Yellow flaky skin in 5 week old?

[andlee]

Hi! My LO has had a bout of infant acne for the last two weeks or so, which I stayed relatively calm about. The Baby Book says not to apply lotions or anything like that to it, so I haven't. About two days ago, though, the skin between his eyes and on his forehead has gotten really flaky, and its yellow in color. Google tells me jaundice, but I thought jaundice only occurs in the newest of newborns? Do I need to take him to the pediatrician or is this something y'all have experienced as well?

Thanks!

[Viola]

I'm thinking it's probably cradle cap. Apparently it's also called Seborrhoeic dermatitis. Here's a photo of a baby with it on his head, and they talk more about it at that site. http://www.adhb.govt.nz/newborn/Teac...logy/SD/SD.jpg

[Juvysen]

Yep, I'm betting cradle cap. You can *gently* scratch it off with a fingernail. I'd check your baby's scalp, too. if it doesn't come off easily, you can put a little baby oil and use a soft baby hairbrush and it should sorta flake off. It shouldn't hurt the baby at all to do this - I just had to do this a couple weeks ago with my 7 week old (he was 5 weeks then)

[andlee]

That's exactly what it is...should I take him to the pediatrician? I didn't take him for the infant acne, I'm trying not to be one of "those" moms, but now I'm getting worried. Do you think the baby oil will influence the baby acne at all? The acne is already looking way better than it did before. The part where the dermatitis is isn't broken out, but I would hate to exacerbate the situation.

You guys are amaaaaazing. I feel like such a rookie

[Juvysen]

nak

go with a natural oil like olive oil or burts bees has a nice baby oil based on almond or apricot oil or something... less likely to clog pores than normal mineral oil based baby oil. It shouldn't bother the baby acne, though.

Yes, if you're worried, by all means call your ped! They're paid to field these kinds of questions. Probably what I'd do is see if I could get it cleared up a bit and if it wasn't working, then I'd call...