EXTRACT VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AS A NATURAL REMEDY IN REMOVING CRADLE CAP IN INFANTS

Abstract

Background: Cradle cap (Infantile Seborrhoeic Dermatitis), a form of dermatitis that manifested as patches of scale severity on the scalp of infants. The plaque is hard, thick, and tightly scale accompanied by red inflammation resembling a hat, cause itching, discomfort, and causes stress to the parents with a prevalence rate of 3.5% in worldwide distribution. Extract Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) have an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing, skin aging, and reduces the incidence of skin cancer. Purpose: The aim to determine the effect of EVOO with a duration time to recover the cradle cap. Method: This study was a queasy experiment with the control group (was not administered) and the intervention group (was given four drops of EVOO). The population was 21 infants and only five infants with cradle cap in the Siulak Mukai Public Medical Centre area, Kerinci Regency, Jambi. The sampling technique used the purposive sampling technique as much as 10 samplings. Infants are aged 1-4 months, cradle cap confirmed in the head with a low degree (less than 10%) from the frontal area and parietal areas of the infant’s head. The statistical analysis used an independent sample t-test. Result: There were significant differences between the two groups in the duration of recovered the cradle cap (p = 0.000). Further analysis demonstrated a favorable effect of the intervention group with duration time to recovered 10.20 days than the control group is 27.60 days. Conclusion: EVOO is recommended to removing cradle cap in infant and also nourish hair with making the infant's scalp moist by preventing oxidative damage.