When To Call The Doctor
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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.
What Is Newborn Acne And What Does It Look Like
Newborn baby acne is a skin condition where tiny red or white bumps or pimples appear on a babys skin, typically when theyre between one and four weeks of age although some babies are born with it.
The medical term for baby acne is erythema toxicum neonatorum but that makes it sound more alarming than it is. Its actually a very common condition that affects up to four or five babies in every 10*.
Baby acne should not be confused with infantile acne which begins later or adult acne. If youre unsure, please consult your GP.
The spots first appeared on my sons face when he was about 10 days old and I was convinced it was because I was doing something wrong perhaps washing him too much or even not enough. I also wondered whether he could be allergic to his formula. I shared my worries with the other mums at my mums group, lots of whom were second and third-time parents, and they explained that it was just newborn acne and that lots of their older kids had had it just after birth too. I felt a lot better after that and stopped trying to fix it. After a month it was gone. Its frustrating but you do just have to be patient.
Celine, mum to Ricky, one
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How To Get Rid Of Baby Acne: Should I Try Home Treatments
The answer is a resounding no. Baby acne will resolve on its own within a few weeks, explains Lockwood. In fact, using over-the-counter acne products geared toward teenagers is not recommended for newborns. You can wash your baby’s skin with water and a gentle, unscented soap twice a week. Do not pick, scrub, or pop baby acne. Basically she says to be patient because it may take a few weeks for all of the lesions to clear up. Some doctors might even recommend an emollient thats not too thick to avoid blocking pores. Talk to your childs doctor about an appropriate skin care regimen for your little one.
What Causes Baby Acne And How To Get Rid Of It
Its horrible to find your babys skin suddenly covered with ugly acne pimples. And of course, you want to know what causes baby acne in newborns and how long this will last.
When a mother gives birth her hormones are allowed to pass through the placenta to her baby. These hormones are important for the development of vital organs in the babys body. They also are responsible forstimulating the sebaceous glands which can cause baby acne.
Another theory, some doctors support is that a yeast named Malassezia is what causes baby acne. This is a type of yeast that colonizes on the infants skin where it may cause inflammation and triggers baby acne.
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How To Prevent Baby Acne
Pediatric dermatologists, pediatricians and researchers have not determined a way to prevent baby acne.
While some social media influencers suggest using gentle cleansers, mild laundry detergent and keeping the skin clean and dry to prevent neonatal acne, these claims are not scientifically proven to be effective preventive measures. They may, however, help halt further skin irritation.
How To Avoid Baby Acne
Here are a few tips for you to ensure that your baby does not have acne:
1. Do not use any medicated product that has not been recommended by a dermatologist or your baby’s pediatrician.
2. Be gentle with your baby’s skin. For example, you would not need to scrub the skin while washing or wiping it dry to ensure that it is clean. Doing so can damage the skin tissues and cause underlying acne conditions to aggravate.
3. Do not wash your baby’s skin with hot water. Instead, bathe and clean them with lukewarm water.
4. Avoid doing so if you use any oily or greasy skincare products to moisturize them. Instead, ask their doctor for personal care product recommendations.
Baby acne is nothing to worry about. They appear and disappear on their own. But you know your baby and their skin the best. If something looks odd, and you think that the skin condition is not acne, or has been there for more than six weeks, seek the advice of your baby’s pediatrician.
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Vomiting And Spitting Up
Spitting up after eating is quite common in infants and is a process of normal growing up. If the spitting up is not forceful or painful there is nothing to worry. However, if it is vomiting, it might be an indication for formula intolerance. It might also point to other health concerns.
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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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How Do I Know It’s Acne And Not Something Else
If you notice red bumps on your babys face or body after six weeks of age, you may be dealing with a skin infection, eczema, or cows milk allergy. Telltale signs of these conditions include inflammation and areas of dry or cracked skin, as well as extreme fussiness, excessive spit-up or even fever. The bumps may itch, ooze, and crust over, or feel like dry, scaly skin.
Rash-like red bumps could also be a reaction to an ointment or oil used in a skincare product youre using, while white bumps appearing on the forehead, cheeks or near your babys mouth are often confused with milia, dead skin cells trapped in small pockets on the skins surface. Similar to neonatal acne, milia will typically clear on their own within a matter of weeks.
To be sure, the AADA recommends a skin exam by a board-certified dermatologist and, in certain extreme circumstances, a blood test or x-ray to rule out any serious conditions.
How To Care For Baby Acne
When caring for your babys acne, its best to keep it simple. Use lukewarm water and a mild baby soap to cleanse the area.
Be gentle with their skin. Avoid scrubbing your babys face or any affected areas, and pat their skin dry after washing. Dont pinch the acne or try to pop any pustules.
Dont use any medicated skin products or acne face wash on your baby unless your dermatologist recommends it. Dont apply any facial lotions, ointments, or baby oil to the areas. It could make your babys acne worse.
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Transfer Of Hormones From Mother:
The transfer of maternal hormones from breast milk to the baby is often considered a reason for baby acne . In case a newborn displays acne within a few hours of birth then the transfer of hormones could have happened through the placenta in the womb.
Breast milk is the safest food for a baby, even if it is laden with maternal hormones. It is never known to cause any skin problems. In fact, it improves the babys resistance thanks to its antibodies.
What Can I Expect If My Baby Has Acne
Baby acne is a harmless skin condition that resolves on its own. It doesnt require medical care and there arent any complications from the condition. It could take a few weeks for your babys blemishes to go away. Scarring is unlikely, and your baby will have smooth skin once the pimples resolve.
Make sure your babys acne isnt aggravated by oily skin care products like lotions. Simply use warm water to gently clean your babys skin and then pat their skin dry. Avoid scrubbing your babys skin, as it can irritate it.
Within a few days to a few weeks, your babys skin will clear up completely.
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What Is Baby Acne Treatment And Causes
Theres nothing in the world as endearing as your babys delicate, sweet-smelling skin, and youll likely never tire of staring at them which is why its important to learn about the common challenge of baby acne early on. When you discover these red bumps developing on babys skin, dont panic and dont pick. Babys skin is likely just adjusting to life on the outside.
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Is Baby Acne Normal
First off, yes! Dont worry. Baby acne is quite common among infants.
Newborns still have many maternal hormones circulating in their system in the first few weeks following birth. These hormones can cause pimples to develop on the face . Its not uncommon to see baby acne on the chest, neck or back, too.
Before you blame yourself, Mom, its worth mentioning that baby acne isnt only caused by maternal hormones. Because the pores in your newborns skin arent completely developed, your baby may be susceptible to developing acne caused by some other external irritant.
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What Is Baby Acne And What Causes It
Once your newborn turns about two to five weeks old, you may notice small pimples on her face. Usually, these pimples on newborn face appear on the babys cheeks, nose, eyelids, chin, and forehead. This baby acne is also known as neonatal acne and is very common in babies, as about three in ten babies get it. Although experts do not know the exact cause of infant acne, it could be due to one of the following:
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An inflammation on your babys skin caused due to yeast
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When your babys skin comes into contact with hormones in the placenta during your pregnancy, it causes the oil glands in your babys skin to overstimulate.
It is also important to note that newborn acne has nothing to do with the kind of acne a teenager experiences.
Do Not Pick At The Bumps
You may be tempted to pop or pick at the bumps on your babys face. Do your best to resist this urge. Breaking open the acne does little good in the long run and can lead to infection and scarring.
You might even cause your babys sebaceous glands to kick into high gear and produce even more oil. That extra oil on your babys skin can cause yet another acne breakout.
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How Is Baby Acne Treated
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. Your babys skin is very sensitive at this young age. You might make the acne worse or cause additional skin irritation by using something thats too strong.
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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What Does Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum Look Like
The rash of ETN generally looks like red blotches, mainly affecting the face and body . It does occur on the arms and legs too .
Little, raised spots called papules are common. Sometimes there will be little pus-filled spots or fluid-filled small blisters . There may be many spots or very few. The different spots vary in size. The spots blanch with light pressure. This means that they become pale and fade when pressed. The rash can be temporary and sometimes individual spots can disappear within hours while new ones will appear somewhere else.
The baby appears well and the rash does not seem to cause any bother.
Note: if there is any doubt as to the cause of a skin rash in any baby or child, it is essential that you seek medical advice and a firm diagnosis. This is especially important if your baby seems unwell in any way. For example, if your baby has a temperature , is not feeding, is lacking in energy or is inconsolable and not the same as normal. Other rashes can occur in babies and may be the sign of serious illness.
Newborn Baby Acne Treatment
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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 biodegradable, vegan, cruelty-free 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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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:
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When To See The Pediatrician About Baby Acne
Generally speaking, theres no need to see your pediatrician specifically for baby acne. If youre concerned about trying to prevent or get rid of baby acne on the face, or youre not sure whether its infant acne or something else, its never a bad idea to discuss it with babys pediatrician. It can be reassuring to find out exactly whats going on with babys skin and, in the case of baby acne, to hear directly from the doctor that its truly nothing to be concerned about.
About the experts:
Katie Pyle, DO, is a pediatrician at UCHealth Pediatric Care Clinic in Firestone, Colorado, with a clinical interest in newborn care. She earned her medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Meagan ONeill, MD, is a pediatrician with Riley Childrens Health in Indianapolis. She earned her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
Omar Baker, MD, FAAP, is an assistant clinical professor in the department of pediatrics at Columbia University and co-president of Riverside Medical Group in Northern New Jersey. He earned his medical degree from George Washington University.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
What Causes Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum
The exact cause is unknown. It is not due to an infection, even though pus-filled spots are often present.
Various ideas have been suggested, including the possibility that it is a normal effect of a babys immune system. It is not an allergic problem. It is also not related to whether the baby is breast-fed or bottle-fed.
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When Should You See A Doctor
If anything about your babys complexion seems out of the ordinary, or if youre concerned that the condition isnt getting better after three to four months, consult your babys doctor. The doctor may recommend a medicated cream or some other treatment. But be sure not to use any over-the-counter creams or medications without consulting your doctor first, as these can damage your babys delicate skin.In addition, contact the doctor if you ever notice any of the following with your baby:
Pat Your Baby Dry After A Bath
Towels can be notoriously coarse…especially 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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