Why not use baby oil?
Standard baby oil is not good to use as it is basically parafin oil, a mineral oil. For dry skin states a mineral oil causes the skin to draw moisture from deep in the skin, hydrating the outer layers. This gives the softening effect that is sadly purely temporary. The skin cannot keep doing this and so becomes more and more thirsty. Using a vegetable based oil has the opposite effect because it causes moisture to be drawn from the air and into the top layer of skin. I’d recommend Neal’s Yard baby oil, which is pure vegetable oils and very gentle; I use it also to removed tough eye makeup that other cleansers won’t shift. There are also concerns about long term toxicity of mineral oils like this; saying THEY wouldn’t be able to sell it if it weren’t safe is very naive as there have been a lot of dangerous products sold quite openly for many years. It’s only when the problems are investigated that the dangers are publicised. For cradle cap, use pure olive oil. Works a treat!
Both our pediatrician and dermatologist recommend baby oil for dry scalp (my baby has eczema and gets dry scalp). You can use baby oil or olive oil. I think calling baby oil “dangerous” is far fetched and honestly – ridiculous. Just don’t let the baby drink it – lol – and baby will be fine and will help the cradle cap.
