Whether and how to remove head gneus and cradle cap depends on the exact diagnosis. As a cradle cap crust and dandruff-forming eczema in babies, which is a first manifestation of the skin disease eczema. Just like head gnats, cradle scab found especially on the face and scalp of the baby.
Remove cradle cap – better not!
If your child suffers from atopic dermatitis, you should not just remove the cradle cap. The baby has a strong itchy rash with inflamed areas and crusting. If you remove the cradle cap, it is not only very painful for the baby, it also causes small wounds that can quickly trap bacteria and cause extra inflammation.
If your child is prone to scrape with milk scab, it is important to protect it from further skin damage. Cut your fingernails at least once a week and file sharp edges. In phases with severe itching, small mittens help you fasten them with Velcro.
Milk scab or head gneiss?
If your baby develops eczema before the third month and shows little itching, chances are it’s a head gnat. In this case, the scales are rather soft and form a layer on the scalp. This eczema is not a sign of atopic dermatitis and usually heals by itself. It comes about through overproductive sebaceous glands on the scalp. Consult the pediatrician if you are unsure whether it is cradle cap or any other condition.
Head gnats can be removed as opposed to cradle cap by washing the child’s scalp with a mild baby shampoo. If a stubborn scale has formed, you can soak it for a while with a baby oil under a hat. The scales can then be easily detached with a baby brush.
Treat atopic dermatitis and cradle cap
If you want to treat the milk scab, it is especially important to also relieve the rash and itching associated with it. For atopic dermatitis, various measures help:
- Cooling envelopes and lotions (such as with the addition of polidocanol or menthol) can soothe the inflamed skin and quench the itch.
- Cortisone preparations and immune modulators in the form of creams and ointments effectively attenuate the inflammatory response leading to the rash and head gneiss. In babies, however, these medications must always be used only briefly and under medical supervision.
- Some antihistamines (medications for allergies) can help treat atopic dermatitis and cradle cap. In babies, for example, they are given as drops.
- If it has already come through severe scratching to skin infections, further therapeutic measures are required, e.g. with antibiotics in the form of creams or juices.