My daughter will be three on August 11. For three months now she has had yucky, crusty, hard, brown spots on her scalp. Her doctor said it’s cradle cap. I’ve been treating it three days a week with Neutrogena T-gel shampoo. But I don’t really see much of a change. It doesn’t seem to bother her, but it’s really bothering me! Could it be from something she’s eating? Do you have any suggestions for treating it/getting rid of it? I’d really appreciate your advice!
Scalp scaling (cradle cap) is not uncommon in infants and often is due to seborrheic dermatitis. Affected infants have greasy scaling areas beginning at about a month of age; the condition can last until 8-12 months of age. Exposure to maternal hormones is thought to play a role.
Adolescents also can have greasy scalp scaling in part related to the effects of their own hormones. Cradle cap is not typically a condition that first arises in 3-year-olds, however. Eczema (atopic dermatitis), ringworm of the scalp (a fungal infection, tinea capitis, which also can cause hair loss), and even psoriasis can cause scalp scaling. Folliculitis, a superficial infection of hair follicles can cause crops of painless pus-filled bumps on the scalp, which may crust over.
I suggest re-thinking the diagnosis, more thorough evaluation of her scalp and skin and culturing for tinea capitis.
