Baby Acne - Should You Worry About It?

Most people don’t expect to see this until the child hit puberty, so imagine their surprise to see little blackheads and whiteheads marring the child’s otherwise creamy skin.

First of all, don’t panic. This is a very common problem that occurs in over 20% of infants (more so in boys than girls). It does not leave scarring, but can be a little itchy for the baby.

What Causes Acne

The reason for this is very similar to that of adolescent acne - changes in hormones. When the child is in the womb, the mother’s hormones are transmitted to the baby.

Once the child is born this level changes drastically often resulting in baby acne. This usually appears on the face, arms, legs, shoulders, neck, back and buttocks.

There are sometimes red patches of inflammation around the whiteheads, blackheads, or small pustules. Usually the acne disappears by about four or five months of age, but don’t worry there are plenty of treatment options available to take care of this unsightly problem sooner.

What (Not) To Do

• Whatever you do, do NOT pop the pustules. This will create a strong risk of infection in your child’s skin.

• Keep the area clean with mild soap and water once or twice a day. (Over washing can cause your child’s skin to dry out.)

• Do not use any oils or creams without consulting your pediatrician. Baby’s skin is very sensitive and the last thing you want to do is enflame the area even more.

• Aquanil Cleansing Lotion or 101 E Acne Getaway are generally doctor recommended treatments. Benzoyl Peroxide 5% lotion can be used on infants over 3 months of age.

• You may need to have your baby wear gloves to prevent scratching, which can lead to infection.

Prevention

To prevent the outbreak of baby acne, make sure you change the crib sheets frequently.

Keep the problem areas clean and dry (pat it dry, don’t rub).

If your child is old enough, make sure they consume plenty of liquids, such as water or fresh fruit juice.

Having baby acne does not automatically mean that your child will have problems with acne later in life, nor does it mean that your child is living in filth. It is not influenced by a family history of acne either.

This acne is caused by changes from hormones in the mother’s body to the baby’s own hormones, which simply cannot be prevented during the birth process.

There is no need to go rushing to your dermatologist. If the case is severe enough, your pediatrician may recommend the use of a stronger ointment, but in most cases the problem resolves itself within a few months.

Luckily, since baby acne is a temporary and easily treatable problem, your child’s skin will be back to its pink, glowing health in no time at all.

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