Baby Acne Treatment

Acne usually starts during puberty, but it may also develop in babies. In fact, about 20% of newborns experience baby acne. It often develops two to four weeks after birth, but some babies are born with it. Baby acne may last for several days or weeks to a few months, but most baby acne cases go away on their own without treatment, so it’s usually not something to worry about.

But of course, we understand that as a parent, you always want your baby to feel and look his/her best. So, if your child is experiencing baby acne, hopefully, this article will help you better understand this condition and may also give you more information on how to get rid of baby acne as early as possible. What Does Baby Acne Look Like? Just like how acne looks like in teens and adults, baby acne appears like tiny pimples or red or white bumps on the baby’s face or body, but it’s usually more common on their cheeks, nose, scalp, neck and upper back. Baby acne may also consist of whiteheads and reddish skin may also appear surrounding the red or white bumps.

Baby

It’s best to see a pediatrician as soon as you see pimples or bumps on your baby’s skin to confirm whether it’s just baby acne or a more serious skin condition like milia, eczema and erythema toxicum. Another indication that it’s time to go to the doctor is when your baby’s acne causes discomfort (i.e., can’t sleep at night, itching, crying all day, etc.), inflammation or if it has blackheads and pus-filled bumps. What Really Causes Baby Acne? The cause of baby acne remains unknown at this point. But experts think it may be related with maternal or infant hormones or yeast that may live on the skin. How Can You Treat Baby Acne? As mentioned earlier, baby acne normally disappears even without treatment. However, for baby acne that lingers for months instead of just a few days to several weeks, your doctor may recommend prescription creams or ointment to help clear up your baby’s skin.

How To Treat Baby Acne Naturally At Home With Proper Hygiene

Please avoid buying over the counter (OTC) face washes, acne treatments or creams because the baby’s skin is still extremely sensitive. Applying something that’s too strong for your baby’s skin may lead to skin irritation, blisters, scarring or even make the acne worse and eventually develop to a more serious skin condition. Tips to Prevent Baby Acne or Not Make it Worse Some of the things you can do to prevent baby acne or at least keep it from getting worse:

Final Thoughts While there’s no specific treatment for baby acne, it’s still best to seek professional advice to know how to handle it with care. Besides, it’s good to know if it may be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as a condition related to your baby’s endocrine system, a tumor or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). On top of it all, we understand how worrying it can be for you, especially because you love your baby so much. Please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our pediatricians and dermatologists if you need any advice or assistance. As always, we’re here for you and your baby’s safe care.Wondering what’s causing your baby’s skin to break out? Baby acne is pretty par for the course. Here are the common culprits and how to clear it up quickly.

Your newborn is picture-perfect, of course—but as you memorize every square inch of your little one, you may notice some blemishes on their otherwise brand-new skin. What gives? It’s not as if they’ve been chowing down on fast food. Those bumps may be red and raised, they may be tiny and white or they may resemble the acne flare-ups you experienced in high school. But while these spots may be disconcerting, they’re actually not surprising, when you think about it: Just like a teenager, a baby experiences profound hormonal shifts as they adjust to the world outside the womb, and that can manifest as baby acne. Here’s how to recognize baby acne and how to treat it when it pops up.

Baby Acne: 10 Home Remedies To Treat It Safely

There are two different types of acne, depending on baby’s age. Newborn acne, otherwise known as neonatal acne, can appear when baby is a newborn up to 3 months old—and it’s totally normal. “Neonatal acne is a benign skin condition that roughly 20 percent of newborns have, ” explains Katie Pyle, DO, a pediatrician at UCHealth Pediatric Care Clinic in Firestone, Colorado. “We don’t really know the cause, but it’s likely either due to the stimulation of baby’s oil glands from mom’s hormones or an inflammatory reaction to a type of yeast that colonizes on a baby’s skin.” The good news: While baby may have a few pimples in their pics, newborn acne doesn’t point to future skin problems.

If baby is older than 3 months, they may be experiencing what’s called infantile acne, especially if you notice larger red, raised blemishes or pustules, says Meagan O’Neill, MD, a pediatrician with Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis. Like newborn acne, infant acne occurs in about one-fifth of babies. “While neonatal acne tends to go away on its own with age, infantile acne may stick around longer and, since it can be more severe than neonatal acne, may require treatment to avoid scarring.”

How

The characteristic signs of newborn acne are small red or white bumps that can appear all over the body but are usually concentrated on baby’s face and torso. You might also spy tiny white bumps on your newborn’s forehead, cheeks or near the mouth, called milia. These actually aren’t baby acne, per se—instead, the bumps are dead skin cells trapped in small pockets on the skin’s surface and tend to disappear within the first few weeks of life.

Baby Acne On Face Treatment: Mum On Tiktok Has A Weird Idea

Infant acne can manifest as a crop or cluster of raised red bumps, sometimes filled with pus, and can appear anywhere on the body. Sometimes they disappear on their own; sometimes they require treatment. Unlike neonatal acne, they can be a predictor of skin issues later in life, so partnering with a pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist can help set up a smart course of treatment, says Omar Baker, MD, FAAP, assistant clinical professor in the department of pediatrics at Columbia University and co-president of Riverside Medical Group in Northern New Jersey.

All this talk of red, raised bumps can sound suspiciously like describing a rash. And, as any parent can tell you, trying to identify a rash can be tricky work. So how do you know if it’s baby acne or a rash?

Baby

Baby acne actually falls under the umbrella of a rash. “A rash is defined as any skin change, and broadly speaking, neonatal and infantile acne are both considered rashes, ” O’Neill says. That said, it can be tough to tell the difference between baby acne and other benign skin conditions that commonly affect newborns and infants, like heat rash or eczema. The best way to tell whether or not it’s baby acne is to take a close look at the rash and see how angry it looks. “Eczema and skin infections are generally red and inflamed, with areas of very dry and sometimes cracked skin, ” Baker says. Here, a rundown of some common baby skin issues to help you identify the difference between infant acne and baby rashes.

How To Get Rid Of Baby Acne? 3 Moms Share What Worked

• Contact dermatitis: This rash appears as red bumps or flat red areas of irritated skin, and pops up when baby’s skin comes in contact with something irritating (which is why it’s smart to use products designed for sensitive baby skin). The rash usually clears up on its own once contact with the irritant has stopped. Diaper rash is usually a form of contact dermatitis and can be resolved by changing baby’s diaper frequently and using protective ointment.

• Eczema: Eczema often looks dry and flaky, with areas of red irritation. It often appears on the cheeks, scalp and the creases of the elbow, knee and groin, and shows up later in life than newborn acne—usually between 2 and 4 months of age. It’s important to keep baby eczema well moisturized. If you suspect eczema, talk to your pediatrician about the right product to use on baby’s skin.

Common

• Erythema toxicum: This common rash occurs in approximately 48 to 72 percent of full-term babies, according to the National Center for Biotechnical Information (NCBI), often one or two days after birth. It’s a blotchy, red rash with tiny, fluid-filled bumps (which can look like they contain pus, but there’s no infection) and clears on its own after a few days.

The Most Common Baby Rashes

• Heat rash: This rash occurs when babies get overheated and the sweat glands are blocked. Heat rash typically appears where heat and moisture can get trapped: neck folds, armpits, diaper area and creases of the elbows and knees. It looks like lots of tiny red bumps and should clear on its own once baby cools down.

• Milia: These small, firm white bumps are the result of skin or keratin getting trapped under the

Baby

Infant acne can manifest as a crop or cluster of raised red bumps, sometimes filled with pus, and can appear anywhere on the body. Sometimes they disappear on their own; sometimes they require treatment. Unlike neonatal acne, they can be a predictor of skin issues later in life, so partnering with a pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist can help set up a smart course of treatment, says Omar Baker, MD, FAAP, assistant clinical professor in the department of pediatrics at Columbia University and co-president of Riverside Medical Group in Northern New Jersey.

All this talk of red, raised bumps can sound suspiciously like describing a rash. And, as any parent can tell you, trying to identify a rash can be tricky work. So how do you know if it’s baby acne or a rash?

Baby

Baby acne actually falls under the umbrella of a rash. “A rash is defined as any skin change, and broadly speaking, neonatal and infantile acne are both considered rashes, ” O’Neill says. That said, it can be tough to tell the difference between baby acne and other benign skin conditions that commonly affect newborns and infants, like heat rash or eczema. The best way to tell whether or not it’s baby acne is to take a close look at the rash and see how angry it looks. “Eczema and skin infections are generally red and inflamed, with areas of very dry and sometimes cracked skin, ” Baker says. Here, a rundown of some common baby skin issues to help you identify the difference between infant acne and baby rashes.

How To Get Rid Of Baby Acne? 3 Moms Share What Worked

• Contact dermatitis: This rash appears as red bumps or flat red areas of irritated skin, and pops up when baby’s skin comes in contact with something irritating (which is why it’s smart to use products designed for sensitive baby skin). The rash usually clears up on its own once contact with the irritant has stopped. Diaper rash is usually a form of contact dermatitis and can be resolved by changing baby’s diaper frequently and using protective ointment.

• Eczema: Eczema often looks dry and flaky, with areas of red irritation. It often appears on the cheeks, scalp and the creases of the elbow, knee and groin, and shows up later in life than newborn acne—usually between 2 and 4 months of age. It’s important to keep baby eczema well moisturized. If you suspect eczema, talk to your pediatrician about the right product to use on baby’s skin.

Common

• Erythema toxicum: This common rash occurs in approximately 48 to 72 percent of full-term babies, according to the National Center for Biotechnical Information (NCBI), often one or two days after birth. It’s a blotchy, red rash with tiny, fluid-filled bumps (which can look like they contain pus, but there’s no infection) and clears on its own after a few days.

The Most Common Baby Rashes

• Heat rash: This rash occurs when babies get overheated and the sweat glands are blocked. Heat rash typically appears where heat and moisture can get trapped: neck folds, armpits, diaper area and creases of the elbows and knees. It looks like lots of tiny red bumps and should clear on its own once baby cools down.

• Milia: These small, firm white bumps are the result of skin or keratin getting trapped under the

Baby