What Can I Do For Baby Acne

How Long Will My Babys Acne Last

The duration will depend on the type of acne your baby has. Neonatal acne generally runs its course before 4 months of age. This type usually doesnt leave any scarring or marks later on.

Infantile acne can be more persistent. Sometimes it can last up to two years, if not more. This may require treatment, especially if it seems tenacious it can also leave scarring if not treated properly .

Preparing For An Appointment

If you’re following a standard well-baby exam schedule, your baby will likely visit with your family doctor or pediatrician soon. These regular appointments offer a good opportunity to discuss concerns about your baby’s health. For baby acne, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Is my baby’s condition likely temporary or long lasting?
• What treatments are available?

What Causes Newborn Baby Acne

Doctors dont know for sure why newborn baby acne develops but one of the most popular theories for the cause of newborn acne is that hormones passed from mother to baby through the placenta and also breastmilk are to blame.

These hormones aggravate the sebaceous glands causing pimples to break out on the newborns face, usually on the cheeks, nose and forehead, but sometimes on babys neck, back and chest too.

Interesting fact: Newborn baby acne is more common in boys.

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Try The Breast Milk Remedy

There is no research to back up these claims, but many moms swear by the power of breast milk to clear up babys acne. Breast milk has high antimicrobial properties that can help keep your baby healthy. Those same antimicrobial properties can, theoretically, do just as much good when applied topically as they do when ingested.

Using a finger, just dab a small amount of breast milk on your babys inflamed skin several times a day. A great time to try this is during feeding periods when your baby is happy and content.

Do Not Pick At The Bumps

You may be tempted to pop or pick at the bumps on your babys face. Do your best to resist this urge. Breaking open the acne does little good in the long run and can lead to infection and scarring.

You might even cause your babys sebaceous glands to kick into high gear and produce even more oil. That extra oil on your babys skin can cause yet another acne breakout.

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Do I Need To See A Doctor About Baby Acne

Usually, you wont need to see a doctor about baby acne. However, you may want to see a doctor if baby’s acne lasts for several months. Your doctor may prescribe a treatment to help clear babys acne.

The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends seeing a doctor if baby acne begins when baby is over 6 weeks old. This is much less common than neonatal acne. It may be a sign of another health problem, or a sign that a product youre using is irritating the skin on babys face. Or, what is thought to be acne at this stage might not be acne at all.

If it is acne, though, and develops after six weeks of age, its known as infantile acne . Infantile acne usually appears between 3 and 6 months of age. Unlike neonatal acne, it can sometimes cause blackheads, and could potentially cause a scar. But fortunately, this type of acne often clears up on its own as well .

You should also see a doctor if your babys acne seems infected. Excessive swelling, excessive redness, discharge, and fever may be signs of infection.

And of course, if you suspect that babys facial rash is caused by eczema or an allergy , be sure to let your doctor know.

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All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your babys health.

How To Use Breast Milk For Baby Acne

One benefit of using your breast milk to treat baby acne is that its natural, free and, well, widely available.

As a bonus, breast milk is also gentle on a babys sensitive skin. Simply dab a little breast milk on their skin after feedings to reduce inflammation and gradually treat the acne.

You can use a clean finger to apply the breast milk, or dip a cotton ball in breast milk and then gently rub the cotton over your babys acne.

Since breast milk is gentle, you can use this natural remedy several times throughout the day until the acne clears.

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Why Do Babies Get Baby Acne

Doctors arent sure why babies get acne. Some think hormones may play a role mostly moms hormones, not babys but the medical community truly doesnt understand why exactly it happens.

Please know baby acne is different from the acne we see in teens and adults. This is why the treatment for baby acne is not the same as what you may have done for your teenage acne.

Baby acne will naturally clear up on its own. The most important thing we can do is be patient.

Here are a few other things you can try to help baby acne:

• During bath time, gently wash your babys face with a clean washcloth & water.

• Pat your babys face dry gently after washing .

• When your baby spits up, clean their face well so the spit-up is not sitting on their skin.

Because baby acne is completely different from the acne seen at other times in life, there are several things we want to avoid doing when we see baby acne:

• Dont pinch, squeeze, pick, or rub baby acne.

• Dont use acne treatment or other facial treatments.

• Dont use creams or lotions.

• Dont use scented baby washes or soap.

Trust Your Instincts And Your Pediatrician

At the end of the day, parenting a newborn is an ongoing learning process where parental instincts, research and professional guidance are all essential to getting through the day and keeping your baby happy and healthy. As weve learned, baby acneand neonatal acne in particularis on the low end of the parental stress spectrum and can be seen as just another developmental challenge to identify and manage with proper care and attention. And theres no way to overestimate the dizzying array of challenges we face and meet as moms and dads. There are more common conditions to look for in your little one including cow’s milk allergy or gassiness in newborns.

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Keep Your Babys Face Clean

Wash your babys face daily with warm water. Bath time is a great time to do this. You dont even need to use anything but water, but if you want to, look for a mild soap or soap-free cleanser. Dont hesitate to ask the pediatrician for recommendations.

Fragrance-free products are least likely to irritate your babys skin.

Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe

In mild cases, prescription therapy is generally unnecessary, and the lesions may resolve with gentle cleansing of the skin. The first-line treatment most physicians prescribe is 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. This is an gel that is applied to the skin it is a commonly used acne product. It is generally well tolerated but may cause dryness. The next line of therapy, in severe cases, is to add an oral antibiotic. Most infants are able to stop oral antibiotics within 18 months. Rarely, cases of acne could be made worse by a fungus, which would require a topical antifungal applied to the skin for treatment. Your baby’s pediatrician may request the help of a pediatric dermatologist for severe cases of acne. Furthermore, in severe cases or those resistant to therapy, an investigation for an underlying hormonal disorder may be warranted.

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Baby Acne: Causes & Treatment

Learn what baby acne is, how to identify it, and why its not worth stressing about. This skin condition is common, painless and temporary, although the symptoms could be signs of more serious conditions that your pediatrician can confirm.

As a parent, the only thing you may feel more than joy and love for your newborn is concern for their health and safety. Even the tiniest blemish or faintest cough keeps most of usespecially new parentson our toes and up at night. So, when you see small red or pink bumps on your babys face or body, its only natural to sound the alarms and race to your phone to find answers. As youll be happy to discover, baby acne is common, doesnt create discomfort and goes away soon enough. Ready for the details? Read on.

Why Babies Get Acne And What To Do About It

Contrary to popular belief, acne doesnt always start with puberty! It can start from the first few weeks after birth, known as baby acne or cradle cap. Luckily, typical cases of baby acne fade away in time without leaving scarring. But because baby skin is more delicate and sensitive than adult or teenage skin, even mild cases of acne can be irritating.

Additionally, baby skin is easily aggravated by external and environmental factors, from saliva to atmospheric pollution to changing temperaturesnot to mention everything that touches their face while theyre exploring the world. But thats actually not why babies get acne .

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What Causes Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum

The exact cause is unknown. It is not due to an infection, even though pus-filled spots are often present.

Various ideas have been suggested, including the possibility that it is a normal effect of a baby’s immune system. It is not an allergic problem. It is also not related to whether the baby is breast-fed or bottle-fed.

What If Baby Acne Doesnt Clear Up

If your babys break out just wont clear, you may be mistaking another skin condition for baby acne. Below are some various skin conditions that are similar to baby acne but require their own diagnosis and set of remedies.

• Milia: These are tiny white bumps, similar looking to whiteheads, which appear on nose, chin, and cheeks of baby. Milia can be present from birth, unlike baby acne, which sets in later. It can also occur alongside baby acne as your babys skin adjusts to life outside the womb. It is more often caused by sloughed off skin cells that get trapped in the outer layer of dermis.
• Heat Rash: While baby acne is on the face, heat rash tends to appear where the baby is clothed, including on the chest, stomach and neck, but also on the thighs and buttocks. Heat rash looks like a reddening of the skin with lots of tiny red bumps.
• Baby Eczema: While it can look similar to baby acne, especially when it shows up on the cheeks, its trademark look is red, patchy and scaly dry skin. It is very common in babies, and can also pop up in high-friction areas, like the folds of those tiny little elbows and knees. Eczema can be caused by diet, lifestyle, gut flora imbalance, dryness and also by genetics, if a parent suffers from eczema.
• Infection: If the bumps spread beyond face or if baby has a fever or cold symptoms, call your pediatrician immediately as these may be signs of an infection like roseola or RSV.

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When To See A Doctor

You may need to see a dermatologist if your babyâs acne doesnât resolve within several months. You should also visit a dermatologist if your baby has infantile acne after they are 6 weeks old. Following a doctorâs advice can help prevent infantile acne from causing scars. â

The doctor will look at your baby and make sure the skin condition is in fact acne. Itâs possible to mistake acne with another skin condition, so your doctor will want to rule out other possibilities like rashes, infection, or skin irritation. â

Your doctor may ask you if other people in your family have acne, and what kind of products youâve been applying to your babyâs skin. If youâre using multiple products, be prepared to list them all. â

If your baby develops acne after theyâre 6 weeks old, it could be a sign of another issue. Your baby’s doctor may want to do an x-ray or blood test to investigate. â

Make sure to tell your doctor if your baby has had any other symptoms like fever, other skin problems, or abnormal behavior. â

Most cases of infantile acne last six months to a year or longer. Children with infantile acne can have more severe acne when they are teenagers.

Dont Rub Your Babys Skin With Rough Fabric

Rough fabrics can make your babys acne worse by further irritating the already-sensitive skin. Thats why its so important to keep rough fabrics away from your newborn. Dress your baby in super-soft clothing, and keep wool and other coarse fibers away from their skin.

Similarly, dont bathe your baby with a washcloth. The roughness of the cloth can rip open the bumps and lead to infection. Instead, wash your little one with your hands, but be sure to remove any jewelry that may poke or prick.

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Newborn Acne Occurs Before Six Weeks Of Age

As its name implies, neonatal acne usually develops in the neonate period, which is the first four weeks of a baby’s life. It typically pops up around two weeks of age, but can occur anytime before six weeks.

It looks like small superficial pustules, which usually appear on a baby’s cheeks, chin, and forehead, and more rarely on the neck and upper body. You can identify neonatal acne because it’s usually very mild and doesn’t have any whiteheads or blackheads.

“It gets better on its own within a few weeks or months, usually no treatment is necessary,” Gagin says. And according to the American Academy of Dermatology, it won’t usually leave any lasting scars.

About 20%, or one in five, healthy newborns will develop neonatal acne.

When To Seek Medical Care

In general, baby acne is harmless and does not require urgent care. If you have any questions or feel that the acne on your baby’s skin is worsening despite using daily cleansing with a gentle soap, it is best to see your pediatrician. Additionally, if your baby is prone to scratching or picking at these lesions, there is a risk the affected areas could develop a bacterial skin infection, and it is best to seek further medical care.

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How To Prevent Baby Acne

While its impossible to prevent neonatal acne, the newborn period is the best time to develop smart infant skin care habits, which can help prevent future rashes, infant acne and skin issues. Even if baby was lucky enough to be born with silky-smooth skin, many of the strategies used to treat baby acne can also help prevent it:

Go fragrance free. The chemicals that make up artificial fragrances can irritate babys sensitive skin. Try hypoallergenic products, including lotions, shampoos and laundry detergents, when possible, to help prevent newborn acne.

Wash, dont scrub. Scrubbing can cause further irritation and make matters worse. Instead, gently wipe and pat babys skin dry to help prevent baby acne on the face.

Bathe baby regularly. For older, active infants, dirt and oil can get trapped in pores and exacerbate breakouts, just like with adults, so giving baby frequent baths can help minimize the possibility of breakouts.

Fight & Prevent Baby Acne With A Gentle Cleansing Product

Keeping baby acne under control and even getting rid of it completely can be as simple as cleaning your baby with a gentle cleansing product regularly. But you dont want to clean their delicate, sensitive skin with just any cleanser.

Its best to use one thats specially formulated for newborns. We recommend using a product that contains micellar water, like Mustelas Gentle No Rinse Cleansing Water, so it does not dry out their sensitive skin.

Best of all, Mustelas Gentle No Rinse Cleansing Water doesnt require rinsing and is great for when youre on the go!

Micellar water is composed of tiny cleansing oil molecules suspended in super-soft water. It dissolves dirt and impurities to cleanse your babys skin without stripping off its natural oils. And because Mustelas Gentle No Rinse Cleansing Water contains no parabens, phthalates, or phenoxyethanol, its safe to use on children of any age.

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Dont Use Oily Creams Or Lotions

Acne be it baby, adolescent, or adult is caused by clogged pores. Dirt and oil get stuck around a hair follicle and create a plug that irritates surrounding skin. Visually, this is the redness and swelling that are so commonly associated with acne. Because acne is caused by a buildup of oil and dirt, its best to avoid using oily creams and lotions on acne-prone skin.

To keep your babys acne-prone skin as healthy as possible, whether theyre having an outbreak or not, we suggest regularly cleansing the area with Mustelas No Rinse Cleansing Water or Mustelas No Rinse Soothing Cleansing Water for very sensitive skin.

These products contain micellar water, which works to keep your babys skin clean because the micelles in the water are attracted to the dirt and oil that can clog pores. The micelles are thus able to draw out impurities without irritating sensitive skin.

After you cleanse your babys skin, follow up with a sensitive-skin product, like Mustelas Soothing Moisturizing Body Lotion. This daily, light textured baby body lotion is specially designed for newborns with very sensitive, rashy, or reactive skin.