Cradle cap is likely caused by hormones passed from the mother to the baby before birth, leading to overactive oil glands.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Maternal Hormones: During pregnancy, hormones cross the placenta from mother to baby. These hormones can stimulate the baby's oil glands (sebaceous glands).
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Overactive Oil Glands: The stimulated sebaceous glands then produce more oil (sebum) than usual.
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Skin Cell Buildup: This excess oil causes dead skin cells to stick to the scalp, resulting in the characteristic scaly, greasy patches of cradle cap.
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Yeast Involvement: A type of yeast called Malassezia that naturally lives on the skin can also contribute to cradle cap. The excess sebum provides a favorable environment for this yeast to thrive. This isn't always the cause, but it can exacerbate the condition.
Therefore, while maternal hormones initiating overactive oil production is the primary suspected cause, the yeast Malassezia can play a secondary role.
