Health Tip: When to See a Doctor for Cradle Cap

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Cradle cap, medically called infantile seborrheic dermatitis, is a relatively harmless condition that leads to rough and scaly skin patches on a newborn’s scalp.

The condition isn’t contagious and typically goes away without treatment. The website kidsHealth.org suggests visiting a doctor if:

• You are treating cradle cap for the first time.
• Your child has the condition in places where there is no hair.
• You aren’t seeing results from home treatments.
• The rash gets worse or covers large parts of the body.
• The rash is causing hair loss or becomes itchy.
• Affected skin becomes red, starts to drain fluid or feels warm, all of which could be signs of infection.
• Your child has a weakened immune system.

Source: HealthDay

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