sodium lauryl ether sulfate + sodium lauryl ether sulfo-succinate: clinical use

Prescribing considerations

• Confirm that the presentation is consistent with uncomplicated infant cradle cap; bleeding, fluid leakage, swelling, widespread disease or poor improvement warrants clinical assessment.
• Perform a small-area tolerability test before scalp use and discontinue if a local reaction develops.
• Avoid simultaneous shampoo products, excessive massage and very hot water.

Contraindications and cautions

• Hypersensitivity to either active ingredient or an excipient
• Broken or infected scalp skin
• Signs of atopic eczema on the scalp, as surfactants may exacerbate atopic dermatitis

Monitoring

• No routine laboratory monitoring is described.
• Monitor clinical response and local tolerability, including erythema, irritation, dryness and inflammation.
• Reassess the diagnosis if the scalp becomes swollen, bleeds, leaks fluid or the condition spreads.

Clinical pharmacology

Two anionic cleansing surfactants act locally during washing to remove scalp oils and loosen adherent scale. Pharmacokinetic properties are recorded as not applicable for this rinse-off preparation.

Formulation and product differences

• The selected preparation is a colourless, viscous shampoo.
• Excipients include sodium benzoate, rose perfume and surfactant-associated ingredients that may contribute to local irritation.
• The current patient leaflet warns that benzoate salt may increase jaundice in newborn babies up to four weeks old and may cause local irritation.