Second face skin

[angleterre7]

I remember being told as a child by an old submariner about a lucky charm for sailors, Not being sure whether this was just a tall tale to keep me entertained or scared. I was told that very rarely a child can be born with a form of second facial skin which is removed and considered by sailors to be a very lucky charm to have with you at sea. Can any old sailors shed any light on this?

[Ember]

Yes have heard of this, some babies are born with "cradle cap" and the sailors believed if they could get hold of one of these they would never drown.

[apricot]

I was told that I was born with this membrane over my face and that it was very lucky. Don't know about the sailors though.

[Quizmonster]

The membrane is generally called a 'caul'. Click http://www.nefa.net/archive/fishing/superstitions.
htm and scroll down to the paragraph that opens: "Some years ago..." There, you will see an account by a Scottish fisherman - which would explain the submariner connection - of its good luck properties. I just hope you can understand his Doric language!

[sddsddean]

Its true. I was born with a cradle cap and when a sailor friend of ours found out, he offered my Mum �10 for it (in 1959), so he must have wanted it badly. Mum didn't sell and still has it in a drawer upstairs.

[GreenBuggy]

I remember reading somewhere that people born with a caul were (supposedly) psychic! I guess that type of luck could be very good at sea...

[Caladon]

that is disgusting! my younger sister had cradle cap, as did all the children. warm oil removed it in a few weeks (like shampooing), though we were all born with hair and developed exzema which finally disappeared, except for mine and only i have dry skin to this day. coincidence?