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Home Remedies for Children's CRADLE CAP
Cradle cap varies from being flaky white patches mainly on
the top of the scalp to a thick, yellowish scaling covering
the whole scalp. It is caused by the over-activity of the
sebaceous (oil-producing) glands which lie at the root of
hair follicles.
Most babies seem to go through a period of getting cradle
cap, Usually when they begin to grow hair. It can be made
worse by using a harsh shampoo and not rinsing properly.
It is easy to treat With natural remedies.
- Make up one of the scalp oils listed below; massage
a little into baby's scalp when it is dry. Left on
overnight it will soften the cradle cap, you can then
rub the scales off when washing baby's hair next
morning. Resist the temptation to pick the scales
off with your fingertips.
Under 6 months: plain vegetable oil
For babies over 6 months: 3-4 drops Lemon or
Eucalyptus essence in 30 ml Almond or Avocado oil
For babies over 12 months: 3 drops Lemon
Eucalyptus and 3 drops Geranium in 30 ml Almond or
Avocado oil.
- After washing with a natural soap shampoo, rinse
the scalp with an infusion of Burdock Root.
- Cradle cap has been linked to low levels of vitamin
B6. Levels of this vitamin are often low during
pregnancy, and if supplies also dwindle after birth
baby may not get all the vitamin B6 he needs.
- If breastfeeding, enrich your diet with foods that
supply plentiful amounts of this vitamin. These
include fish, whole grain cereals, bananas, avocados,
nuts, seeds and some leafy vegetables.
- The mineral zinc is also important to the formation
of healthy skin; lack of it may be a contributing
factor in cradle cap. Zinc requirements increase in
pregnancy and lactation, but are not always fulfilled.
Zinc-rich foods are lamb, chicken, ginger root, eggs,
shrimp, potatoes, carrots, beans, parsley and most
nuts, especially pecans, peanuts, almonds, walnuts
and hazelnuts.
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