Dentinox Cradle Cap Treatment Shampoo 125ML: 6/10
You may think I've gone crazy trying out cradle cap shampoo but desperate times and all that! Below I've included the first in my 'knowledge is power' series on cradle cap should you wish to learn a bit more(if you don't already know). I have to admit it wasn't all that bad! The price was the main selling point of giving this a go. With most psoriasis shampoos being very overpriced (in my opinion, based on my experience with their effectiveness) this was very reasonably priced. I was using this after I had been using an anti-dandruff shampoo called Nizoral which you can read about in my previous post. My scalp reacted much better to cradle cap shampoo than some of the targeted shampoos. My scalp was MUCH less flaky and itchy. Unfortunately I still had very thick scales and although it was an improvement on anti-dandruff shampoos, it's not quite psoriasis strength stuff. Might be worth a try if you have very mild scalp psoriasis?
(http://www.boots.com/en/Dentinox-Cradle-Cap-Treatment-Shampoo-125ml_6709/, £2.09)
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: CRADLE CAP
I'm starting a new series on the blog which will be chronicling various skin ailments people suffer with. Since being diagnosed with psoriasis I've been inspired to research everything skin related and as the title of the series says- knowledge is power, who knows, I may even find something that helps with psoriasis whilst looking at what helps other skin problems. I know that I may not first hand experience of everything that I'm writing about but as I've found with psoriasis, awareness is so important, as is sharing that awareness. I'll normally be posting in the 'DEAR DIARY' section but as I was reviewing a cradle cap shampoo I thought I'd post the first in the series here.
Don't worry, I'm fully aware that cradle cap is a form of sebhorroeic dermatitis specifically experienced by babies (aka. honeycomb disease, infantile/ neonatal sebhorroeic dermatitis, milk crust, crusta lactea) and usually occurs within the first two months of their existence -because may as well teach them early on about skin problems- but I thought I would start at the very start (skin problems experienced from birth) and I will do another post on sebhorroeic dermatitis at some unknown point in the future. Anyway, around 50% of all babies born on planet earth will experience cradle cap and most that experience it will usually experience a mild form as severe experiences are very rare. It is one of those things that normally clears up on it's by 6-12 months of age after a few weeks/months and if you're precious bundle of joy is lucky enough to be experiencing a mild as opposed to a severe form then it is likely that it won't be causing your beautiful baba any irritation or discomfort, you might just find it unsightly (I personally think it's quite beautiful & photogenic though). It is not completely uncommon for this to continue into toddlerhood or childhood but this is less common & when it continues into adolescence it will usually then be classified simply as sebhorroeic dermatitis.
There aren't any conclusive studies on the subject (but please don't hold me to this) however it has been speculated that babies with cradle cap may develop dandruff / another form of sebhorroeic dermatitis when they are older. It's occasionally linked to immune disorders but this is unlikely unless babe is suffering from other problems such as diarrhoea and in which case you should consult your GP/health care provider. In an Australian study about 15% of diagnosed bebes had eczema 10 years on. Sometimes cradle cap can turn into atopic dermatitis and rarely it can turn out to be misdiagnosed psoriasis (however if the latter is true then, judging from my experience, you will notice baby experiencing irritation & discomfort)
The Picture above shows a very mild case of cradle cap but as you may know it is easily identifiable from large or patterns of small greasy, yellow or brown scales on the scalp. The scales may later start to flake and after the flakes come loose, the skin underneath may appear red and although the hair may come away with the flakes the hair will grow back again soon enough! It is also worth noting that cradle cap can also occur on the face, ears, neck, nappy area or in folded skin areas such as at the back of the knees and armpits. Like a lot of skin issues IT IS NOT CONTAGIOUS!
If your babies cradle cap starts to look red and swollen you should see a doctor as it could be infected. If it is infected your doctor will most likely prescribe some antibiotics along with anti-fungal medication to sort it out so no need to worry.
It's not certain what causes cradle cap but it is believed that an overactive sebaceous gland (which produces an oily substance called sebum) and this gland is most likely to be overactive when us humans are babies and teenagers. There is also a fungal germ which lives in this sebum and a reaction to the germ causes the skin inflammation. In particular it is thought that the yeast Malasezzia along with the bacteria in the sebum cause the inflammation and it is also thought that this Malasezzia yeast is linked with adult dandruff.
Cradle cap can also occur as a reaction to some baby shampoos and lotions, especially those that contain alcohol or other harsh ingredients. Alternatively it can also be a result of an allergic reaction to the type of formula or certain solid food your baby is consuming. It has also been attributed to hormones passed from mother to baby, extreme weather or antibiotics taken by mum during pregnancy.
If you decide to treat cradle cap please avoid the temptation to pick off the scales as this can lead to infection. If your baby has eczema you should avoid using shampoos but instead try out petroleum jelly, or a medical emollient and simply wash off. Doctors may prescribe anti-fungal or a mild anti-dandruff shampoo whilst others may warn against the use of medicated shampoo for newborns due to the risk of systemic absorption (although research has shown that anti fungal medication is not absorbed into the bloodstream). Shampoos and creams containing Ketoconazole have proven to be the most effective treatment of cradle cap. Salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc and selenium are also used to treat dryness and flaking. It is sometimes advised to keep a humidifier in the house to reduce skin dryness by keeping moisture in the air, it is recommended to resist over washing (as it increases oil production) your little human and instead bathe them every two to three days and you could try moisturising the scalp post-washing to prevent dryness and scaliness.
If you would prefer to go natural (aside from leaving it to clear up on its own) this website provides some great methods which I know I'm definitely going to be trying to help soothe my psoriasis too!:
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