Cradle cap has signs rather than symptoms. Signs are seen whereas symptoms are felt. The signs of cradle cap are greasy, yellow or brown patches on top of a baby's head.
If there are any symptoms, such as itching or swelling, you should speak to your GP because it may be another condition, such as atopic eczema.
The signs of cradle cap include:
- greasy yellow patches on the scalp
- the affected skin area appears red
- scales and flakes on the scalp
- yellow crusts on the scalp
There is a possibility that the child will have hair loss when the patch falls off or is removed.
Cradle cap is not a serious condition and should not cause your child any problems or irritation. However, it is important not to scratch or pick at the cradle cap, in case an infection develops.
It usually starts on the scalp and can sometimes spread behind the ears. The patches may appear on other parts of your baby's body, such as the nappy area (groin), the nose, armpits or backs of the knees. When it appears on a part of the body other than the scalp, it is called by its medical term seborrhoeic dermatitis.
