Why Is My Baby’s Acne So Bad

Newborn Acne Vs Infantile Acne

It’s important to note there’s a significant difference between acne in a newborn and acne in an older baby.

Infantile acne can appear in babies around 6 weeks of age. It’s not nearly as common as newborn baby acne but it’s much longer-lasting, lasting from a few months to several years.

Just like with newborn baby acne, infantile acne typically is harmless and goes away on its own. But, in some severe cases, it causes scarring and may be treated with prescription medications.

If your baby is older and developing acne, bring it to the attention of your pediatrician.

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.

Frequent Question: How Do You Get Rid Of Baby Acne On Toddlers

Baby acne usually disappears without treatment. Some babies have acne that lingers for months instead of weeks. To treat this stubborn form of baby acne, your babys pediatrician may prescribe a medicated cream or ointment that helps clear up the acne. Dont use OTC acne treatments, face washes, or lotions.

Read Also: How To Lighten Acne Scars

What Is Baby Acne And What Causes It

When your newborn baby is around 2 to 5 weeks old you may start to see small pimples on his face, usually on his cheeks, nose, eyelids, chin, and/or forehead. Baby acne is also referred to as neonatal acne and is commonâabout 3 in 10 babies get it.Experts are not exactly sure what causes baby acne, but it could be due to one of the following:

• An inflammation caused by yeast on your baby’s skin

• Overstimulated oil glands in your baby’s skin caused by coming into contact with hormones in the placenta during your pregnancy.

Baby acne has nothing to do with the type of acne that a teenager may experience.

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.

Recommended Reading: Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good For Acne

The Ingredients In Your Products Are Causing Acne

If youre frustrated because unlike your friends with perfect complexions you actually do take care of your skin, your acne trigger could be the sneaky ingredients in your products. According to cosmetic dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, mineral oil, for example, is a super-heavy moisturizing agent found in some face moisturizers and creams that could clog your pores if you’re prone to blackheads and whiteheads. Coconut oil is also notorious for clogging pores, too. Additionally, fragrance and sodium lauryl sulfate can be found in many products and are common acne causes.

The zit fix:

Read your labels is easier said than done if you dont know what to look for, but a good place to start is by getting rid of any products that contain the aforementioned common irritants, switching to fragrance-free skincare and sulfate-free products. And when in doubt, Dr. Downie says toshop for products marked as noncomedogenic. If youve tried all the above and your breakouts continue to worsen, make an appointment with your dermatologist to see if you could be allergic to another ingredient.

Can I Use Aquaphor On Baby Acne

Theres no proof that Aquaphor is an effective treatment for acne and might actually worsen acne in people prone to it. However, according to the makers, Aquaphor is an effective treatment for drool rash. You can apply a small amount of Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment to soothe irritated skin on your babys face.

Also Check: Why Do I Have So Much Acne On My Back

Take The Daily Supplement To Help Restore Internal Balance And Combat Your Acne From The Root

This 100% natural herbal supplement has been carefully formulated to fight your acne from the INSIDE out…

• Natural herbals nurture the body’s capacity to remain free of bacteria, such as acne bacteria
• Help regulate normal functioning of the hormones associated with acne
• Aids in the natural flushing of acne-causing toxins
• Revitalizes your skin so it looks healthy
• Help maintain the body’s defences against inflammation, redness, swelling, & scarring
• Plays a role in keeping sebum production down at normal levels sebum reduces shiny skin
• So instead of constantly REACTING to embarrassing outbreaks with stronger facial washes and creams that leave your skin tight and dry…

… You’ll finally have the opportunity to break the cycle of flare ups by maintaining your skin’s natural cycle of rejuvenation.

What Does Back Acne Look Like

Oily skin, blackheads, whiteheads, red spots, yellow pus-filled pimples, and scars are all characteristic of acne on the back. People who are prone to acne have oil-producing glands that are particularly sensitive to some hormones. There are many treatments for acne including topical treatments and medication.

Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Acne Through Diet

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.

Is Coconut Oil On Nipples Safe For Baby

If you want some relief from sore nipples, try coconut oil. Its amazing how rubbing this on your nipples after breastfeeding can relieve so much pain. Coconut oil has so many healing properties in it. Its antifungal and it can also help to moisturize skin, which can result in the healing of the nipples.

You May Like: How Do I Get Rid Of Back Acne

Acne After Pregnancy And Other Postpartum Skin Conditions

From acne after pregnancy to spider veins, how to handle even the most harrowing postpartum skin conditions.

Liz BrucknerMay 1, 2018

I was totally unprepared for the effects of post-pregnancy hormones on my once-glowing complexion. Two months after giving birth to my second bundle of joy, my skin was ravaged by cystic acne, flakes and blotchy veins for the first time in my life, and the mask of pregnancy Id assumed would disappear was lingering around my eyes like a spit-up stain on my favourite white T-shirt.

Post-pregnancy hormones can rear their ugly heads at the most annoying times, but thankfully, options for minimizing or correcting these post-baby complexion conundrums abound. Here are the safest and most effective treatments and ingredients to treat them.

Note: Always discuss treatments and products with your doctor or dermatologist before making changes to your skincare routine.

Your Cell Phone Is Dirty

Think about it: Your face produces oil and sweat, which gets onto your phone when you’re on a call.

If you don’t clean that off, during your next call you’re pushing it back into your skin, along with any bacteria that has grown.

To clean it, follow the instructions from your phone’s maker. You might try ear buds or another hands-free headset. Pressure from holding your phone against your cheek can also cause breakouts by irritating your skin.

Also Check: How To Clear Rosacea Acne

When Should You Call A Doctor

Always call a doctor if you have any concerns, if your baby is not acting normally, or if the skin shows signs of being infected. The signs can include:

• Increased pain, swelling, or warmth in the area.
• Red streaks extending from the area.
• Pus.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin.
• Fever of38°C or higher.
• An extra fussy baby.

If you have concerns about what lotions or other products to use on your baby’s skin, talk with your baby’s doctor at the next visit. Not all newborn skin conditions need to be treated with lotions and creams. You don’t usually need to use lotions and other products on healthy newborn skin.

Other Baby Acne Notes

Baby;acne can be confused with infantile acne.; Infantile acne will last until about 6 months old and contain pustules and possibly cysts, not just whiteheads and blackheads.; It is also more red and inflamed than baby acne.; Infantile acne is linked to genetics.; Your child is more likely to experience it if you or your partner had severe acne as a teenager.; While baby acne is not linked to breakouts later in life, infantile acne is linked to more extreme teen acne.

Read Also: Is Benzoyl Peroxide Good For Acne

When Should I Be Worried About Baby Acne

Newborn acne is generally nothing to worry about

Sometimes, a baby is born with acne. If your newborn has acne, youll usually see breakouts on your babys cheeks and nose. Acne can also appear on a babys forehead, chin, scalp, neck, back, or chest. Neonatal acne is generally nothing to worry about.

Why Does My 1 Year Old Have Pimples

Just like adult skin, your toddlers sensitive skin can get irritated and have blocked pores. This can sometimes trap germs in their skin and cause toddler acne. Even food left on your childs face can sometimes irritate their skin, block pores, and lead to toddler acne or, more commonly, rashes that look like acne.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Acne Wash

How Long Does Newborn Baby Acne Last

Newborn baby acne usually only lasts a few days, and in the vast majority of cases is completely gone within two weeks. Sometimes spots can appear only to disappear a few hours later and sometimes they will stick around for three to four months. Recurrences can happen but are generally very mild.

It sounds awful, I know, but when my baby first developed the acne all I could think once I knew it was nothing to worry about was, Oh no, shes not perfect anymore. What will people say? Of course, nobody said anything. Well, nothing unkind anyway. If I brought it up , they just shared stories of their own childs ailments, from newborn baby eczema to newborn baby cradle cap, and how theyd also been a mix of concerned and embarrassed which actually really helped and made me feel less like a Disney villain.

Sarah, mum to Molly, 1

Youve Changed Up Your Diet

Have you been eating a lot of junk food lately?

Although the relationship between diet and acne is still debated within scientific circles, there is pretty compelling evidence that certain foods can trigger acne breakouts.

For example, dairy has long been suspected of causing acne breakouts. In a systematic review published in Nutrients, researchers concluded that milk, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products are associated with an increase in acne lesions

What to Do About It:

Try an elimination diet in which you remove foods from your diet that you believe may be causing your acne.

You can also try eating a low-glycemic diet.

According to research from the American Academy of Dermatology, there is evidence to show that low-glycemic diets may help reduce the amount of acne you have.

Recommended Reading: How To Heal Acne Scars

Newborn Acne Is Generally Nothing To Worry About

About 20% of newborns have a type of acne called;neonatal acne.; Youll usually see it at about 2 weeks of age. However, it can develop any time before 6 weeks of age. Sometimes, a baby is born with acne.

If your newborn has acne, youll usually see breakouts on your babys cheeks and nose. Acne can also appear on a babys forehead, chin, scalp, neck, back, or chest.

Neonatal acne is generally nothing to worry about. It rarely causes a scar and tends to go away on its own in a few weeks to months.

Is It Baby Acne Or A Rash

While its possible to confuse infant acne with that other common newborn skin condition, milia, the two arent the same. Baby acne looks like red pimples, while milia are tiny white bumps or whiteheads. But you need to treat both conditions the same: with washing, watching and waiting.

There are also a number of skin rashes;and other skin conditions in newborn babies which, unlike;newborn;acne, are often itchy and uncomfortable for your;little one and tend to spread beyond the face. A few of the most common:

• Baby heat rash: These clusters of tiny, moist, red bumps look similar to acne and often appear on babys arms, legs, upper chest and diaper area in addition to her face when its hot outside.
• Diaper rash: This rash caused by moisture, irritants and too little air appears as red, irritated skin in babys diaper area.
• Cradle cap:;Also called seborrheic dermatitis, these tiny red bumps are smaller than acne and may be accompanied by yellow, flaky skin that looks like scales. While it usually appears on the head, it may spread to the eyebrows and upper body too.
• Infant eczema: Skin appears dry, flaky and red, usually in patches around the cheeks and on the scalp. The rash then spreads, often to elbow creases and behind the knees, and progresses to fluid-filled pimples that pop. If eczema is not treated, it can lead to scabbing and oozing.

Read Also: Is Tula Skincare Good For Acne

You’re Drying Out Your Face With Too Much Zit Cream

Raise your hand if at the first sight of a bump, you load up the area with spot treatments . But Samantha Wright, a licensed aesthetician at the Dangene Institute, suggests not overreacting by over-treating. Topical salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur over-the-counter treatments can dry out your skin and trigger it to produce even more oil and, in turn, zits. Additionally, the active ingredients can slightly burn the top layer of your skin, making it look red and raw if youre using all the things and far too often.

The zit fix:

You don’t have to toss your usual spot treatmentjust dont overdo it. Two to three times a week or every other night on your zit should do the trick. And if you have a reaction, switch to over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream, like Aveeno One Percent Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream, to calm the inflammation in the pimple and take down the redness.

What Causes Itchy Acne

Acne can begin to itch for a few different reasons. The most common reason is due to the friction and dryness of skin cells that are the result of clogged and cramped pores. When skin becomes dry, its nature is to itch.

Other itchy triggers include:

• skin reactions to chemicals like benzoyl peroxide
• heat, which can intensify itching
• sunlight/UV light
• sweat

On a positive note, itchiness can be a sign indicating that the acne is getting better. When acne is healing, the red, pustular skin needs to be replaced with new, healthy skin. During this process, your body exfoliates, or sheds old layers of skin to uncover new layers of skin. The dry, flaky, and dead skin cells are part of the healing process, but they can also cause uncomfortable itching sensations.

Recommended Reading: Is Hyaluronic Acid Good For Acne