Ok I need some remedies. Matthew had it really bad, it caused a rash all over his face and chest. I would bathe him each night, at the beginning of the bath I would wet his head and rub baby oil onto his head. At the end of the bath I would shampoo the oil out and he was fine.

I'm doing the same with Cameron and it's keeping the flaking and the rash at bay, however his head is itchy, he keeps sratching and digging his nails into his head, leaving bloody marks on the top of his poor little head. I've been keeping his nails short and putting socks on his hands, but I need something to stop the itching. It must be really uncomfortable for him. I have been putting oil on his head at the end of his bath as well after I shampoo his head but it's not helping.

I don't want to use cortisone as he's only 4 months and it's right where his soft spot is.

Any suggestions?

TIA

By Tink on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 06:29 pm:

Are you sure it's cradle cap and not eczema? It really sounds like eczema and oil may not be enough. Have you called his pediatrician to ask their reccommendation? We used tea tree oil on my dd's small patches of eczema behind her knees and in the creases of her elbows when she was an infant. Check into the Aveeno line of cleansers. I use them regularly for the eczema I've never outgrown but I don't know if they carry a baby line. Along with applying oil to my dks' hair, I'd rub it in with a baby brush to really loosen the flakes. Maybe that would help? Good luck.

By Emily7 on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 06:30 pm:

I was told to very carefully wash Joe's hair with Selsun Blue & it worked really good.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 07:08 pm:

Ditto Emily. When DS was a baby several years ago, my ped. at the time said oil could actually make it worse. He advised using a dandruff shampoo sparingly. It worked like a charm.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 07:17 pm:

If it were me I'd head for the pediatrician ASAP. I think you need professional advice. Poor baby. And I would be worrying about infections if the skin is being broken, as you say it is. The problem is, you don't really know what it is. If the oil has not helped yet, I suggest it may well not be cradle cap and may be something else, maybe exzema, or a form of psoriasis, but whatever it is it certainly needs a medical eye. I also think the dandruff shampoos may sting badly in the places where he has scratched his scalp. Poor baby, indeed.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 07:20 pm:

Here's an article from the American Society of Pediatrics:
cradle cap

By Kiki on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 07:25 pm:

My last two had eczema in the same spot and we had to change their shampoo and soap. We too used the selsom blue and used plain dove soap.

I used OTC baby cortizone cream mixed with a dap of neosporin on the bad spots and then put those little cotton caps on their heads. It's frustrating but it does work!

By Heaventree on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 07:55 pm:

Thanks everyone!

I think Ginny is right, we should head off to the doctor. Ginny thanks for the article that helped a lot.

We are using Aveeno baby shampoo and the doctor was the one who suggested oil with Matthew, that's why I tried it agian, but Matthew wasn't itchy.

The frustrating part is we were just at the doctor's last week for Cameron's 2 month check-up and I forgot to mentioned it and he didn't notice, but I have to go back for myself anyway so I'll try to get in tomorrow.

Thanks again.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 09:35 pm:

Yeah, I think I would take him to the doctor, also, just to be sure what you are dealing with.

By Beth on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 09:12 am:

My dd had excema and my dh used baby oil on her one time and it made it worse. So my guess is if the oil has not worked it could actually be the culprit. Good luck at the doctor.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 08:39 am:

Oldest DD was allergic to her shampoo and had a similar reaction as with cradle cap. Once I changed shampoo it cleared up.

There is a chance that DS might have a fungal infection on his scalp. I have seen this a few times (in babies and older children actually) and it has to have an anti fungal ointment to clear it up. It is similar to thrush/diaper rash but is on the scalp. One issue with this, is that if it isn't properly treated the hair will start falling out, the "crust" of the cradle cap suffocates the hair follicles and the baby/child ends up with (generally) temporary bald spots. I think a trip to the ped is a good idea.

By Heaventree on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 08:49 am:

We went to the doctor yesterday and as I suspected he prescribed 1% hyrdacortisone. Seems to be the drug of choice with my doc these days.

Anyway, he's not sratching anymore so we'll see if it clears up within the next week.

By Groovepickle on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 10:30 am:

I hope he and you feel better!