Cradle cap

You might expect your baby's skin to be flawless, but various baby rashes strike easily. Here's a look at cradle cap, a common baby rash.

Cradle cap appears as somewhat scaly patches on a baby's scalp. The patches may be thick, yellow, crusty or greasy. Cradle cap is most common in newborns. It usually clears up on its own within a few months. In the meantime, wash your baby's hair once a day with mild baby shampoo. Loosen the scales with a small, soft-bristled brush before rinsing off the shampoo. Consult your baby's doctor if frequent shampooing doesn't help or the scaly patches spread beyond your baby's scalp.