Cradle cap is the name given to the yellowish, greasy scaly patches that appear on the scalp of young babies. It is a very common, harmless condition that does not usually itch or cause any discomfort to the baby.
Cradle cap usually begins in babies during thier first three months and tends to last a few weeks or months. It usually clears up by the time the child is two years old, although in rare cases children can have cradle cap for a lot longer.
The cause of cradle cap is not clear, although it may be linked to overactive sebaceous glands, which are glands in the skin that produce an oily substance called sebum (see Causes).
Cradle cap requires no specific treatment, although gently washing the baby's hair and scalp may prevent a build-up of the scale (see Treatment).
Continue to next section: Symptoms of cradle cap