Cradle Cap Symptoms, Causes, Appearance and Diagnosis: FAQ

What is the common medical name for cradle cap? Cradle cap is the endearing term given to a rather unsightly and uncomfortable skin condition. The medical term often given for cradle cap is seborrheic dermatitis, which can occur in people of all ages, though the term cradle cap is obviously reserved for young children. Where do cradle cap symptoms appear? Cradle cap appears on the scalp, face, and neck but can show up on the back or in any area of oily skin. Photo of cradle cap on left can be found on wikipedia along with its licensing terms.

Is cradle cap dangerous?

This common skin disorder is harmless but it can be itchy and irritating. Fortunately when cradle cap occurs in very young children it is not usually as itchy as it is in older kids and adults.

Seborrheic dermatitis cradle cap appearance, look like, manifest, in different ways.

It can cause scales and thick crusts in patches on the skin.

Yellow and white scales can occur near each hair and appear to be associated with the hair shaft itself.

Because of the skin inflammation, the scales may rest upon an area of red, greasy skin.

The cradle cap may appear to flake off like dandruff.

When cradle cap occurs on the scalp it can lead to hair loss.

What causes cradle cap?

The cause of cradle cap is a bit of a mystery to doctors and scientists. A fungus called Malassezia appears to have a role in the development of cradle cap however the amount of the fungus is no higher on children with cradle cap than it is on other kids. It seems that the way the immune system reacts to the microorganism is the difference between kids with cradle cap and kids without. In other words, Malassezia can occur on anyone’s scalp, but only certain kids will get cradle cap depending on how their immune system reacts.

Is cradle cap contagious - can cradle cap be caught off someone, such as another baby?

Because the development of cradle cap is dependent on the immune system rather than the presence of a fungus, cradle cap is not contagious nor is it caused by being unclean or from poor hygiene. It is not technically an allergic reaction, either. However, it does seem to occur more frequently within families, thus further supporting the notion that a person’s particular immune system is responsible—the immune system qualities are passed on genetically.

How is baby cradle cap diagnosed?

In most cases the diagnosis is based on what the skin lesion looks like. A pediatrician or dermatologist can usually make the diagnosis visually. If the cradle cap appears unusual, the doctor may take a scraping of the skin (painless) and have it analyzed in the laboratory to rule out a more serious fungal infection.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael T. Spako is an M.D. who chose to pursue a medical writing career instead of a doctors practice. I am pleased to have him as the principal writer for this cradle cap treatment site, and look forward to his further contributions. Donald Urquhart, Psychologist, Editor.

If you want to come back to www.BabyCradleCapTreatment.com again, please add BabyCradleCapTreatment.com to your bookmarks or favorites now, otherwise you'll forget like everyone does! Please also remember,www.BabyCradleCapTreatment.com, like all our web sites, is an educational one. BabyCradleCapTreatment.com is NOT designed to diagnose nor treat but to offer understanding, ideas and options for you to discuss with your doctor. Our Privacy Policy can be found at www.cholesterolcholestrol.com/privacypolicy.htm Copyright © 2000-2009 Donald Urquhart. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of BabyCradleCapTreatment.com constitutes acceptance of our legal disclaimer.