Cradle Cap Vs. Dry Scalp – What Is The Difference?

Understanding the differences between the two conditions is key to getting the right treatment.

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• Feb 28, 2024

Cradle Cap Vs. Dry Scalp – What Is The Difference

Image: ShutterStock

There is a difference between cradle cap and dry scalp in babies. Both may appear similar, and that is where it gets confusing. Cradle cap is caused by excess oil production, while a dry scalp is caused by dehydration. We discuss the differences between these conditions in this article to help you understand which condition your child may have. Additionally, we discuss the skin treatment options available. Take a look.

In This Article

What Is Dry Scalp?

A dry scalp is characterized by itching and flaking due to inadequate skin hydration. It might be a sign of pruritusⁱXAlso known as itching, an unpleasant, annoying sensation that can affect any part of the body and triggers a desire to scratch. (1). The child may also experience scalp scaling caused by dandruff or eczemaⁱXA persistent condition that causes dryness and itchiness in the skin and weakens the skin barrier function. (2).

A dry scalp is mainly caused by sebaceous activityⁱXThe secretion of sebum from the sebaceous glands to lubricate the skin and provide natural moisturization (3). Other extrinsic factors like unbalanced sebum production, weather conditions, and improper hygiene may also cause a dry scalp.

What Is Cradle Cap?

Cradle cap, also known as pityriasis capitis, is a common and chronic non-inflammatory form of skin scaling that affects infants (4). It is generally noticed in the child between the third week and a few months since birth. It is characterized by greasy, yellowish flakes (scales) that affect areas with excess sebaceous gland activity. These flakes are prominent on the T-zoneⁱXThe areas on the face, like the forehead, nose, and chin, which are naturally very oily and form a 'T' shape of the face, the ears, and the scalp.

Trivia

When this skin condition occurs on the neck, groin, and armpits, it is known as infantile seborrheic dermatitis.

Understanding the causes of both these conditions can help determine the best course of treatment.

Causes Of Dry Scalp

Baby with shampoo in hair may have a dry scalp

Image: IStock

Skin flaking occurs on the scalp mainly because of a lack of sebaceous activity (3). This keeps getting washed away and, thus, the scalp creates more sebum to make up for the loss. The scalp becomes undernourished and develops flakes when there is less sebum production. A reduction in sebum production could be caused by the following factors:

Over-washing your child’s hair/scalp
Fungal and bacterial infections
Excessively hot or cold temperatures
Nutrient deficiencies
Infrequent oiling of the child’s hair/scalp

Causes Of Cradle Cap

While more research is warranted to understand the causes of cradle cap, a few factors are thought to result in the condition:

Maternal hormones that increase sebaceous gland activity
The Malassezia fungus that causes dandruff (it also disrupts sebum, absorbs the saturated fatty acids, and leaves the unsaturated fatty acids behind)

Trivia

It is a common misconception that breastfeeding causes these greasy, yellowish flakes, and skin crusting, but there is no scientific evidence to back the claim.

How do you identify your child’s dry scalp or cradle cap?

Symptoms Of Dry Scalp

Image: IStock

Small white flakes
Redness or small bumps on the scalp
White flakes characteristic of a preexisting skin condition, like eczema

Onyin, a mother and a blogger, spoke about her son developing cradle cap when he was about 3 weeks old. She said, “I started seeing white ‘sticky residue’ on his scalp, which is how I knew Cradle Cap had indeed arrived (i).”

Symptoms Of Cradle Cap

Image: IStock

Yellowish and greasy scales
Slight redness with skin inflammation (5)
Scales at the vertex and frontal regions of the scalp
Cradle cap is most often neither painful nor itchy. It is primarily noticed during the third month of infancy and reduces before the child turns one. But it can occur in early childhood years as well.

The following section lists the treatment options and prevention tips for both conditions.

Treatment And Prevention Tips

Mother oiling baby's scalp to prevent cradle cap

Image: IStock

Dry Scalp: Oiling works best as a moisturizing scalp treatment. While adults with a dry scalp may go for a deep conditioning treatment, it is not recommended for infant scalp. You may instead use natural moisturizers, oils, and baby-friendly hair masks and hair products.

Cradle Cap: Cradle cap may not be prevented as its major cause is thought to be maternal hormones. However, certain treatment methods may help ease the condition. You can apply oils to your child’s hair and brush off the scales gently with a cradle cap comb. Wash the child’s hair with a mild and gentle shampoo.

While both these conditions usually resolve with the right hair care treatment, you may have to consult a doctor in some cases.

When To Consult A Doctor

Mother consulting pediatrician for baby's cradle cap

Image: IStock

These conditions can cause extreme skin irritation in some cases, causing great distress to the infants. It is best to consult a doctor when the condition becomes unmanageable in such ways. Let’s see how we can identify the symptoms in order to adapt necessary baby skin care measures.

Dry Scalp

The dryness is paired with severe redness or inflammation and hair loss.
The dryness persists even after applying hydrating packs and oils.

Cradle Cap

There is moderate to severe pruritus (causing an itchy scalp), that hinders the child’s sleep and food patterns.
There are crusty lesionsⁱXAny lumps, rashes, blisters, sores, ulcers, or discolored areas on the skin caused due to injuries or infections that damage skin tissue on the cheeks or scalp.
You notice vesiclesⁱXBlisters, or bumps filled with a clear fluid, whose size is determined by the factors that cause them with thin, fragile roofs.
There is hair loss.
There are bright red, silvery scale papulesⁱXSmall, harmless bumps on the skin with no fluid build-up that can be caused by razor bumps, insect bites, etc. .
The condition persists even 12 months after birth.

The doctor may prescribe an antifungal skin product with 2% ketoconazole or a topical steroid cream with 1% hydrocortisone for 2 to 3 weeks.

Infographic: Cradle Cap Vs. Dry Scalp

We often see babies with scaly scalps and assume it’s just dry skin. But it might be a cradle cap. The two conditions may appear similar at first glance but are distinct.

If you’ve observed your child with a flaky scalp and aren’t sure what it is, we have got you covered. To help you understand the cradle cap vs. dry scalp issue further, check out the infographic below to learn more about their differences and how to deal with them.

To recap, the difference between cradle cap vs. dry scalp is pretty clear cut. Cradle cap occurs when the scalp produces excess sebum, leading to greasy yellow flakes on the T-zone of the face, ears, and scalp. A dry scalp occurs because of dehydration. The lack of nourishment and hydration leads to a dry, itchy, and flaky scalp. Another stark contrast between these two conditions is that cradle cap occurs mainly in infants. A dry scalp, on the other hand, can affect anyone with a dehydrated scalp. To further distinguish between these two issues, keep the symptoms mentioned above in mind to ensure good skin health for your child. Both these conditions can be effectively treated with the right treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cradle cap just dandruff?

Cradle cap is not dandruff. Dandruff is a scalp condition that can be caused by a dry scalp, excess sebum, and fungal infections. Cradle cap is a type of seborrheic dermatitisⁱXA common skin condition affecting the oily areas of your body that causes inflammation, scaly patches, and dandruff that only affects infants.

Does baby oil help dry scalp?

Baby oil can be used to manage the baby’s dry scalp. However, if your baby has sensitive skin, you should perform a patch before applying it.

Should you brush the cradle cap?

You can brush the cradle cap off your child’s head after applying oil to their scalp. Use a soft brush and gently run it through your child’s hair and over their scalp.

Will hair grow back after cradle cap?

Cradle cap only lasts for a few months in infants. While hair loss might be a symptom, the hair will grow back gradually once the cradle cap clears.

Is coconut oil good for cradle cap?

Coconut oil can be applied to your baby’s hair and scalp to manage cradle cap.

Key Takeaways

Although cradle cap and dry scalp are often used interchangeably, they are two different conditions. Therefore, it is important to differentiate between them to treat them effectively.
Dehydration can lead your baby’s scalp to be dry, while cradle cap is caused by excess oil production.
If you notice symptoms such as redness, inflammation, and hair loss, consult a doctor immediately.

Learn how to get rid of cradle caps in babies and know if it’s contagious. Click on this video to get tips on how to treat and prevent this common skin condition.

Personal Experience: Source

StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.

i. ‘Cradle what?’ surviving stubborn cradle cap
https://everythingonyinye.wordpress.com/2021/01/31/cradle-what-surviving-stubborn-cradle-cap

References

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