How To Get Rid of Cradle Cap at Home

If you have a baby, chances are you spend a lot of time ... well, staring at them. You watch them eat, sneak peeks while they sleep and scan them from head to toe. So, when thick yellow or white scaly patches show up on their scalp, you notice.

Those flakes are likely cradle cap. And it’s totally normal.

“Cradle cap is a buildup of excess waxy skin on the scalp,” says pediatrician Marni Turell, MD. “It’s a form of seborrheic dermatitis — the condition that can cause stubborn dandruff in adults.”

Cradle cap is common, harmless and doesn’t bother babies. And while it typically clears up on its own, gentle at-home care can help loosen up those scaly bits and improve how it looks.

Dr. Turell shares what works.

Home remedies for cradle cap

Cradle cap doesn’t bother babies and rarely requires medical attention. So, really, you don’t have to do anything to treat it.

“Cradle cap doesn’t hurt, itch or cause pain,” Dr. Turell reiterates. “It usually bothers parents more than the child.”

But if you’d like to reduce flakes, Dr. Turell recommends making the following steps part of your routine.

1. Moisturize their scalp

Cradle cap flakes are clusters of dead skin cells. Moisturizing helps soften them so they’re easier to remove.

You can moisturize with:

• Petroleum jelly
• Baby oil
• Mineral oil

About 30 minutes before bath time, apply a small amount (about the size of a nickel) to your baby’s scalp. Gently massage the oil into their scalp with your fingers to help it work under the scales.

“These moisturizers help loosen cradle cap scales,” Dr. Turell says. “But they can also be messy and leave your baby’s hair feeling greasy. Doing it before a bath makes it easier to wash the oil out afterward.”

2. Wash their head regularly

Cradle cap isn’t caused by poor hygiene, but washing your baby’s scalp more often can help manage it.

“Once their umbilical cord has healed, I often recommend regular baths as part of a healthy routine,” Dr. Turell says. “Regular hair washing can help when you’re trying to soften cradle cap.”

When washing your baby’s hair:

• Use a gentle, fragrance-free baby shampoo.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• Use a soft washcloth to help remove loosened flakes.

Some shampoos are marketed for cradle cap, but check their ingredients to make sure they’re mild. If you’re unsure, ask their healthcare provider for an over-the-counter shampoo recommendation.

And if your baby has eczema or very dry skin, ask their provider about how often to bathe them. Bathing too frequently can make eczema worse and further dry their skin.

3. Brush gently

After moisturizing and washing, gently brush your baby’s scalp with a soft baby brush, comb or toothbrush.

“Don’t scrape hard. You don’t want to cause redness or bleeding,” Dr. Turell emphasizes. “If scales don’t come off easily, stop and try again another day.”

4. Don’t pick!

One of the best things you can do for cradle cap, Dr. Turell encourages, is to leave it alone — especially when it’s dry. Pulling or picking off scales that aren’t already loose can irritate or injure the healthy skin beneath them. That can be uncomfortable for your baby and cause:

• Infection
• Inflammation
• Scarring

“Thickened scales won’t come off easily unless they’re softened first,” she stresses. “Newborn skin is delicate, and it won’t take much to damage it.”

Can you prevent cradle cap?

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent cradle cap. Even with proper care, babies still develop cradle cap — and that’s OK.

“It usually appears between 2 and 4 weeks of age, but it can last through the first year,” Dr. Turell shares. “Some cradle cap is thicker and lasts a long time. Other times, it’s barely noticeable and clears up within a week or two.”

Estimates show that 70% of infants develop cradle cap. It’s just part of life as a baby.

When to see a doctor

Most cases of cradle cap don’t need medical treatment and improve over time. If you’re concerned about it, mention it during your baby’s next well-check appointment.

Call your pediatrician if:

• At-home care isn’t helping and it’s getting worse.
• Scales look infected or smell bad.
• Patches spread beyond the scalp.
• Your baby seems uncomfortable or is losing a lot of hair.

“These symptoms could point to another condition, like eczema,” Dr. Turell says. “Your pediatrician can help guide next steps.” Those may include a topical medicine (one that goes on their skin) or medicated shampoo.