What Can You Put On Baby Acne

When Should You See Your Healthcare Provider

If anything about your baby’s complexion seems out of the ordinary, or if you’re concerned that the condition isn’t getting better after three to four months, consult your baby’s healthcare provider. The healthcare provider may a medicated cream or some other treatment. But be sure not to use any over-the-counter creams or medications without consulting your healthcare provider first, as these can damage your baby’s delicate skin.

In addition, contact the healthcare provider if you ever notice any of the following with your baby:

• Skin blisters

What Is Baby Acne And What Causes It

In the first few weeks after your baby is born, you may start to see small pimples on his or her face, usually on the cheeks, nose and/or forehead.Although only your babyâs doctor can make a diagnosis after seeing your baby, it is probably baby acne â also known as newborn acne or neonatal acne. Baby acne is a common and harmless skin condition that happens when hair follicles become blocked, leading to a build-up of the natural oils secreted by your babyâs skin.

Top 9 Natural Home Remedies For Baby Acne

Baby acne or neonatal acne is a skin condition affecting newborns, particularly infants around two months old. Baby acne affects about 20% infants, which breaks out as tiny and pimples, white and red bumps on the skin. Baby acne isnt a serious problem and subsides in due course automatically. Baby acne mainly occurs on the face region and not on the chest, legs or arms. Generally speaking, new mothers get anxious and immediately consult a doctor as a newborn baby suffers from baby acne. Invariably, doctors prescribe a few topical treatments. However, baby acne gets cured naturally. Its advised to follow the natural remedies because they are safe for a newborn baby. Here are some natural home remedies for baby acne, which are collected by VKool. Keep in mind to consult a doctor before applying any method in this article because the babys skin is very sensitive.

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Some Tips For Taking Care Of Baby Acne3

• Dont use acne products on your newborns skin, unless your dermatologist tells you otherwise.
• Gently clean babys face daily with lukewarm water and a mild baby cleanser.
• Dry your babys face gently by patting it with a soft towel or washcloth.
• Steer clear of applying greasy ointments on your babys face.

When To Seek Medical Advice

If your baby has a case of neonatal acne happening before six weeks, there shouldnt be a need to worry. You can follow some of the treatments above and it will no doubt run its course. But of course, always consult your pediatrician if youre in doubt.

Specialists recommend you seek medical advice if your baby develops acne after six weeks of age. This is generally to implement the right treatment to prevent scarring. Doctors will usually treat it with topical creams and oral medicines .

However, sometimes, infantile acne could be an indicator of a health issue in your baby. Your doctor might carry out blood tests or an X-ray to eliminate other conditions.

Medically Reviewed by

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Will Breastmilk Clear Up Baby Acne

As for natural baby acne remedies, breast milk natures wonderful food can also be the best medicine, thanks to its antimicrobial properties. Aside from easing cradle cap and clogged tear ducts, some mothers find that breast milk can help clear up newborn acne .

When To See A Doctor

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

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

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

If your baby develops acne after theyre 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.

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

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.

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Avoiding Skin Problems At Bath Time

Remember, newborn skin is soft and sensitive. Keep your baby’s skin hydrated by bathing them in warm water for only 3 to 5 minutes. Avoid letting your baby sit or play or soak for long in soapy water. Apply a baby lotion or moisturizer immediately after the bath while their skin is still wet, and then pat dry instead of rubbing. If you are bathing your newborn, use a sponge bath if the cord has not yet fallen off.

When To Call The Doctor

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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The Best Ways To Treat Your Babys Skin Rash: Your Complete Guide

When you first notice a rash on your babys skin, your thoughts immediately leap to the worst possible causes. But often, the rash you see is just a normal part of being a newborn. So before you begin to panic, let the experts at Mustela calm your nerves and show you the best way to treat your babys skin rash.

Baby Acne: Causes Prevention And The Best Treatment Methods

Even though baby acne is one of the most common skin conditions that develop in newborns and infants, watching these little bumps flare up can be a stressful time for a parent. To help alleviate that stress, the experts at Mustela have put together 11 tips for getting rid of baby acne.

Before we get to the top 11 baby acne treatment tips, lets touch on four important questions:

• What is baby acne?
• What does baby acne look like?
• How can I tell baby acne apart from other skin conditions?
• What causes baby acne?

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It Sure Can And It Can Help With A Whole Lot More

Its flu season and EVERYONE we know seems to be sick, or getting over some kind of sickness. Unfortunately, it didnt skip us. Last week, we got a dreadful flu sore throat, fever, and a head to toe body aches that kept me in bed. I was really really sick. I was also really REALLY worried that Jack was going to get sick too.

I called the doctors office and spoke to the nurse who told me, if I was breastfeeding and continued to breastfeed, Jack would be totally okay.

Wait, what?! How?!

Of course, I turned to google to find out more about this magic milk and how breastfeeding would help Jack steer clear of the flu.

Apparently when you begin to get sick, the amount of antibodies in your breastmilk goes way up. Scientists actually believe that your body can detect infection in your babies saliva, which then triggers your body to change the composition of your breastmilk! It actually somehow produces a personalized and special order antibiotic to fight off your infection! How crazy is that?!

This all got me thinking.While breastmilk feeds and nourishes my baby I utilize its magic for a WHOLE lot of other things

Here is what Ive tried and has worked for me so far:

1. Un-Blocking Tear Ducts

2. Diaper Rash

3. Eczema

4. Baby acne/Skin Rash

5. A Stuffy Nose

Its been referred to as liquid gold, and there is good reason for it!

This Mama is all about using her magic, especially for the rest of flu season.

Home Remedies For Baby Acne Oatmeal

Oatmeal does a wonderful job in skin soothing and moisturizing and makes for great baby acne remedy. Thus, the most beneficial home remedies for baby acne must include oatmeal.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup of oatmeal

Do this:

• Blend the oatmeal using a blender or food processor. Take warm water and fill your bath tub and later pour in that oatmeal powder.
• After that continue to swirl the water using your hands until the powder evenly has been distributed.
• Treat your baby to the advantages of an oatmeal bath for ten minutes, avoiding the eye area.
• After 10ten minutes, pat the skin of your baby dry .
• The process should be repeated once every day or every other day. The acne rashes and bumps will clear up soon.

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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.

What Is Newborn Baby Acne And What Does It Look Like

So what is newborn baby acne exactly? Newborn baby acne is a baby skin condition where tiny red or white bumps or pimples appear on a babys skin, typically when theyre between one and four weeks of age although some babies are born with it.

The medical term for baby acne is erythema toxicum neonatorum but that makes it sound more alarming than it is. Its actually a very common condition that affects up to four or five babies in every 10*.

Baby acne should not be confused with infantile acne which begins later or adult acne. It should also not be confused with baby milk spots. If youre unsure, please consult your GP.

The spots first appeared on my sons face when he was about 10 days old and I was convinced it was because I was doing something wrong perhaps washing him too much or even not enough. I also wondered whether he could be allergic to his formula. I shared my worries with the other moms at my parents group, lots of whom were second and third-time parents, and they explained that it was just newborn acne and that lots of their older kids had had it just after birth too. I felt a lot better after that and stopped trying to fix it. After a month it was gone. Its frustrating but you do just have to be patient.

Celine, mother to Ricky, one

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Dont Let Your Baby Scratch Or Pick

Unlike you, your baby doesnt understand whats going on with their skin. The swelling and itchiness may cause your little one to scratch, rub, or pick their baby acne without even knowing it.

If you see your babys skin becoming more red and swollen, or if you see your little one rub the inflamed areas, its time to cover their hands with baby mittens or soft socks. This doesnt have to be a permanent thing, and your baby doesnt have to wear them all the time. Its simply to give the acne time to heal.

How Can Breast Milk Help

Using breast milk to treat baby acne might seem a little far-fetched, but some people swear by this remedy.

To be clear, theres no science or research to support this claim. However, breast milk does have antimicrobial properties. This means it may reduce or destroy some microbes, like bacteria.

So if bacteria on your babys skin triggers acne, cleansing their skin with breast milk may help kill the bacteria and other impurities that block pores. This, in turn, can also reduce skin irritation and inflammation caused by acne.

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Newborn Acne Vs Infantile Acne

Unlike the tiny pimples of newborn acne, infantile acne can include blackheads, cysts, or nodules, and can persist until their first birthday.

In addition to the appearance of the acne, onset timing is also useful for distinguishing between newborn and infantile acne. Breakouts that begin in the first four weeks of life are typically newborn acne, while those that develop after four weeks are more likely to be infantile acne.

When To See The Pediatrician About Baby Acne

Generally speaking, theres no need to see your pediatrician specifically for baby acne. If youre concerned about trying to prevent or get rid of baby acne on the face, or youre not sure whether its infant acne or something else, its never a bad idea to discuss it with babys pediatrician. It can be reassuring to find out exactly whats going on with babys skin and, in the case of baby acne, to hear directly from the doctor that its truly nothing to be concerned about.

About the experts:

Katie Pyle, DO, is a pediatrician at UCHealth Pediatric Care Clinic in Firestone, Colorado, with a clinical interest in newborn care. She earned her medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Meagan ONeill, MD, is a pediatrician with Riley Childrens Health in Indianapolis. She earned her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.

Omar Baker, MD, FAAP, is an assistant clinical professor in the department of pediatrics at Columbia University and co-president of Riverside Medical Group in Northern New Jersey. He earned his medical degree from George Washington University.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

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A Dermatologist Can Tell You When To Treat Your Babys Acne

Seeing acne on your babys skin can be worrisome. A dermatologist can tell you whether you need to treat it. When acne requires treatment, you can rely on a dermatologists expertise to treat your baby safely.

ImagesImage of newborn acne used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

Image of baby being bathed,

ReferencesEichenfield LF, Krakowski AC, et al. Evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric acne. Pediatrics. 2013 131 Suppl 3:S163-86.

Serna-Tamayo C, Janniger CK, et al. Neonatal and infantile acne vulgaris: An update. Cutis 2014 94:13-15.

Zaenglein AL and Thiboutot DM. Acne vulgaris. In: Bolognia JL, et al. Dermatology. . Mosby Elsevier, Spain, 2008:500.

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology

The American Academy of Dermatology gratefully acknowledges the support from Galderma Laboratories, L.P.

Keep Irritants Away From Your Babys Skin

Weve already talked about rough fabrics like towels, washcloths, and clothing, but there are other fabrics that can irritate your babys sensitive skin. Keep your infant away from furniture covered in coarse fabric. Dont let your little one roll around on the carpet if its particularly scratchy.

You may even need to inspect your childs stuffed animals to make sure that none of them are too rough. And if you have pets, be extra vigilant about keeping your babys environment clean, because dander can trigger an allergic reaction in acne-prone skin.

Various perfumes can also irritate your babys acne. Opt out of traditional perfumes or air fresheners and use Mustelas Musti Eau De Soin Spray instead. This natural, delicately scented spray is a versatile product that you can use on yourself, your baby, or your linens.

To ensure your babys environment is clean and free from allergens, use products that only contain natural ingredients.

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Other Types Of Rash You Might Mistake For Baby Acne

Baby acne isnât the only possible cause of red spots or blotches on your newbornâs skin. Here are a couple of other common baby rashes it might be easy to mistake for baby acne:

• Erythema toxicum neonatorum. If the rash appears in the first week and looks red and blotchy, it may be erythema toxicum neonatorum. This kind of rash may appear on the body, chest, upper arms and thighs as well as the face. Like baby acne, it also clears up by itself in a few weeks without treatment. Youâll be glad to know it wonât make your infant feel unwell.

• Milia. Raised, pearly white spots on your babyâs face could be milia. These bumps are caused by flakes of skin blocking your infantâs pores. Milia doesnât need treatment and the spots are often gone within a few weeks or so.

Your midwife, health visitor or doctor will be able to tell you whatâs behind those little red spots, if youâre wondering what may be the underlying cause.