Reason To Be Disturbed

The red bumps that have developed on the infant’s face can be quite disturbing for the parents though it is also quite common for these marks to disappear soon after they have begun to appear. Sometimes, however the scars may not go away so easily and in fact, it is also quite common for infant acne to sporadically come and go till such time as the baby has attained the age of six months.

It would thus be a good idea to consult a doctor regarding your baby’s infant acne problem which is a condition that has to do with the crossing over of the mother’s hormones into the infant through the placenta. In fact, infant acne is evidence that hormones are active in the baby which could even be in the process of being gradually worked out of the system.

In fact, it would not be wrong to surmise that infant acne is also part of the process in which the baby is cleansing out the unwanted hormones from its skin, and it would certainly be wrong to assume that infant acne is caused by oily or dirty skin and thus there is not much sense in washing the baby’s skin too frequently in the hope that cleansing through such means will purge infant acne.

To be sure, you do need to be careful about feeding your baby milk which along with spit-up can contributes to the worsening of infant acne and so you need to wash away any spills that occur; though, with a mild detergent only. In addition, you need to also realize that a baby blanket that has been washed in strong detergent and which is in frequent contact with the baby’s face can also cause infant acne.

Though, infant acne can certainly mess up your baby’s face, it will soon disappear once it has been treated properly, and so you need not be too disheartened about the problem. In any case, most babies have beautiful smiles that can help make you forget about those little red spots and which will outshine whatever unsightly signs are present on the face, and so, as a parent you need not worry too much because within six months the condition will have become normal once again.

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Causes of Infant Acne

Infant acne is very common. Babies may be born with acne or develop acne within 2 to 4 weeks of birth. This type of acne usually occurs on the chin and cheeks but may also appear on the baby’s forehead or back. Infant acne may present as red pimples or as whiteheads and is usually surrounded by reddish skin, or skin that appears flushed or irritated. Infant acne should not be confused with other common infant skin conditions such as milia or eczema. The acne will appear more severe when babies are hot, fussy, or when in contact with breast milk. Though wiping the face may make the condition seem worse, it normally resolves itself without medical treatment.

Causes of infant acne include everything from the mother’s hormones prior to giving birth, medications taken by the mother or the baby before or shortly after birth, and allergies to formula or breast milk. Though it can last from weeks to months, the condition does not cause babies any discomfort. A dermatologist should be consulted if the acne grows worse, is uncomfortable to the infant, or lasts over three to six months with no resolution. Parents should not overly concern themselves with their baby’s appearance as acne does not harm the baby though it may be a temporary imperfection.  

Treatment of Infant Acne

Infant acne usually resolves itself within 4 to 6 months after birth. Some things that may exacerbate the condition include oils, rubbing the skin, or excessive cleansing. Infant acne is not caused by dirt, and over-washing the skin will only irritate the skin-and the infant. Washing the face with water or a mild cleanser once daily will keep the skin clean without causing irritation. Moisturizing the skin, particularly with lotions containing oil will cause more acne, so this should be avoided. Babies should be checked for skin or food allergies if acne worsens over time. A child dermatologist or pediatrician should be consulted if the acne does not resolve or if the infant has other ailments such as fever, excessive fussiness, or if acne contains pus or lesions. Acne treatment products for teenagers and adults should never be used to treat infant acne. 

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