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Cradle cap
It’s not pretty to look at, but cradle cap is a harmless scalp condition common in newborns. Your baby may have a mild case of flaky, dry skin that looks like dandruff, or a more severe case marked by thick, oily, yellowish, scaling, or crusting patches.

Cradle cap can appear anytime between two weeks and three months after birth and usually clears up on its own after several months. It’s usually not problem after about 6 or 7 months of age.

Cradle cap results when oil-producing sebaceous glands produce too much oil, which turns into oily patches and then dries and flakes off. Many experts think the extra hormones that a mother produces and passes to her child during childbirth cause the oil glands to act up. When the hormones in your baby’s body level out after the early months, the condition will go away.

The best way to remove the scales is to rub mild vegetable or olive oil into your baby’s scalp a couple of times a week, let it sit for about 15 minutes, then gently comb out the flakes. Then wash your child’s hair with a gentle baby shampoo.

Some doctors recommend leaving baby shampoo on your child’s head for about 20 minutes (or as long as your baby can stand it) and then massaging the scalp with a soft toothbrush. Cradle cap will eventually go away on its own, but consult a pediatrician if the condition persists, gets worse, or spreads. She may prescribe a medicated shampoo or cortisone cream.