need help for cradle cap and dry skin for infant.

[Guest guest]

My 2-month old daughter has got very dry skin and she also has cradle

cap. I have been applying cetaphil on her skin two times and iam

massaging her daily with coconut oil but still her skin feels very dry.

 

For cradle cap doctor asked me to apply olive oil to her scalp after

head bath. Is it ok to apply olive oil to her hair or do i need to

apply coconut or other oils?

 

Please give me some suggestions on how to cure cradle cap and dry

skin.All your advices are highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Anamika.

[Guest guest]

My 2-month old daughter has got very dry skin and she also has cradle

cap. I have been applying cetaphil on her skin two times and iam

massaging her daily with coconut oil but still her skin feels very dry.

 

For cradle cap doctor asked me to apply olive oil to her scalp after

head bath. Is it ok to apply olive oil to her hair or do i need to

apply coconut or other oils?

 

Please give me some suggestions on how to cure cradle cap and dry

skin. All your advices are highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Anamika.

 

Dear Anamika;

Of course we want to look at comfort first. Your baby is fortunate to

be receiving daily massage – I hope it is with WARM oil and full body

massage, followed by warm bath? Although cradle cap looks itchy, it

is not. Too much effort to peel the seborrhea may however create

secondary problems, and sometimes a fungal infection may be involved

is missed in assessment. It is often reassuring to mothers to know

this is not a problem of hygiene, but of overactive sebaceous glands,

as the westerners discuss it. It is my guess that some interesting

Ayurveda may be discussed from the vaidyas on why this imbalance

manifests beyond the more western description at end of this post.

But in any case, there are options.

 

As far as cause, and the chronic dry skin, Where are you located, and

are you breastfeeding? To look at the big picture and preventive

understanding for future problems, which will also save you money

sometimes on medicines for such problems. We should look at your

dietary habits for yourself and lifestyle, doshic influences as well

since giving birth - the first 6 -8 weeks is so influential a time for

both of you. For postpartum mothers, extra internal oleastion is

among factors which are very important (usually ghee in larger amounts

than normal). EFA levels, further compounding vata influences on top

of the postpartum time, use of nightshades, eggs, fermented cheeses in

the diet, climate, your body type/vikruti all may be needing to look at.

 

There are many things that will be helpful, some to shorter or longer

time for results. Part of the reason for choices in addition to

learning experience offered are because we do not know anything about

your situation or resources. In any case, if at all possibly I would

be avoiding anything pharmaceutical/created by the chemists in a lab.

These chemicals whether they give immediate results or not tend to be

quickly absorbed by Baby's delicate skin into the system, introducing

pollutants we do not want her to deal with in present or future. Have

you seen the detailed discussions about the tremendous toxic levels

people re carrying around these days, even living "healthy lifestyles?".

 

Always use organic for base (massage/carrier) oil as well as essential

oils especially with babies! – oils are lipids and they concentrate

environmental toxins, petrochemical pollutants when they grow which

also have lipid like structure, so fats, dairy, nuts, meats and any

oils are most at risk if not organic.

 

Starting with the base oil used, here is how I would choose. If you

do not have essential oils, I would soak a some fresh lemon peel and a

few whole cloves or rosemary leaves with one or more of these.

• Avoiding nut oils – babies often get rashes

• Lean away from Olive, it is not as nourishing or effective for skin

care. It is not harmful, but does not absorb as well.

• Unless baby is high pitta and weather very warm, avoid coconut with

newborns as their vata is naturally sensitive to such cooling

influences. (can be balanced with a warming essential oil such as

myrrh, rosemary or even very dilute clove in this case)

• No personal experience with jojoba, or avocado for this, but as I

understand, jojoba is a very good choice for the cradle cap and for

the particularly dry skin conditions, both often well used.

• Most of our clients' babies do best with sesame oil unless high

pitta/showing rash to this oil also. Then I would go to sunflower (or

as above re coconut).

 

Many essential oils are used with quick results. Essential oils are

very concentrated, by comparison dried herbs have only about 5% of

their essential oils or less remaining, and 1 drop of peppermint is

like strength of 26 cups of tea (if a low temperature/pressure

extracted quality eoil). For cradle cap we find used – geranium,

lemon, orange, lemon eucalyptus, eucalyptus, melaleuca alternifolia

(common tea tree), melaleuca ericafolia, patchouli, myrrh, rosemary,

lavender and others.

 

Remember the quality warning above about any oils, and if you have any

of these essential oils, this is where I would start. If able to

choose, we favor the first two because of their ability to dissolve

thick sticky substances and sebum so especially well, and dilute about

1drop essential oil to ½ teaspoon of massage oil. With premies we are

more dilute.

 

If some actual irritation or infection seems apparent, Susan Clark's

advice below is good, and in the meantime I would include a more

antimicrobial oil such as lemon, melaleuca ericafolia (especially

gentle for children, sweeter smelling, more skin kind – used often for

children in France, Australia, undoubtedly also elsewhere; only

available in US through one company), or myrrh – one of my favorites

for most skin problems, or lavender – and not be so conservative about

dilution unless using citrus oils. Citrus oils with repeat use can

create photo sensitivity (light reactive irritations) unless diluted.

 

Of course we hope you are using good hat/caps on Baby's head when

going out for the first year to protect their psychic openness as well

as from the weather elements, and not much time in direct sunlight in

any case.

 

IF any essential oils get near Baby's mouth, eyes, or other mucosa,

dilute a bit with OIL as in base/massage/food oil or ghee, NOT with

water. Works like a charm.

 

The following reference is very conservative and reliable, may take a

little longer for results but is a no questions asked safe and

excellent resource text for parents, Valerie Ann Worwood, Aromatherapy

for the Healthy Child. She offers good detail and a recipe with

avocado oil, another one very skin kind and safe, if expensive.

 

"Only use a small amount each time. Gently smooth over the scalp to

help loosen scales. Mix together: ½ ounce each avocado oil and jojoba

oil, with 1 drop each, tea tree, orange and lemon essential oils.

Leave for a few minutes then shampoo off with a mild shampoo. Be

careful not to get the oil or shampoo in baby's eyes, or on baby's face."

 

(this author has not seen the following reference, but is in respect

of her presentation below – note very minor dilution here, and warning

about quality of shampoo/skin care products.) Susan has recommended a

brand of Tea Tree to be very pure - this is not my experience so it is

not included. According to the found online reference to What Really

Works for Kids - The Insider's Guide for Mums and Dads - Susan Clarks

book "packed with advice, information and the very latest scientific

research":

 

"What's happening?

When the sebum-producing oil glands in the scalp go into overdrive,

you will see the tell-tale sign of cradle cap - which is a thick,

waxy, yellowy encrustation that is most prevalent at the top of your

baby's head. A form of seborrheic dermatitis - which is an

inflammatory skin complaint - it can also appear on the eyebrows and

eyelids, in and around the ears, around the nose and in the groin

area. This is a classic Catch-22 problem because when excess oil

starts to flake, it clogs the ducts of the glands, which respond by

producing even more oil in an attempt to unblock the plug and clear

the pathway to the surface. And then you get deeper plugs, even more

waxy scales and even more oil production.

 

Your biggest problem is making sure a secondary bacterial or fungal

infection does not spot its opportunity to take hold.

 

What to do?

Mix a little Olive Oil and pure Tea Tree oil and massage affected

areas with this lotion. Then shampoo and brush the greasy scale away.

Washing baby's hair everyday is not enough to clear cradle cap - this

is not a problem caused by poor hygiene - and so to help unplug the

blocked ducts, you will need to brush the scalp firmly with a soft

baby brush. Never pick at any lesions, which could trigger an

infection. When you do shampoo, make sure you are using a shampoo that

does not contain sodium lauryl sulphate - a foaming agent which, in

high concentrations, can lead to the breakdown protein in the body.

Always be on guard against infection. If you spot any affected area

that looks red and feels warm to the touch or if you notice an unusual

discharge, consult a qualified health practitioner - a naturopath,

homeopath or your doctor."

 

Warmly;

Ysha

Ysha Oakes, Postpartum AyurDoula Care 15 years

www.sacredwindow.com

www.perinatalayurveda

[Guest guest]

Anamika,

Acccording to Ayurveda, Sesame (Til) oil is the best oiling agent. Sesame oil can be applied to the whole body and Coconut oil be used for head application. Herb-processed oils like Chandan-Bala-Lakshadi oil can also be used for dry skin.

If you do not see any marked improvement within a month, then better get her checked from competant doctor / vaidya to rule out any skin problem.

 

Dr. Muzumdar ( M.D.Ayu-Med.)

______________

 

My 2-month old daughter has got very dry skin and she also has cradle

cap. I have been applying cetaphil on her skin two times and iam

massaging her daily with coconut oil but still her skin feels very dry.

 

For cradle cap doctor asked me to apply olive oil to her scalp after

head bath. Is it ok to apply olive oil to her hair or do i need to

apply coconut or other oils?