How To Clear Up Newborn Acne

Learn The Best Way To Get Rid Of Your Baby’s Acne Using These Simple Safe And Natural Methods

How to get rid of Baby Acne in under 3 days

Rare is the adult who survived their teenage years without ever getting a pimple. Most of us have a brush with acne as teenagers, and our culture tends to think of acne as being exclusive to this age group.

This helps explain why it can be so shocking for new parents to discover acne on their infants. One day your baby has soft, clear skin, and the next you might discover their face is covered in tiny, pimply bumpsjust like an adolescent. Because we dont usually think of babies as being prone to acne, these breakouts can throw parents into a panic.

In reality, it is quite commonand for the most part, its entirely harmless. Still, most parents want to help the condition clear up as soon as possible.

Thats why weve put together this guide to getting rid of baby acne. Well walk you through what baby acne is, how long it lasts, what causes it, and the fastest ways to get rid of itas well as a few strategies for preventing baby acne and helping your newborn enjoy healthier skin overall.

Can I Use Aquaphor For 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.

Does Baby Acne Dry Up

Infantile acne also usually clears up by itself, but this may take significantly longer. It can persist for 6 months to a year, and some children will experience the acne up until their teenage years. In some cases of infantile acne, a healthcare professional may prescribe antibiotics or creams to prevent scarring.

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Dress Your Baby Carefully

Babies have super delicate skin thats intolerant and easily irritated. This is normal and nothing to be concerned about. Just be sure to dress your baby in soft, loose-fitting clothing so that you dont cause their baby acne to flare up.

Its also best to use baby-friendly, hypoallergenic laundry detergents to wash your babys clothes, sheets, and blankets. This will protect your little ones skin from any irritating chemicals that ordinary detergents may contain.

For bedtime, try Mustelas Stelatopia Skin Soothing Pajamas to relieve skin discomfort. These pajamas will also reduce your little ones desire to pick at their acne. Youll be relieved knowing that your little one is clothed in material thats hypoallergenic, free of parabens and phenoxyethanol, and made with 100 percent natural ingredients.

Infantile Acne Starts Later After Six Weeks

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Infantile acne is less common than newborn acne, affecting an estimated 2% of infants. It develops after the neonate period, usually between three and six months of age.

Unlike newborn acne, infantile acne features whiteheads, blackheads, or reddish pimples. If the acne is mild, you can expect it to resolve itself in one to two years with no treatment.

However, if the acne is more severe your infant may need medical treatment. If medication is needed, a doctor might prescribe a medicated cream or gel, that contains benzoyl peroxide to apply on the skin. Or an oral antibiotic, like erythromycin, might be used to manage the acne and prevent scarring.

Although it’s not dangerous to your baby’s immediate physical health, “occasionally, infantile acne may present with cysts which may lead to long term scarring if left untreated,” Gagin says. Moreover, multiple studies report that babies who experience infantile acne have a higher risk of developing severe acne later in life, like during adolescence.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Baby Acne

You may see red bumps, pimples, white pustules, whiteheads, or reddish skin around the bumps. You may see these developing on your babys face, cheeks, chin, forehead, eyelids, upper back, chest, or neck. Sometimes, rough fabrics or harsh detergents can irritate your babys skin or the acne itself. So be sure to use detergents made for sensitive skin. Also, heat can further agitate skin conditions, so make sure baby is well-ventilated and not wearing scratchy or irritating clothing.

Tips For Treating Baby Acne

Baby acne can last anywhere from a few days to a few months. To treat stubborn baby acne, your babys pediatrician may prescribe a medicated cream or ointment that helps clear up the condition.

Dont use over-the-counter acne treatments, face washes, or lotions unless you are sure that they are specifically formulated with your little ones delicate skin in mind using natural, plant-based, and gentle ingredients that are safe.

Your babys skin is very sensitive at this young age. Using just any OTC ointment might make the acne worse or cause additional skin irritation because some of its ingredients may actually be too strong for your babys soft skin.

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Does Baby Acne Spread To The Body

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.

Common Types Of Baby Acne

How to clear baby acne and face rash FAST| baby skin care

If your newborn develops neonatal acne, the more common form of baby acne, it will generally appear within the first two weeks of life. If, however, the appearance of your babys skin shows the signs of acne at six months or later, then it could be infantile acne. Infantile acne looks similar to neonatal acne but may persist for one-to-two years and, in severe cases, may result in scarring as well as an increased incidence of adolescent acne.5

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Breast Milk And Baby Acne

A great, natural remedy for treating the appearance of baby acne is breast milk.

Breast milk contains anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial to your babys skin cells.

To treat baby acne, simply dab some expressed milk on the affected area a few times a day and allow it to air dry.

This can help to reduce the amount and severity of acne.

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Caring For Acne On Your Babys Skin

If your baby has acne, dermatologists recommend that you:

  • Never put acne medicine or acne wash on your babys skin, unless your childs dermatologist or pediatrician recommends it.

  • Be very gentle with your babys skin, and avoid scrubbing the acne.

  • Wash your babys skin with lukewarm water.

  • Stop using any oily or greasy skin care products.

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What Causes Baby Acne

Even though the condition is very common, researchers still havent determined exactly what causes baby acne.

In spite of this uncertainty, there are several theories floating around. Some sources suggest it might be caused by the transfer of hormones from the mother to the baby prior to birth, by the presence of yeast on the skins surface, or by the fact that babies pores are undeveloped and may not be fully equipped to fend off pimple-causing bacteria.

Others suggest thatcertain medications may increase the likelihood of a baby developing acne. Still others speculate that an imbalance in gut flora may be to blame.

No matter the cause, natural treatment and prevention strategies may help speed up this process.

While baby acne generally goes away on its own, there are several steps parents can take to facilitate healing. Below well provide guidelines for treating baby acne on the face as well as on the body or chest.

Baby Acne on the Face

Here are some of the best ways to help treat acne on your babys face:

1. Dont squeeze or pop pimples.

Tempting as it may be, popping your babys pimples will only provoke skin irritation and increase the risk of infection, thereby escalating the problem. Popping pimples also increases the risk of scarring, so resist the urge to squeeze.

2. Clean your babys face regularly.

Make sure not to scrub at the acne with a towel or other abrasive product. Pat dry instead of rubbing at your babys face to help avoid additional irritation.

When Does Baby Acne Go Away

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Now, this is the question thats in every parents mind whose newborn is under attack by baby acne on face.

How long should you wait patiently before juniors skin clears up?

In most cases, the zits just go away on their own in a few weeks. But in some newborns, this can go up to months.

Sounds pretty alarming for new parents but thats just how it is with some babies infested with acne

If its still that bad, getting worse, or not clearing up at all in three months, dont hesitate to ask your doctor for the right treatment.

You may just get a prescription such as a very mild cream or topical medication that can help with stubborn or severe baby acne.

And heres the takeaway persistent and lingering baby acne MAY actually give you some hints that your child is expected to deal with zits when he reaches puberty

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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.

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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.

    FDA Acknowledges Qualified Health Claim Linking Early Peanut Introduction and Reduced Risk of Developing Peanut Allergy in 2017:

    For most infants with severe eczema and/or egg allergy who are already eating solid foods, introducing foods containing ground peanuts between 4 and 10 months of age and continuing consumption may reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy by 5 years of age. FDA has determined, however, that the evidence supporting this claim is limited to one study.

    If your infant has severe eczema and/or egg allergy, check with your infants healthcare provider before feeding foods containing ground peanuts.

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    How To Get Rid Of Baby Acne

    Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about infant acne, besides being patient. A few baby acne treatment tips:

    • Dont squeeze, pick or scrub acne.
    • Cleanse the area with warm water two times a day. Pat skin dry gently.
    • Dont use soap or lotion on affected areas.
    • Avoid acne or other skin care products meant for adults.
    • Try natural baby acne home remedies to treat it: Some moms suggest that dabbing the affected area with breast milk can help speed the healing process.
    • Ask your doctor about prescription or over-the-counter medication that might help and be safe for your baby.

    Who Can Treat Back Acne At Home

    How To Get Rid Baby Acne FAST!

    You may see clearer skin from treating it yourself if you:

    • Have a few blemishes on your back

    • Developed back acne recently

    • Have a mix of whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples on your back, but nothing thats painful or goes deep into the skin

    Anyone who has deep, painful acne on their back will need a dermatologists help.

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    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, mother to Molly, 1

    Treatment For Baby Acne

    Even though baby acne can look similar to adult acne, you must treat it differently. Keep in mind that infant skin is sensitive, and handling it incorrectly could result in scarring.

    Additionally, never try to pop any pimples or squeeze any blackheads. Yes, I know it may be tempting. But, not only can you increase the chance of infection.

    So, to all of you pimple-popping mommas, here are a few ways to treat your babys acne.

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    Baby Acne Versus Infantile Acne

    Baby acne differs from infantile acne. Infantile acne is much less common and can present with open comedones or blackheads, while baby acne does not. Cysts or nodules are also sometimes seen with infantile acne and the condition can result in scarring without treatment. Infantile acne can persist until the baby is two years old.

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    Pat Your Baby Dry After A Bath

    Baby Acne: What Causes It &  How to Treat Naturally

    Towels can be notoriously coarseespecially on your babys tender skin. And if they suffer from baby acne, the feeling can be even worse.

    To keep bath towels from wreaking havoc on your babys acne, always pat their skin dry instead of rubbing. Rubbing with a rough cloth like a towel or washcloth can remove skin cells , which, in most cases, is a good thing. But for your babys already-irritated skin, it can cause more problems.

    Similarly, the heat created by rubbing your little one dry can contribute to the discomfort caused by baby acne. Always gently pat your babys skin dry.

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