It is not uncommon for an infant to develop scaliness of the scalp, sometimes with honey crusted patches.. There may also be a pasty white/ yellow material found behind the ears, under the neck and under the armpits. Occasionally there is also a red pimply eruption over the forehead, back of head, neck and upper chest. This is the unsightly presentation of cradle cap and of seborrheic dermatitis. Though this entity is fairly easy to treat it frequently returns. The good news is that it usually disappears spontaneously within a few months time. The treatment regimen for cradle cap is as follows:

1)apply baby oil to the scaly areas of the scalp and allow to soak in for about five minutes.
2)comb out the scales with a fine tooth comb.
3)towel dry the scalp/ hair.
4)apply hydrocortisone 1% sparingly to the scaly areas.

This regimen may be repeated on a daily basis until the scalp is no longer scaly.

The treatment for seborrheic dermatitis is to clean away the white/ yellow film and apply hydrocortisone 1% cream, sparingly, twice a day until it is gone. The same holds true for the pimply areas around the body. As with anything else, if the regimen does not work or if it makes it worse, you should always consult with your doctor.