What's wrong with the yellow knot on the baby's scalp

Yellow scabs appear on the baby's scalp. Generally, this is a symptom of cradle cap in newborns. As parents, you can use sterilized gauze and apply some moisturizing oil on the baby's cradle cap. At this time, be careful not to wash your hair immediately. Wait until the cradle cap is completely softened, and then it will gradually fall off on its own. After it falls off, you can wash it with warm water. During this process, you must keep warm and prevent your child from catching a cold.

What is Cradle Cap?

When a baby is just born, there is a layer of oil on the surface of the skin. This is a yellowish-white substance formed by secretions of the skin and epithelial cells. If the baby's hair is not washed after birth, these secretions and dust will gather together to form a thicker cradle cap over time. Cradle cap is also known as milk cap.

Cradle cap generally does not hurt or itch, and has no obvious impact on the baby's health. This is very common in babies and will last for some time. Cradle cap feels a bit greasy and will peel off, but most of the time it will heal naturally and is a temporary phenomenon.

How to clean your baby's cradle cap

1. Vegetable oil washing method

Ingredients: You can choose vegetable oil, olive oil, or almond oil.

(1) To ensure cleanliness, heat and sterilize the vegetable oil, let it cool, and set aside.

(2) When cleaning, first apply cooled clean vegetable oil to the surface of the cradle cap on the scalp. Leave it on for several hours or a day. Do not rinse it off immediately. After the cradle cap is softened by the vegetable oil, thin ones will generally fall off naturally, while thick ones will require more vegetable oil.

(3) When the cradle cap falls off, the mother can comb it gently with a small comb and it will fall off easily. It is best to use a baby comb with soft and blunt teeth.

(4) Finally, use children’s shampoo and warm water to wash away the oil on your head. If it’s not thorough in one go, repeat it several times.

2. Shampoo Cleansing Method

Ingredients: Shampoo is an oil-water mixture containing an emulsifier, which can turn the oil into tiny particles, dissolve them evenly in water, and mix the water and oil.

(1) Choose a mild baby shampoo for your baby. Pour the shampoo into the palm of your hand and gently wet the baby's scalp where the cradle cap is.

(2) The mother rubs the area gently using her palms or fingertips.

(3) After two hours, wash it off with warm water. Do this once a day until the cradle cap is cleared.