Listen,
you’re a busy mom, dad or grandparent, so I won’t go into details about what
cradle cap is or what causes it, because that information is already all over
the internet. When properly treated it can go
away within a matter of days or weeks, permanently, or if more persistent, can be managed
until your baby’s or toddler’s susceptibility to the condition changes.
If you are
reading this blog, you are most likely looking for remedies that are not harsh
for your little one’s skin or delicate system. Well, have no fear, I will tell you everything I know based on my own
experience, what my crunchy momma friends have shared and a little careful
research. So here is the deal.
Curing cradle cap, whether naturally
or conventionally, basically boils down to two elements: proper cleansing and topical applications.
Cleansing
Some parents
and caregivers rely solely on shampoos and washes to remove the build-up. In this case, obviously the cleanser contains
active ingredients that somehow balance the scalp issue - be it from adjusting excessive
oil production or by reversing any fungal growth in its tracks. I have listed the cleansers with which
my peers have had the best results below.
·
Calendula based shampoos and
cleansers. (California Baby has a great calendula care
line that is easily available from Target, Whole Foods Market and Amazon.com.) Calendula
is cradle cap’s most effective and gentlest herbal cure in my opinion. If there is a baby shampoo that you love that
does not contain a significant or any amount of calendula, then try adding
calendula oil or calendula tincture to your shampoo. Do not add this to the bottle directly
(particularly the oil) but add about 5 drops of oil or tincture to the shampoo
you are using, in your hand, prior to washing.
That way you don’t have to worry about causing bacterial growth or
needing preservatives.
·
Cleansers that contain ash.
Specifically African black soap products and Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Products. The Shea Moisture line
(available at Target) – has a head to toe Black Soap Cleanser, or you can get a
powder from Shea Terra Organics that you can add to your favorite baby-safe
shampoo. Alternatively you could also
just mix the powder into a paste with other herbals like the oils and herbals
mentioned in the “topical applications section below and use that to cleanse
the head. The Jamaican Black Castor Oil
line has a gentle sulfate free shampoo that is great for thick curly or coily
hair (very moisturizing.) The only
drawback with Jamaican Black Castor oil is the ashy smell – but that can easily
be disguised with essential oils.
·
Herbal tea and apple cider vinegar
rinses. This should be your final rinse right before
you use any leave-in products (if any.)
It basically consists of a strong tea with about a tablespoon (more for
an older child) of apple cider vinegar (go for the raw kind like Braggs – which
is easily available almost anywhere vinegar is sold,) per 8 ounces of herbal
tea or infusion. The best herbs to use
for such a tea are calendula (#1), marshmallow root (will also soften, add shine and
condition hair), neem leaf or powder, rosemary, lavender and nettles. The vinegar smell dissipates when the hair is
fully dry. You can also add essential
oils like lavender and chamomile for newborns, and tea tree for older babies.
Topical Applications
·
Oil.
I know that
this seems counter-intuitive, but so many mothers and grandmothers swear by
this that you have to at least give it a try.
If this method does not work for you initially, try a different oil or
combining oil and cleansing together, before moving on. Ironically, oil actually helps to remove oil
from the skin and scalp, thus providing a kind of cleansing in and of itself.
The best way to use oil
for curing cradle cap is as a pre-shampoo treatment. This method will also help with detangling
and not excessively drying your child’s hair if you opt for a stronger, medicated
shampoo. Apply your oil of choice to the
affected area, allowing it to sit for at least 30 minutes to an hour before bath time.
Brush any loose flakes gently away then shampoo or cleanse the oil away
during bath time.
Some people reapply the
oil at least once during the day time.
Unless you are only applying oil, I do not find this to be
necessary. The most recommended oils are
olive oil, coconut oil (antifungal and absorbs more easily), castor oil (plain
or Jamaican black) and shea butter. I
think if you are going to use olive oil, you might as well use calendula oil –
which is basically usually olive oil infused over weeks or months with this
number one cradle cap curing herb. You
could also try herb infused oils containing any of the herbs recommended in the
herbal tea and ACV rinses
section
above.
·
Leave-in Creams. By far the most touted cream used by natural parents for
cradle cap is California Baby’s Calendula Cream. That is what we used on our first child. It was actually designed for skin issues, so
you can use it for that too or just as a body cream if you have some left over
after the cradle cap episode. We were
told by the awesome women that guided me that way to expect results within 10
days or less. We just applied it to the
affected areas after shampooing (we were using castille soap back then for shampooing because we didn't know any better) and
didn't even brush away or scrape any flakes off. Within 3 days it was gone – never to return.
This is by far the easiest of all the
cures. It’s not complicated or dramatic
and comes highly recommended on almost every crunchy forum out there. It is also a great alternative for curlies
choosing to do minimal shampooing, even during the cradle cap episodes. We rarely washed our child’s hair in the
first year of life once the cradle cap was gone.
The only drawback is the
price – It ranges from $20-24 per 4 oz jar.
This can add up depending on how much you use. If your baby ends up needing this for
maintenance or skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis and the like it can be quite
dear. Fortunately for most babies a
little bit goes a long way and you’ll barely get through the jar before the
cradle cap disappears.
So to help out all the
budget conscious moms out there, we created a calendula care line that we’re
calling Rock the Cradle, specifically targeted for cradle cap. It does not contain a plethora of expensive
botanicals. Each product is just chock
full of organic calendula extracted into all three mediums – oil, alcohol and
water – so as to benefit from every aspect of the plant. This makes the product way more affordable to
you, and dramatically increases its efficacy at targeting your problem. Visit our Oggboo store for more information,
if you are interested.
Otherwise, I sincerely hope this
write-up helped in guiding you in the right direction to restore your child’s
scalp to its original pristine condition.
Useful Links
Oggboo links for Calendula Oil and Rock
the Cradle Calendula Care Line
Amazon Links for California BabyCalendula Cream, Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon Links for Shea Moisture’sBlack Soap Wash and Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Mountain Rose Herbs Link for CalendulaTincture, Bulk Calendula Herb and their excellent blog entry on Calendula,
including how to make your own infused oil and other home remedies.
