Seborrheic Dermatitis in Babies and Adults: How Cradle Cap and Adult Flares Are Approached

A father sits on the bathroom floor at 6 a.m., his eight-week-old on his knee, running a fingertip over a patch of thick, yellow crust just behind her soft spot. He is more worried than she is. She is drooling at the shower curtain.

Three floors up, a 42-year-old woman is examining her own hairline in a mirror, wondering why the flaking that vanished last summer has come roaring back, this time reaching her eyebrows and the creases beside her nose. She has changed shampoo twice. Nothing sticks.

Both are looking at seborrheic dermatitis. The comparison of cradle cap vs adult seborrheic dermatitis is not a comparison of two diseases but of one condition behaving very differently at two stages of life. Knowing which version you are dealing with changes almost everything about what to do next, from how patient to be to when to book an appointment.

Is cradle cap just seborrheic dermatitis?

Yes, and the naming is worth untangling because it drives a lot of unnecessary worry. Cradle cap is the everyday term for infantile seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis itself is a common, non-contagious inflammatory skin condition that favors areas rich in oil glands: the scalp, the face, the chest and the skin folds. The word seborrheic simply means related to sebum, the natural oil your skin produces.

When a baby develops greasy, adherent, yellow or white scale on the scalp in the first weeks or months of life, that is cradle cap. The same process can spread to the eyebrows, behind the ears, the neck folds and the diaper area, where it looks less like scale and more like shiny, salmon-pink patches. The NHS describes cradle cap as harmless and notes that it does not usually itch or bother the child.

In an adult the identical inflammatory process produces something that looks and feels different: pink or red patches with loose, greasy flakes, a scalp that itches, and a tendency to flare and settle in cycles. Dandruff, the flaking without visible redness, sits at the mildest end of this same spectrum.

So when a grandparent says the baby has cradle cap and the pediatrician writes infantile seborrheic dermatitis, they are describing one thing. The reason clinicians keep the fuller term is that it reminds everyone the scalp is only the most visible site, and that the same condition can appear again decades later. The question of cradle cap vs adult seborrheic dermatitis is really a question of age, immune maturity and how much time the condition tends to take to leave.

What actually happens in the skin: yeast, oil and an over-eager immune response

Nobody has a single, complete explanation for seborrheic dermatitis, and an honest article should say so. The most widely accepted model has three interacting parts.

The first is sebum. Oil glands are large and active in the newborn scalp, partly because of hormones passed across the placenta, and they become active again at puberty and stay busy through adulthood. Areas with the most oil glands are exactly where seborrheic dermatitis appears.

The second is a yeast called Malassezia, which is a normal resident of everyone’s skin. Malassezia feeds on the fats in sebum and, in the process, releases free fatty acids and other byproducts. Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic both list this yeast as a central contributor.

The third is the immune system’s reaction to those byproducts. In most people, nothing happens. In people prone to seborrheic dermatitis, the skin barrier appears more sensitive to these irritating fats and mounts an inflammatory response: redness, faster turnover of skin cells, and the greasy scale that results when cells shed in clumps rather than one at a time.

This explains several everyday puzzles. It explains why antifungal shampoos help even though the condition is not a true infection; they reduce the yeast population and therefore the irritant load. It explains why the condition is not contagious; the yeast is already on everyone. And it explains why it recurs: you cannot permanently remove a normal skin organism or switch off sebum production, so the goal in adults is control rather than elimination. In babies, the maternal hormone surge fades within months, sebum falls, and the whole cycle tends to wind down on its own.

At what age is seborrheic dermatitis most common? The two peaks explained

Seborrheic dermatitis has a distinctive two-humped pattern across the lifespan. Mayo Clinic identifies the first peak in infants under about 3 months of age and the second in adults between roughly 30 and 60. Cleveland Clinic gives a similar picture and describes it as one of the more common skin conditions seen in dermatology, affecting an estimated one in ten people at some point.

The infant peak tracks the hormonal echo of pregnancy. Androgens crossing from mother to baby stimulate oil glands, and the scalp responds. As those hormone levels drop, sebum production falls and the scale loosens. This is why cradle cap is rarely seen for the first time after the first birthday, and why a child who seems to develop it at age four is more likely to have something else, such as atopic eczema or a fungal scalp infection, that needs a fresh look.

The quiet years between toddlerhood and puberty are exactly that: quiet. Oil glands are small, and seborrheic dermatitis is uncommon.

The adult peak arrives with sebum’s return at puberty and settles into a chronic, relapsing pattern that can last decades. Men are affected more often than women, which is consistent with androgen-driven sebum production. Older adults, particularly those with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, form a further group in whom the condition is more frequent and sometimes more stubborn, as Mayo Clinic notes.

Understanding this age pattern is practical, not academic. It tells parents that patience is usually the right first response for a baby, and it tells the 45-year-old with a fresh flare that the condition is behaving exactly as expected for their age, not signalling that something has gone badly wrong.

Cradle cap vs adult seborrheic dermatitis: the differences at a glance

Because the same condition presents so differently at the two peaks, a side-by-side view is genuinely useful. The table below summarizes what mainstream guidance from the NHS, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic describes for each group.

Feature	Cradle cap (infant)	Adult seborrheic dermatitis
Typical onset	First weeks to 3 months of life	After puberty; peak roughly 30–60 years
Main sites	Scalp, eyebrows, behind ears, neck and diaper folds	Scalp, eyebrows, sides of nose, ears, chest, beard area
Appearance	Thick, greasy, yellow or white scale stuck to the scalp	Pink to red patches with loose, greasy or fine flakes
Itch	Usually absent	Common, sometimes intense on the scalp
Course	Tends to resolve on its own, often within 6–12 months (NHS)	Chronic and relapsing; flares over months to years
Usual first approach	Softening, gentle washing, time	Antifungal washes; short anti-inflammatory courses if needed
Likely triggers	Maternal hormones, immature skin	Stress, cold dry weather, illness, certain medicines, neurological conditions

Two rows deserve emphasis. The itch row is a helpful clue for parents: a baby who is scratching, restless and miserable with a scaly scalp may have atopic eczema or something else rather than simple cradle cap, and that is worth a review. The course row explains why the emotional experience is so different. Parents are usually told that the condition will pass; adults are told, more realistically, that it will be managed. Neither message is a value judgment, and both are grounded in what the natural history of the condition looks like at each age.

Why did I all of a sudden get seborrheic dermatitis? Common causes in adults

A first flare in adulthood often feels like it arrived from nowhere, and people go hunting for a new soap, a new pillowcase or a dietary culprit. The evidence points somewhere less dramatic: the predisposition was probably always there, and something tipped the balance.

Season is the most consistent trigger. Cold, dry air and indoor heating impair the skin barrier, and many people notice their worst flares in winter with improvement in sunny months. Mayo Clinic lists cold, dry weather among recognized risk factors.

Stress and fatigue are next. The link is well described in clinical guidance even though the mechanism is not fully mapped; stress hormones influence both sebum output and immune signaling in the skin.

Illness and recovery can unmask it. Mayo Clinic notes that seborrheic dermatitis is more common in people recovering from stressful medical events such as a heart attack, and in people with weakened immune systems, including those living with HIV or undergoing organ transplant. A sudden, widespread or unusually severe onset in an adult is one of the reasons a clinician may ask broader health questions rather than simply reaching for a shampoo.

Neurological and psychiatric conditions form a distinct group. Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and depression are associated with higher rates, and some medicines used in these conditions, including lithium and certain antipsychotics, are listed as possible contributors. This is emphatically not a reason to alter any prescribed medicine; it is a reason to mention the flare to whoever prescribes for you so the whole picture is considered.

Finally, there is plain chance. Many adults develop it in their thirties or forties with no identifiable trigger at all, which, given the age curve, is simply the condition keeping to its usual schedule.

What gets mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis, and how clinicians tell them apart

Seborrheic dermatitis is diagnosed by looking, not by testing, which means the main risk is confusing it with a lookalike. A short list covers most of the confusion.

Scalp psoriasis is the classic imitator in adults. Psoriasis produces thicker, silvery-white, sharply edged plaques and often extends beyond the hairline onto the forehead or neck; it may be accompanied by nail changes or plaques on the elbows and knees. When features of both conditions overlap, dermatologists sometimes use the term sebopsoriasis, and the approach may borrow from both playbooks.

Atopic eczema is the main lookalike in babies. Eczema tends to itch, to appear on the cheeks and outer limbs, and to run in families with asthma or hay fever. Cradle cap, by contrast, is typically calm and confined to oily areas.

Tinea capitis, a fungal infection of the scalp caused by dermatophyte fungi rather than Malassezia, is important not to miss in children. It can cause patchy hair loss, broken hairs and sometimes swollen, boggy areas. Unlike seborrheic dermatitis, it is contagious and needs specific treatment.

Rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis frequently coexist on the adult face; rosacea brings flushing, visible vessels and pimple-like bumps without the greasy scale.

Contact dermatitis from hair dye or fragrance can mimic a flare, especially when the pattern follows where a product was applied. Less commonly, lupus, pityriasis versicolor and, in immunosuppressed adults, more unusual infections enter the picture.

A clinician will usually examine the whole skin, ask about family history and itch, and occasionally take a skin scraping to look for fungus or a small biopsy if the pattern is atypical. Photographs of the rash at its worst are surprisingly helpful, because seborrheic dermatitis has a habit of behaving on the day of the appointment.

How cradle cap is approached: gentle steps, patience and what to avoid

The first thing pediatric guidance says about cradle cap is also the most reassuring: for most babies, nothing needs to be done. The NHS states plainly that cradle cap is harmless, usually does not bother the baby and typically resolves within 6 to 12 months. The approach, then, is about comfort and appearance, not about treating disease.

Softening the scale is the practical core. Massaging a small amount of a plain emollient, such as a baby-safe mineral or vegetable oil, into the scalp and leaving it for a while before a wash loosens the crust so it lifts more easily. Mayo Clinic and the NHS both describe this approach. After washing with a gentle baby shampoo, a soft brush or a fine-toothed comb moved lightly over the scalp helps flakes come away.

What to avoid matters as much. Picking or scraping stuck scale can break the skin and open the door to infection, so anything that has not loosened is left for another day. Adult dandruff shampoos, tea tree oil and other essential oils are not recommended for infants without specific medical advice; a baby’s skin absorbs more and reacts more readily than an adult’s.

When cradle cap is extensive, inflamed or spreading into skin folds, a pediatrician may prescribe a mild antifungal or a short course of a low-strength anti-inflammatory cream. The decision about whether and what to prescribe sits with that clinician and depends on the individual child. A Cochrane systematic review of interventions for infantile seborrheic dermatitis found the evidence base thin and of low certainty, with no single approach clearly better than another, which is itself a useful thing for parents to know: nobody is withholding a proven fix.

How adult seborrheic dermatitis flares are approached: the treatment ladder by class

Adult management follows a stepwise logic that mirrors the three-part mechanism described earlier: reduce the yeast, quiet the inflammation, protect the barrier. Every step below is described by drug class and mechanism only; which product, how often and for how long are decisions for the prescribing clinician.

Antifungal washes and creams form the base of the ladder. Azole antifungals such as ketoconazole, and agents such as selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione and ciclopirox, reduce the Malassezia population on the skin. Because they act on the cause of the irritation rather than the redness itself, they are often used for maintenance between flares, not just during them. Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic both list these classes as first-line options.

Keratolytics loosen scale. Salicylic acid and coal tar preparations help thick, stuck flakes lift so that other treatments can reach the skin beneath.

Topical corticosteroids are the fast anti-inflammatory step. They calm redness and itch within days but are used in short bursts, particularly on the face and in skin folds, because prolonged use can thin the skin and cause visible blood vessels. This is the class where clinician guidance matters most.

Topical calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, offer inflammation control without the skin-thinning concern, which is why they are often considered for facial disease or for maintenance. Newer non-steroid anti-inflammatory topicals have entered the field; their place in routine care is still being defined.

Oral antifungal medicines are reserved for severe or widespread disease that has not responded to topical measures, and phototherapy is occasionally used by specialists. Neither is a starting point.

For the beard, eyelids and ears, clinicians often adapt the same principles with gentler formulations. The common thread is that no single rung is meant to be climbed once and forgotten.

Who is usually offered treatment, and who is asked to wait

Watchful waiting is a legitimate medical strategy, and seborrheic dermatitis is one of the conditions where it is used deliberately.

Babies are the clearest case. An infant with scale confined to the scalp, no redness beyond mild pinkness, no obvious discomfort and normal feeding and sleep is usually asked to wait, with softening and gentle washing as the only active steps. The natural tendency of cradle cap to resolve within months means that exposing a baby to medicated products, even mild ones, is generally not thought worthwhile.

Babies who are usually offered something more include those whose rash has spread into the face, neck folds or diaper area with clear inflammation, those with weeping, cracked or crusted skin that may have become infected, and those in whom the picture is not clearly cradle cap at all. Any baby who is scratching or unsettled by the rash is also worth a review, since itch points away from simple seborrheic dermatitis.

In adults, the threshold shifts. Mild dandruff and occasional flaking are often managed with over-the-counter antifungal washes alone, and many people never see a clinician. Someone is more likely to be offered prescription treatment when the face is involved, when itch disturbs sleep or concentration, when flares are frequent, when the eyelids are affected, or when the condition arrives suddenly and extensively in someone with no prior history.

Adults who may be asked to wait, or rather to try the simplest measures first, are those with limited scalp disease and no facial involvement. Adults who should not wait include anyone with a severe first-time flare, anyone who is immunosuppressed, and anyone whose rash does not respond as expected to a reasonable trial of first-line care, because that is when the lookalikes need to be reconsidered.

What the following weeks usually look like, for a baby and for an adult

Timelines are where expectations most often go wrong, so it helps to describe the typical shape of things rather than a promise.

For a baby, the first two weeks of softening and gentle washing usually produce visible thinning of the scale, though some patches cling stubbornly and new ones can appear while the old ones lift. Parents commonly describe a wave pattern: better, then a fresh crop, then better again. The NHS timeline of resolution within 6 to 12 months is the frame to hold onto; the scale is a slow tide going out, not a light switch. If a pediatrician has prescribed a cream, they will usually set a review point to check that the rash is behaving as expected.

For an adult starting an antifungal wash, itch and redness often ease within the first couple of weeks of consistent use, while flaking can take longer to settle because the skin’s turnover has to normalize. Mayo Clinic describes seborrheic dermatitis as a condition that may require repeated treatments and can return once treatment stops, which is the honest framing: improvement, then maintenance.

If a short course of topical corticosteroid has been prescribed for a flare, redness typically calms within days, after which the clinician’s plan usually shifts back to the antifungal base to hold the gains.

What people should expect at four to eight weeks is not perfection but a clear direction of travel. Steady improvement means the diagnosis and approach are probably right. No change, or worsening, is the signal to go back rather than to escalate on your own, since lookalikes such as psoriasis and contact dermatitis often reveal themselves precisely by not responding.

What people often get wrong about cradle cap and adult seborrheic dermatitis

Myths cluster around this condition because it is common, visible and poorly understood by most of us. Several deserve direct correction.

It is not a hygiene problem. Neither a baby’s cradle cap nor an adult’s flaking scalp reflects insufficient washing. The yeast involved lives on everyone, and over-washing with harsh products can irritate the barrier and make things worse. Gentle, regular cleansing is the aim, not scrubbing.

It is not caught from anyone. Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious. A baby did not get it from daycare, and a partner will not catch it from a shared pillow.

It is not caused by diet in any proven way. People frequently link flares to sugar, dairy or gluten. Mainstream guidance from the NHS, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic does not identify any food as a cause, and restrictive diets have no demonstrated benefit for the condition. If a food seems to coincide with flares, mention it to a clinician rather than eliminating food groups, especially in children.

It is not a sign of allergy. Seborrheic dermatitis is an irritant and inflammatory response to normal skin components, not an allergic reaction, which is why allergy testing rarely helps.

It does not usually cause permanent hair loss. Hair may shed a little in inflamed areas or come away with lifted scale, but the follicles are not destroyed. Persistent bald patches point toward another diagnosis.

It cannot be permanently removed in adults by finding the right product. The most realistic goal is long stretches of control with occasional flares. People who understand this early tend to spend less money and less anxiety chasing a final answer.

Essential oils and home remedies are not proven treatments and carry real risk of irritant reactions, particularly on infant skin and around the eyes.

Living with a relapsing condition: triggers, seasons and maintenance in adults

Once an adult flare has settled, the question becomes how to keep it settled, and this is where the real skill lies.

Maintenance usually means continuing an antifungal wash on a reduced schedule rather than stopping entirely. Because the yeast repopulates and sebum keeps flowing, stopping all treatment often leads to a return within weeks. The clinician who set up the plan is the right person to advise on how often is enough; frequency varies with the individual and the season.

Winter deserves planning. Many people can anticipate their worst months and step up maintenance before the flare arrives rather than after. A humidifier in a dry bedroom, shorter and less hot showers, and a bland moisturizer on facial areas all support the skin barrier without medication.

Beard and mustache care is often forgotten. Facial hair traps oil and scale, and the skin beneath is a favorite site. Washing the beard with the same antifungal wash used for the scalp, when a clinician agrees, is a common practical step.

Eyelid involvement, sometimes called seborrheic blepharitis, produces crusting along the lash line and gritty eyes. Warm compresses and gentle lid cleaning are the usual first measures, and anything applied near the eye should be discussed with a clinician.

Stress is a trigger most people recognize but few can eliminate. Sleep, exercise and whatever reliably lowers your own stress load are legitimate parts of skin care here, not soft advice.

Finally, tracking helps. A few photographs and brief notes over a season often reveal a pattern, whether that is a particular hair product, a work rhythm or a weather shift, that a single appointment would never uncover. Bring that record to reviews; it makes the conversation far more productive.

Questions to ask your care team

A ten-minute appointment goes further when you arrive with specific questions. These are the ones that tend to change what happens next, grouped by who is asking.

For parents of a baby with cradle cap:

• Does this look like straightforward cradle cap, or is there anything about the pattern that makes you consider eczema or a fungal infection?
• Is there any sign of skin infection, and what would that look like if it developed at home?
• Which emollient or wash do you suggest we use, and is there anything we should specifically avoid on an infant’s scalp?
• If you are prescribing a cream, how will we know it is working, and when do you want to see us again?
• Does the rash in the neck folds or diaper area need a different approach from the scalp?

For adults with a flare:

• Are you confident this is seborrheic dermatitis rather than psoriasis, rosacea or contact dermatitis, and is there anything that would make you want to test?
• Which class of treatment are you starting with, and why that one for my pattern?
• How long should I use the anti-inflammatory before switching back to maintenance, and what are the signs I have used it too long?
• What does maintenance look like for me once this flare settles?
• Could any of my current medicines or health conditions be contributing, and is there anyone else you think should know about this rash?
• What would make you want to see me sooner than the planned review?

One question applies to everyone: what does not responding look like, and at what point should I come back? Having that threshold agreed in advance removes the guesswork that so often leads people to escalate on their own or to give up on a plan that simply needed more time.

When to call your doctor: red-flag signs in babies and adults

Most seborrheic dermatitis never needs urgent attention, but a few signs should prompt a call to a clinician rather than another week of waiting.

For a baby, contact your pediatrician or family doctor if the scalp or affected skin becomes swollen, hot, weeping or develops honey-colored crusts or pus, since these suggest bacterial infection. Call if the rash spreads rapidly across the body, if the baby is itching, unsettled or not feeding or sleeping as usual, if there is patchy hair loss with broken hairs, or if the rash has not started to improve after several weeks of gentle care. A fever with any skin change in a young infant should be assessed promptly. The NHS also advises seeking advice if cradle cap is still present after the first birthday or if you are unsure the diagnosis is right.

For an adult, seek a review if a flare is severe, painful or spreading beyond the usual oily areas, if the skin is cracked, bleeding or shows signs of infection, if the eyelids are inflamed with worsening vision or eye pain, or if you develop fever or feel unwell alongside the rash. A sudden, widespread first episode in adulthood, especially with weight loss, night sweats, persistent fatigue or a known immune condition, warrants a broader assessment rather than self-treatment. Any rash that has not responded to a reasonable trial of first-line care, or that behaves differently from previous flares, deserves fresh eyes, because the lookalikes discussed earlier tend to announce themselves exactly this way.

None of these signs mean something serious is certain. They mean the situation has moved beyond what home care and patience should be asked to handle, and that is precisely when a clinician’s judgment is most useful. Every decision about diagnosis and treatment belongs with your treating team.

Frequently asked questions

Is cradle cap seborrheic dermatitis?

Yes. Cradle cap is the common name for infantile seborrheic dermatitis, the same condition adults experience on the scalp, face and chest. In babies it produces thick, greasy, yellow or white scale on the scalp in the first weeks to months of life, usually without itch. The NHS describes it as harmless and notes that it typically clears within 6 to 12 months without medicated treatment.

Why did I suddenly get seborrheic dermatitis as an adult?

Most adult flares appear when an existing tendency is tipped by a trigger such as cold, dry weather, stress, fatigue or recent illness. Mayo Clinic also lists neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, weakened immunity and some medicines, including lithium and certain antipsychotics, as risk factors. Often no trigger is found, and a first flare between 30 and 60 simply reflects the condition’s usual age pattern.

What gets mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis?

Scalp psoriasis is the most frequent lookalike in adults, producing thicker, silvery, sharply edged plaques. Rosacea, contact dermatitis from hair or skin products and, less often, lupus can also mimic it on the face. In babies, atopic eczema and tinea capitis, a contagious fungal scalp infection with hair loss, are the important alternatives. A rash that does not respond to first-line care is a signal to reconsider the diagnosis.

At what age is seborrheic dermatitis most common?

It has two peaks. The first is in infants under about 3 months, when hormones passed from the mother stimulate oil glands. The second is in adults between roughly 30 and 60, with men affected more often than women. The years between toddlerhood and puberty are usually quiet because oil glands are small then. Older adults with neurological conditions form an additional higher-risk group.

What is the difference between cradle cap and eczema in babies?

Cradle cap sits in oily areas such as the scalp, eyebrows and skin folds, looks greasy and yellowish, and rarely itches. Atopic eczema tends to be dry, red and itchy, often on the cheeks and outer arms and legs, and commonly runs in families with asthma or hay fever. A baby who is scratching or unsettled by a scaly scalp should be reviewed, because the two conditions are approached differently.

Can adults get cradle cap?

Adults get seborrheic dermatitis, which is the same condition, but the term cradle cap is reserved for infants. In adults it appears as pink or red patches with loose greasy flakes on the scalp, eyebrows, sides of the nose, ears and chest, usually with itch. Unlike the infant form, it tends to recur over years and is managed for control with antifungal and anti-inflammatory topicals rather than expected to resolve on its own.

Is seborrheic dermatitis contagious or caused by poor hygiene?

No to both. The yeast involved, Malassezia, lives on everyone’s skin, and the condition reflects an individual’s inflammatory response to its byproducts rather than an infection that can be passed on. Washing more aggressively does not help and can irritate the skin barrier. Gentle, regular cleansing is the aim, and for adults an antifungal wash used as directed by a clinician forms the usual base of care.

How long does cradle cap last?

Most cradle cap improves gradually over weeks to months, and the NHS states it usually clears within 6 to 12 months. Parents often notice a wave pattern of thinning scale followed by fresh patches before it finally settles. Softening with a plain emollient and gentle washing speeds the lifting of scale. Cradle cap that persists past the first birthday or shows signs of infection should be reviewed by a clinician.

Does seborrheic dermatitis cause hair loss?

Usually not in any lasting way. Inflamed skin may shed a little more hair, and strands can come away with lifted scale, but the follicles remain intact and hair regrows once the skin calms. Persistent bald patches, broken hairs or boggy swollen areas point toward another diagnosis, particularly tinea capitis in children or scarring conditions in adults, and should be examined by a clinician.

Will seborrheic dermatitis go away permanently in adults?

In adults it is generally a chronic, relapsing condition. Mayo Clinic notes that it may improve without treatment but often returns and can need repeated courses. Because sebum and the skin yeast are both normal and permanent, the realistic aim is long stretches of control using maintenance antifungal washes, with short anti-inflammatory courses for flares. The pattern and plan are best set with the treating clinician.

References

• NHS: Cradle cap
• Cleveland Clinic: Seborrheic dermatitis
• MedlinePlus: Seborrheic dermatitis
• NHS: Dandruff

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.