Cradle cap

Cradle cap is a form of the skin condition seborrheic dermatitis that affects babies. Cradle cap affects around 70% of infants and it mostly appear in the first 3 months of life and disappear by the age of 1 year. Seborrheic dermatitis can also be found around a baby’s ears or eyebrows, on eyelids, in armpits and other creases like the groin. The skin patches can either be dry and flaky — similar to dandruff — or oily, thick, and yellowish or brown.

For some babies, cradle cap can be a fungal infection, which likely is related to antibiotics given to the mother just before the infant’s birth. Cradle cap can also occur as a reaction to some baby shampoos or lotions, especially those that contain alcohol. 

According to Ayurveda ancient knowledge the cause of Cradle cap is impaired digestive fire ( Agni) - in this case, there will also be problems with the abdomen - colic, gas formation, the baby may have a hard or painful poop. Ayurveda believe if the digestive fire ( agni)  is unbalanced, it causes some foods  (food taken through breast milk, infant formula or older months food )  to be converted to toxins (Ama). These toxins circulate throughout the body and, when deposited, can leave traces on the skin, changing its appearance - dry, scaly or and in more serious cases of infection. Ayurveda has initially advised mothers to reconsider their diet or change milk formula. Ayurveda advice - the best for mothers is nutrition. Nutrition from an Ayurvedic approach is radically different from modern nutritional evaluations of food. Ayurveda focuses on the taste, heating or cooling qualities of food, the post digestive effect of foods in the body and its effect on an individual’s constitution or “dosha”. In this way, the imbalances causing excess toxins to be produced can be corrected.

• oil massage before bath – use pure oil like organic olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil. 

• Use a Humidifier in babys bedroom,

• overwashing can often cause baby’s cradle cap – bath baby every two to three days,

• natural moisturizer to your baby’s scalp - lotion or balm,

• breastfeeding mother should avoid foods prepared out of maida, curds, 

• healthy food during pregnancy helps prevent cradle crap,

• include in mothers diet  fennel seeds, cumins, garlic, turmeric, ginger

Diseases

Cradle cap .