What if a baby is losing hair due to cradle cap? Is this something to worry about? And what can be done about it?
Read our answer to a worried aunt about her sister’s 2-month-old’s hair loss and cradle cap.
Aunt’s Question:
My sister has a 2-month-old girl and she is losing hair due to cradle cap! She has had one of the worst cases of cradle cap that I have ever seen. She had it all over her face and creases of her elbow, but they have cleared up.
What she’s battling with now is the cradle cap in her scalp, which has caused her to lose a tremendous amount of hair. She is going bald on top of her head!
I’ve read about Borage oil, but would this help with growing back the hair?
Sincerely,
Concerned Auntie
Cradle Cap and Hair Loss
How nice of you to care so much for your sister’s daughter. However, you can be completely calm regarding her losing hair due to cradle cap – her hair will grow back!
I can understand that trying to get rid of the cradle cap creates hair loss (due to the combing, et cetera), but it is also the fact that many babies lose their hair during their first months of living. Cradle cap or not. It is a normal development that they shed their first set of hair and when their new hair grows, it can be completely different.
Bald spots at least at the back of the head is almost a rule for young infants, since these days we put them to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. They spend a lot of time lying on their back since they sleep for so many hours each day, so their soft and sensitive hair simply wears out. So please don’t worry about the bald spots! And at the back of her head, and even the sides of her head, she is most likely not even losing hair due to cradle crap, but the very important back or side sleep position!
Borage Oil for Treating Cradle Cap
Interesting to hear that you want to try Borage oil for the cradle cap.
In my experience, Borage oil is fantastic for this purpose! When I found out about it and tried it with our youngest baby, the cradle cap cleared within days. No scratching or combing (and hence a lot less hair loss than with combing)!
It is not entirely understood why many infants develop cradle cap. One theory is that they have an enzyme deficit, that Borage oil mitigates. Whether that is the actual reason or not, it is definitely worth trying Borage oil instead of combing, since it is much easier on the baby’s scalp and skin.
The only drawback is that until the baby’s enzyme system has matured, the cradle cap will continue to come back and the treatment will have to be done probably several times. But that is true for the more traditional methods to treat cradle cap as well.
So do recommend your sister to try an ointment with borago oil for cradle cap! The one I used even smelled good… :-) Find more information about the cause and treatment of cradle cap here, including Borage Oil.
Good luck, and again, don’t worry about her hair loss!
Paula
More Baby Hair Issues
- Hair Loss In 9 Month Old
- 4 Month Baby With Rapid Hair Loss
- Baby Has Bald Spots
- Baby Doesn’t Have Enough Hair
Research References on Cradle Cap and Borage Oil
- Transepidermal water loss and content in the stratum corneum in infantile seborrheic dermatitis
- Borage oil, an effective new treatment for infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis
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Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
Thanks for the info.It helped a lot for my granddaughter.
Hi,
At three months, it is difficult to say how quickly his hair will grow back, simply because at this age a lot of babies lose their hair naturally through hormones or by the tearing of lying down a lot. Baby hairstyles at this age and for a few months to come are often quite funny.
Some babies never lose their hair due to hormones, and they usually start growing bald patches back once they start rolling over and sitting up more – so at around 5-7 months of age maybe. Others go more or less bald and then it can take until they are well over a year before their hair starts coming back and thicken. And then it can start growing unevenly in the beginning, llike gettings pretty curls at the back of their head while still being almost bald at the top.
In any case, there isn’t much we can do about it, but to enjoy ou r babies’development and smile at the odd hairstyle – and take a picture of it :-)
So don’t worry about the lost hair, it will come back.