Can cradle cap cause hair loss?

[Kristin27]

Hi, my DD is four weeks old and in the last two days she has lost all of the hair on the top of her head - she looks like George Costanza!!

I have also noticed that the top of her head is quite dry, could this be cradle cap? Can this cause her hair loss? I thought cradle cap was on the back of babies heads - from their head resting in the cot??

[littlelara]

cradle cap tends to be kind of crusty and flaky, not just dry, but it can cause bubs to lose some hair.
On the other hand, a lot of babies seem to lose their first hair anyway, so it could be completely unrelated.
hth

[Lozza]

I agree. Im a hairdresser and babies do lose that newborn hair anyway, on any part of the head, and will grow back in patches as well. If its dry maybe rub a little olive oil onto it to give it a bit of moisture. Cradle cap has a yellowy tinge to it and thick crusty chunks on the scalp ( best way to describe it) if its just dry it will be like dandruff flaky skin. I would use olive oil, its natural and the skin will drink it up. Then just gently remove any bits that are coming off. Hopefully it will calm down within a few days of trying this.

[Hoody]

My baby didnt have Cradle cap but lost nearly all the hair on top and also looked like George Costanza- some babies just lose their NB hair. Now at almost 8 months she does have a little cradle cap but her hair is lovely and thick. I agree with Lozza and to try a bit of olive oil if it does look dry- it cant hurt
Hoody

[rustygirl]

Yes it does cause hair loss. My little boy got it when he was around the same age ( still does have it) and he lost his hair on the sides of his head. It's just something you have to keep looking after. I hate it cause he is such a gorgeous baby (well....he is my son, I can say that can't I???? ) and it just looks horrible. I can't wait until he gets more hair and you can't notice it as much!!!

[Kazbah]

Babies will lose their birth hair - so take a lock of hair now, it's different to what will grow later.
If its cradle cap, it will feel quite oily? Least Pip's did. We tried everything - olive oil, bicarb, moisturiser ... ended up the only thing that worked for Pip was a walnut body scrub from the body shop that I'd use very gently on his scalp during his bath.