Cradle cap - Causes of cradle cap

The cause of cradle cap is not clear, but may be linked to overactive sebaceous glands.

These are glands in the skin that produce an oily substance called sebum.

Some babies are thought to retain some of their mother's hormones in their bodies for several weeks or months after the birth. These hormones may make the baby's glands more active and produce more sebum.

The excess sebum causes old skin cells to stick to the scalp, instead of drying up and falling off as they would normally do.

Cradle cap is not contagious and not caused by a lack of cleanliness. If a baby has cradle cap, it does not mean they have an infection or that they are not being looked after properly.

It is thought that a child with cradle cap may be more likely to have other types of seborrhoeic dermatitis, such as dandruff, when they are older.