Newborn Skincare - Cradle Cap on Face

Updated on December 11, 2007
A.W. asks from Lumberton, NJ
19 answers

My third baby is almost 2 months old. All my kids had a little cradle cap at this age and I successfully treated it with the "Gentle Naturals: Cradle Cap Treatment" but this little guy has it on his eyebrows, forehead, along side of cheeks, ears. We were away for 9 days over Thanksgiving and it just kept getting worse. I brought him to the pediatrician as soon as I got home. For his face they just said wash it with Dove soap and put Eucerin lotion on it. Well, that seems to take care of the dryness, but it's still so red, raw and rough. It makes me feel so sad! Anyone know/have experience with this? I called the doctor and they just said give it more time, but this is the fourth day, the weekend, and he still cries when I put the Eucerin on his face! Please help me! ADDITION: Just came back from a different doctor, who said the Eucerin was burning his skin and to stop using it. He prescribed an oral steriod, 3 day dosage. Scary to dispense to such a little one, anyone been thru this before?

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S.T.

answers from Philadelphia on

There is a great lotion called Renew. It can help relieve severely dry skin from eczema and cradle cap. It makes a great diaper rash cream as well. I wouldn't dare put zinc oxide on my babies bottom. The cost is very similar to eucerin. I feel the renew is just more effective (being safe enough to put on diaper rash is a great help.) It elimanates extra spending on useless products. www.livegreeneasy.com

1 mom found this helpful
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B.R.

answers from Philadelphia on

i had that for both my little ones around the same age. Just use a little at time and you will see the difference fast. My kids also had the dry spots on the arms, legs and back but the cream does work. I was told not to bathe them often and not to use baby lotion that will make it worse. good luck.

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D.C.

answers from New York on

Hi A.,

My name is D. and I work for a Health and Wellness company called Arbonne. My friends son had the same thing and used one of our baby lotions/baby oils products on the babies head and the cradle cap went away in a matter of a week or 2 she also had really bad eczema on her face and arms and that also went away!! Our products are all natural and hypoallergeic. If you are interested in giving it a try I could sample them to you at no charge and no obligation at all!! I live in Toms River and I would love to help you out!!
I have triplets so I have been through it all, if I could make it a little easier for you I would love to!!
You can contact me at ____@____.com and I could drop it off to you or send it to you by mail!!
Good luck and I hope to hear from you!!!
D.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from New York on

I went through the same exact thing with my son. It turned out to be eczema. I recommend the following:

-Only Dreft for washing his clothes
-unscented Dove bar soap for bathing him
-for moisturizing, Baby Aveeno unscented lotion, Lubriderm oatmeal lotion, and/or Vaseline

Avoid anything scented or with too many perfumes and get him to an allergy specialist as soon as he's old enough. You never know what allergies a child can have even when they don't have a reaction...

1 mom found this helpful
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N.J.

answers from New York on

I have been gooping aquaphor on his skin as well as Calendula oil on him when he was that age three to four times a day. I know it looks bad but a lot of times it goes away. Good Luck.

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N.M.

answers from New York on

O.K. A.,
This must be a boy problem. I bought Avenno Shampoo and body wash for my son. It took all the cradle cap away. And ir helped take away the rough and dryness of my son's skin.

i hope this helps
N.

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K.C.

answers from New York on

I am a licensed aesthetician and for my daughter used Anna Marie's Organic Olive Oil, Fruity (there is a different acidity in different flavors)It worked extremely well. I also used it to keep her skin from drying out and to prevent stretch marks with my 80 pound weight gain. It's like magic potion!

Good luck and enjoy your baby!

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C.H.

answers from Rochester on

My 6 month old had really bad cradle cap on his face and head as well. I used Cetaphil per the pediatrician to keep the dryness away for his face, and it worked great. Currently he still has cradle cap on his head, the doctor prescribed a steroid cream for his head, I was nervous about using steroids but it worked. Good luck!

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D.D.

answers from New York on

Eucerin is a little too strong for a newborn. Try J & J baby oil. My son had it and a little baby oil helped! Good luck.

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M.B.

answers from New York on

A.,
I had a very similar experience with my son at the same age, about 3 years ago. They thought he had a bad case of cradle cap but he had a rash on his body and his face swelled up like a cherry. Our Pediatrician determined he had Eczema and referred us to a dermatologist (which I would recommend). We received a Steroid Cream (a stronger form of Hydrocortisone) and it worked right away. I was very nervous about this too for such a little one, especially with the bad press the creams were getting at the time. They didn't offer us an oral form, but I hope that works for you. After the initial use of the cream, I used some hydrocortisone very sparingly when a rash came back. I used Aquaphor Ointment, made by Eucerin, every day on his face and body and it works well after baths. Also, a very strange thing, but Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo helped his head (but once again, I used very sparingly, since it seemed strong for a baby). I tried everything else (every mild, natural cream/shampoo on the market) and this was all that worked for my son. The good news is that regular rashes from Eczema should normally stop by age 1. However, we still put Aquaphor Ointment on him, in the Winter especially. In the summer, we make sure his suntan lotion is one for sensitive skin. I also agree with the responses to use Dreft Detergent and Aveeno Oatmeal Bath Wash. Good luck and just do the research and ask your Drs. lots of questions to keep your little one safe.

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S.G.

answers from New York on

It sounds like it may be Eczema. Have you tried something like Gentle Naturals baby eczema cream (has Winnie the Pooh on the box).
Mom and a nurse

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R.E.

answers from New York on

sounds to me like baby has eczema. Do a little research on the subject before you decide to use the steroid cream. In the meantime, I used Aquaphor (moisturizer) on my daughter when she was an infant to help her eczema. It is so gentle and does not sting. It is very sticky but is an excellent moisturizer and barrier cream.

Good luck!

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A.

answers from Philadelphia on

My little boy had it for about 3 weeks when he was 3 months old and I thought it would never go away. I would put the eucerin cream on his face with those little yellow round foundation pads after every bath, every morning and every night. It will go away on its own, you just have to be patient. I couldn't stand seeing mine like that either so I just keep an extra eye on it and made sure he didn't scratch at it with the mittens as well. They say the baby doesn't feel any pain from it, just the moms. Good Luck, A.

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D.G.

answers from New York on

Hi A.,
When my daughter was 2 months old, she suddenly had big patches of eczema on her shoulders and upper back. She was exclusively nursing at that time. I eliminated all dairy from my diet, and the eczema went away in about 2 weeks. This could have no relation to your son's issue, but it wouldn't hurt to try experimenting with his formula or your diet, whichever is appropriate, to see if that helps.
My daughter no longer has any issues with dairy that we are aware of (she's 5).
Good luck
D.

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M.K.

answers from Syracuse on

Are you sure it's not excema? My daughter gets excema on her face badly without meds, before she turned two we could only use hydrcortizone on her and that did the trick. Now that she is two we have ellidel.

She used to get it real bad on the sides of her cheeks and behind her ears also.

Also, if the little guy lets you, put gloves on him for sleep and such so that he is not itching at it or touching it irritating it more.

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M.F.

answers from New York on

I haven't been through anything as bad as you are describing but I have used Candulla Baby Cream ( made by a German company called Welleda) when my daughter got diaper rash from teething that was so red and painful that she cried every time anything touched her skin. The Candulla lotion soothed her little bottom moments after I put it on. Now I use it on all her dry skin including her cheeks and scalp and it works wonders. I also use it every diaper change and she never gets a rash. It cost about $10 in a health food store but it was worth every cent.

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R.R.

answers from Jamestown on

hello A.-- boy is it cold in bradford this weekend
okay
try this for the cradle cap
and any other skin irritation
Bag Balm

you can find it at Bradford Pharmacy and at worth and sons out on east main
it is a thick creme
so warm a bit on your hands and gently apply to affected areas

it cannot harm him

works amazingly on all sorts of conditions

good luck
R.

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S.N.

answers from Syracuse on

Hello I am the oldest of nine children and my little brother had cradle cap and and really dry skin and my mom put Shea butter on it natural shea butter non with the smells. Its works great theres nothing to iritate the skin and it keeps it moisterized. I think that may help a lot.

Well hope it gets better for you and the little one. Take care, Ms. Nixon

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O.S.

answers from New York on

A.:

I had this happen to my daughter and she was born during the winter which didn't help. It was soooo bad that I hardly have pictures of her during the 2nd month b/c she looked awful. She had it all over her face and head. I took her to the pediatrician he told me to do nothing b/c any topical creams would make it worse and he didn't recommend I used steroids unless absolutely necessary and he didn't think it was. He also told me that it was more aesthetics than anything, it was not hurting her at all. So he just told me to wipe her face clean at bath time with plain water and don't put any creams or anything on her face. He also explained that the reason they get this is due to the fact that your hormones, which babies get from their mothers during pregnancy, are leaving their bodies creating this reactions. Her face did get worse before getting better but it cleared up at about 3 mo. Hope this helps and good luck.

O.

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