What is cradle cap (infant seborrheic dermatitis)?

What is cradle cap (infant seborrheic dermatitis)?

Cradle cap (infant seborrheic dermatitis, or ISD) is a harmless skin condition that appears as yellow scaly patches surrounded by a red rash on the scalp of babies. About 7 out of 10 babies develop cradle cap between two and six weeks of birth.

Your baby is not in any danger. Cradle cap has no negative effects on your baby’s general health and doesn’t affect sleep or feeding. It usually disappears over a period of weeks or months and typically isn’t seen after 12 months of age.