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How to Treat
Baby Acne
While acne isn't
exactly the most serious medical condition, it can still be
very stressful for a parent when anything unpleasant happens
to your baby, especially when you don't know why it's
happening. This is the case for some newborns, when the
child's normally smooth skin suddenly breaks out with a
scattering of small red bumps - a condition aptly named
baby acne.
Why does my baby
have acne?
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First of all,
don't panic. Baby acne is normal and fairly common. It
should not cause your child any real harm or pain. And no,
it's not your fault. The formation of baby acne can occur as
a result of natural causes. During the final moments of
pregnancy, the child receives a flush of adult hormones from
the mother via the umbilical cord. These hormones can cause
reactions, including acne. However, not all of these
reactions are bad. This influx of hormones can also help
spur the growth of vital organs such as your child's lungs.
In addition,
your child may be exposed to more hormones through the
natural act of breast feeding, as the mother's hormones can
be transferred to the baby via breast milk. Again, this
isn't all bad, but there is a chance of hormonal reactions
that could lead to baby acne. |
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What should you
do about it?
The fact is, you
really don't have to do much. Just stay calm and wait it
out. If your baby's acne was caused by a last-minute flush
of adult hormones at birth, the blemishes will usually go
away within 2 months (often sooner). If it's breast milk
that is causing it, the acne will typically stop when the
baby stops breast feeding - usually within 6 months. You can
always quit breast feeding earlier if the little red bumps
on your baby's cute face are really bothering you.
It doesn't hurt
to practice a bit of good hygiene for your baby. The spots
may vanish faster if you wash your child's face with baby
shampoo. A gentle baby shampoo should cleanse the area
without causing any harm to the baby's skin or eyes. You
don't need to wash too frequently - just once a day is fine.
Always use caution and avoid any soaps that are not made
specifically with babies in mind, which is to say...
Do
not
use acne treatment products on your baby
If acne
treatments can prove abrasive for adults with sensitive
skin, how much more damaging might they be for a newborn
baby? A newborn's skin is very sensitive. The last
thing you should consider is cleansing with any of the
strong chemicals found in just about every acne product.
Don't do it. You could easily cause your child to experience
a bad rash or even blistering.
Remember too
that babies love to stick their hands everywhere, including
their faces. Your child could smear the chemicals into their
eyes, mouth or nose, etc, and potentially cause real harm.
So again, don't do it, no matter how cute you imagine your
baby might look without pimples. Acne products are intended
for teenagers and adults, not the super-sensitive skin of a
baby.
Read the next
article >
Keratosis Pilaris Bumps and Acne
View all
Acne Tips & Guides
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