Trust Your Instincts And Your Pediatrician
At the end of the day, parenting a newborn is an ongoing learning process where parental instincts, research and professional guidance are all essential to getting through the day and keeping your baby happy and healthy. As weve learned, baby acneand neonatal acne in particularis on the low end of the parental stress spectrum and can be seen as just another developmental challenge to identify and manage with proper care and attention. And theres no way to overestimate the dizzying array of challenges we face and meet as moms and dads. There are more common conditions to look for in your little one including cow’s milk allergy or gassiness in newborns.
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Newborn Baby Acne Treatment
Want to know how to treat newborn baby acne? Well, newborn baby acne usually clears up on its own after a few weeks but there are some things you can do to help it along.
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Keep your babys face clean with cooled boiled water or WaterWipes vegan, cruelty-free and sensitive baby wet wipes.
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Always gently pat babys skin when drying.
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If youre breastfeeding, try softly dabbing breastmilk on the spots. Lots of mums swear by it.
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Do not use acne creams intended for older children and adults or harsh products generally.
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A final tip for treating newborn acne: Try not to pick or scratch the acne itll disappear when its ready.
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If the problem persists or is severe, ask your doctor about prescription or over-the-counter medication that might help.
Interesting fact: Newborn baby acne is also known as neonatal acne.
What Causes Newborn Baby Acne
Doctors dont know for sure why newborn baby acne develops but one of the most popular theories for the cause of newborn acne is that hormones passed from mother to baby through the placenta and also breastmilk are to blame.
These hormones aggravate the sebaceous glands causing pimples to break out on the newborns face, usually on the cheeks, nose and forehead, but sometimes on babys neck, back and chest too.
Interesting fact: Newborn baby acne is more common in boys.
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How Long Will Pimple On Babys Head Last
Baby acne clears up in a few weeks time. However, it can also remain for a couple of months. Talk to your babys doctor if the acne does not clear up within three months. The doctor can prescribe a tropical medication that is very mild, if the acne is severe or long lasting. Watch a video to learn more about baby acne:
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Baby Acne: Causes & Treatment
Learn what baby acne is, how to identify it, and why its not worth stressing about. This skin condition is common, painless and temporary, although the symptoms could be signs of more serious conditions that your pediatrician can confirm.
As a parent, the only thing you may feel more than joy and love for your newborn is concern for their health and safety. Even the tiniest blemish or faintest cough keeps most of usespecially new parentson our toes and up at night. So, when you see small red or pink bumps on your babys face or body, its only natural to sound the alarms and race to your phone to find answers. As youll be happy to discover, baby acne is common, doesnt create discomfort and goes away soon enough. Ready for the details? Read on.
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How Do You Get Rid Of Baby Acne
Thereâs no treatment for baby acne, but donât worry â it usually clears up by itself within a few weeks or months, leaving no scars.Donât be tempted to use acne treatments or remedies intended for older children or adults.The best way to care for your babyâs skin and help the baby acne to clear up is to wash the affected areas of your babyâs face with water and a mild soap.You could do this while giving your baby a bath. If you donât feel confident about bathing your newborn yet â or on days when your infant doesnât have a âproperâ bath â itâs fine to just clean your babyâs face and nappy area. This is sometimes known as âtopping and tailingâ.
Tips To Prevent Baby Acne Or Not Make It Worse
- Be gentle with the babys skin, especially when taking a bath. If your baby is already experiencing acne, avoid scrubbing the affected area to avoid causing irritation, and to help it heal faster.
- Use lukewarm water when washing your babys skin.
- As much as possible, use a mild soap, fragrance-free or a soap-free cleanser when washing your babys skin. It may be best to ask your doctor for product recommendations to know whats best for your babys skin type.
- Avoid using adult acne products such as those with erythromycin or retinoids on your babys skin as they may be too strong and may cause further skin issues.
- Avoid using oily or greasy products that may aggravate baby acne. Its also best to skip the lotion and heavy creams.
- Most of all, please do not squeeze baby acne as this many only irritate your babys skin, cause scarring and/or just make it worse.
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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?
Prevention Tips For Baby Rashes
Rashes are common in babies and fade away with time. Most of them can be prevented by following some tips:
- Keep your babys skin clean and dry at all times.
- Change their diaper frequently.
- Dress the baby in loose clothing.
- Keep track of any skin reactions to foods.
- Use irritant-free detergent for washing your babys clothes.
- Use lotions, soaps, and shampoos made specifically for babies.
- Keep your child up to date with vaccinations.
- Do not let people kiss your child too frequently.
Dr. Haley says, Babies dont need a complicated skin regimen, and a good rule of thumb is the simpler, the better. A newborns skin is very absorbent, so it is best to use hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products.
These tips will help you prevent most of the rashes discussed above. However, you should seek proper medical treatment if necessary. Read on to find out when to do so.
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Abrasive Soaps And Washcloths
Even in adult skin, abrasion is bad for acneits the main cause of acne resulting from friction between the skin and other objects. Abrasion causes acne mechanica, a condition brought on by mechanical factors, as opposed to hormonal or genetic influences.
Newborn acne can also result from these mechanical factors due to chemicals or objects. Using any product on your baby that might be too aggressive for their delicate skin increases the chances of a bacterial infection that may cause acne. This includes soaps and other chemicals.
How To Treat Baby Acne
There are no treatments or natural, at-home remedies for clearing up baby acneâyou will just have to wait for it to go away on its own.
In the meantime, hereâs how you can care for your baby’s delicate skin:
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Place a soft, clean blanket under your babyâs head when theyâre awake to shield their skin from any laundry detergent residue on sheets or clothing
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Ensure that your baby’s bed sheets and clothing haven’t been washed with harsh laundry detergents
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Maintain proper hygiene by gently washing your little one’s face every day with warm water and a mild baby soap and pat it dry
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Avoid irritating the acne by pinching or scrubbing the pimples as this may cause more harm or even lead to an infection. Avoid moisturizing their face with lotions or oils.
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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.
What Does Baby Acne Look Like
Baby acne looks like tiny red or white bumps or pustules that appear on your infant’s cheeks, nose, eyelids, chin, and/or forehead. Sometimes the acne can also appear on your babyâs scalp or on their neck or upper trunk. Unlike acne that teens and adults can experience, baby acne does not have blackheads or whiteheads.
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How To Get Rid Of Baby Acne On Face
Breast milk, coconut oil, avoid scrubbing, do not squeeze the bumps, cornstarch, dont use rough fabric, baby powder, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera gel, neem oil and sandalwood are some of the ways to get rid of baby acne on face.
Baby acne also known as neonatal acne is a skin condition where tiny red or white pustules or bumps develop on a babys face or body in the first few weeks after birth. It is a very common skin condition which occurs in about 20% of newborns and will go away on its own without needing treatment. In most of the cases baby acne clears by the time the infant reaches six months old.
Though baby acne is temporary and common, it might sometimes last up to months which can be irritating for the babys skin. If you notice that the acne is spreading from face to the other parts of the body, then you should start taking precautions, and in severe conditions consult a doctor.
Baby acne mostly appears on parts of face such as cheeks, forehead and in rare cases nose and chin. The exact cause for this problem has not yet been discovered but some researchers say that exposure to maternal hormones in the womb, certain medications, and pro-biotic imbalance may be the reason behind baby acne.
Just give it some time and the acne should clear itself out naturally, unless you find it discomforting on your babys face you may try taking the following precautions which might help reduce the acne as soon as possible.
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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Which Babies Get Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum
On average, ETN occurs in healthy babies born at full term, between 3 and 14 days of life. The rash can occur in the first 48 hours of life but 9 out of 10 cases are in babies more than 2 days old.
Overall, it seems to be more common in babies who are heavier at birth, in babies born in the summer or autumn and in babies who are fed milk powder substitute or a mixed diet.
Common Types Of Baby Acne
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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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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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.
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How To Prevent Baby Acne
While its impossible to prevent neonatal acne, the newborn period is the best time to develop smart infant skin care habits, which can help prevent future rashes, infant acne and skin issues. Even if baby was lucky enough to be born with silky-smooth skin, many of the strategies used to treat baby acne can also help prevent it:
Go fragrance free. The chemicals that make up artificial fragrances can irritate babys sensitive skin. Try hypoallergenic products, including lotions, shampoos and laundry detergents, when possible, to help prevent newborn acne.
Wash, dont scrub. Scrubbing can cause further irritation and make matters worse. Instead, gently wipe and pat babys skin dry to help prevent baby acne on the face.
Bathe baby regularly. For older, active infants, dirt and oil can get trapped in pores and exacerbate breakouts, just like with adults, so giving baby frequent baths can help minimize the possibility of breakouts.
Pat Your Baby Dry After A Bath
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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Baby Acne: What Causes It And How To Treat It
Your beautiful newborn has made their long-awaited entrance into the world, but a few weeks later you notice pimple-like spots on their face. Donât worryâyour little one isnât heading into their teens particularly early! Itâs likely they have baby acne, a condition thatâs common in newborns. Find out more about it and what you can do to care for your baby’s delicate skin during a bout of baby acne.
Dont Rub Your Babys Skin With Rough Fabric
Rough fabrics can make your babys acne worse by further irritating the already-sensitive skin. Thats why its so important to keep rough fabrics away from your newborn. Dress your baby in super-soft clothing, and keep wool and other coarse fibers away from their skin.
Similarly, dont bathe your baby with a washcloth. The roughness of the cloth can rip open the bumps and lead to infection. Instead, wash your little one with your hands, but be sure to remove any jewelry that may poke or prick.
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