Olive Oil to the scalp by saturating a cotton wool ball with the oil and thoroughly massaging in. Reapply oil at each nappy change and leave on for 24 hours then wash off using a gentle, mild shampoo such as AromaBaby, Sebamed or Dermaveen Shampoo. 2.Apply Calendula Cream to scalp during each nappy change, massaging the scalp when applying and leave on for 24 hours then shampoo off using a gentle shampoo as mentioned previously. 3.Apply Ego Zite Cradle Cap Lotion twice a day for 3-5 days without washing the hair, then shampoo off using a gentle shampoo as above. All treatments will loosen and lift the dead skin and/or crusts. You will then need to massage the scalp vigorously to encourage the cradle cap to be rubbed off. Treatments may have to be repeated several times, depending on the amount of cradle cap present. Do not be tempted to pick off the crusts yourself as this may hurt your baby and could also lead to infection of the inflamed skin underneath the scales. Prevention of reoccurrences When the problem has cleared up, it is a very good idea to massage baby’s scalp regularly using a soft baby flannel, brush or your hands. This stimulates baby’s scalp and helps prevent further cradle cap from reappearing. Don’t be frightened of massaging the fontanelle areas on baby’s scalp. The skin over these spots is tough and strong and cannot be easily damaged with normal handling. Avoid perfumed shampoos and soaps and only shampoo the scalp once or no more than twice a week. It’s also a good idea to avoid wetting the scalp in the bath each night. All of these factors can disrupt the delicate pH (a term used to describe acidity or alkalinity) of the skin and wash away essential oils, inflaming the condition further. If any small areas of cradle cap reappear, repeat above treatment when necessary. Helpful hint Pre-mix shampoo with a cup of warm water before applying it to baby’s scalp. This prevents the sensation of cold, causes less distress and means your baby is more likely to enjoy head-washing time. You can also pre-warm the wild child oil, olive oil or egozite solution by standing it in a jug of warm water for 5-10 minutes before applying it.