Cradle Cap: What It Is, What Causes It, and How to Treat It

Cradle cap is one of those things nobody really warns you about — but most parents encounter it in the first weeks and months. Here's the reassuring news first: it's completely harmless, not contagious, not caused by poor hygiene, and will resolve on its own.

What is cradle cap?

Cradle cap (the medical name is seborrhoeic dermatitis) is a greasy, scaly, yellowish crust that forms on a baby's scalp, sometimes extending to the eyebrows, ears, and other areas with high sebaceous (oil) gland activity.

It looks alarming — sometimes forming thick, patchy crusts — but babies feel no discomfort from it. It doesn't itch or hurt.

What causes it?

The exact cause isn't fully understood, but it's believed to be linked to:

• Overactive sebaceous glands in the skin — stimulated by the residual maternal hormones present in the first months of a baby's life
• A type of yeast (Malassezia) that lives naturally on the skin but can overgrow in sebum-rich areas

It is not caused by allergies, poor hygiene, or anything you've done wrong.

When does it appear and go?

Cradle cap typically appears in the first 3 months of life and usually resolves spontaneously by 6–12 months. Some babies clear it sooner; some have it persist into toddlerhood. It's unusual to still have it after age 3.

How to treat it

You don't have to treat cradle cap — it will go on its own. But if you want to remove it:

1. Massage with oil Apply a small amount of baby oil, coconut oil, or olive oil to the scalp. Massage gently and leave for 15–30 minutes (or overnight with a soft hat).

2. Brush gently Use a soft baby brush or a cradle cap brush to gently loosen the scales. Don't scratch or pick — this can break the skin and allow infection in.

3. Wash with a gentle baby shampoo After brushing, wash the scalp with mild baby shampoo. This removes the loosened scales and the oil.

4. Repeat regularly Consistency is key — this process once or twice a week is more effective than one big session.

Commercial products: Dentinox Cradle Cap Shampoo is a popular UK option — contains an ingredient to reduce the scale. Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo (available from pharmacies) contains coconut oil and salicylic acid and is often recommended when standard shampoos aren't working.

What NOT to do

• Don't try to pick or scratch the scales off with your nails — this can cause bleeding and infection
• Don't apply adult dandruff shampoos (like Head & Shoulders) — too harsh for baby skin
• Don't apply steroid creams without medical advice

If it spreads beyond the scalp

Cradle cap that extends to the face, ears, neck creases, armpits, or nappy area is still seborrhoeic dermatitis — it can occur wherever sebaceous glands are active. Treatment is the same: gentle oil massage and washing.

When to see your GP

• The affected skin becomes very red, inflamed, or weeping
• It looks infected (warm, spreading redness, pus)
• You're worried or unsure if it's something else
• It's extending significantly to the face, body, or nappy area and not improving

Seborrhoeic dermatitis can sometimes look similar to eczema — a GP can help distinguish the two if needed.

The bottom line

Cradle cap looks worse than it is. A gentle weekly oil-and-brush routine keeps it manageable, and it will resolve on its own in most cases without intervention. It's one of those new parent concerns that sounds scary and turns out to be nothing.