Baby Acne

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Baby Acne

My Baby has Pimples?

Acne in the newborn (also known as acne neonatorum) or baby acne is a common condition that affects roughly 20 percent of newborn babies. Infants usually develop neonatal acne because of stimulation of the baby’s sebaceous glands by lingering maternal hormones after delivery. These hormones cross the placenta into your baby and after delivery they cause the oil glands on the skin to form bumps that look like pimples. To your dismay your beautiful newborn’s face breaks out with red pimples on the cheeks, forehead and chin. Sometimes whiteheads are present as well.

Normal baby acne typically follows a pattern:

• Traditionally sets in at 3 weeks of age, though may be present from the time of delivery
• Male babies are more often affected than female babies
• The most frequent types of acne in infants are papules and pustules. Papules are small solid rounded red bumps rising from the skin similar to a red pimple. Pustules or whiteheads are a small bump in the skin that has a collection of pus.

Most babies develop acne in and around the face, including the cheeks and sometimes on the scalp. Most lesions that develop will spontaneously resolve themselves within a four-month time frame, thus most newborn babies will not need treatment to clear up their acne. It can help to gently cleanse the face at least once a day with water and mild baby soap. You may aggravate the condition with the use of oils or lotions, they just do not help. Remember baby acne will disappear spontaneously in a few weeks.

Many first time parents worry that they won’t be able to take pictures with their newborn until their acne clears up. Rest assured, parents have photographed their precious angels, acne or no acne. You can always get touch-ups if you feel concerned about it. Remember that neonatal acne or baby acne largely is a temporary condition that your newborn baby will outgrow in the first few months of life.

Sometimes when a baby presents with severe acne, you doctor may recommend you treat it with benzoyl peroxide, topical creams like retinoids or other keratolytic agents.

Interestingly, a family history of acne does not suggest your baby will develop acne after birth. Also, just because your baby develops acne after you give birth does not mean they will have severe acne as an adolescent or adult.

Newborn or baby acne is different from but often confused with two other condition called “milia” and infantile acne that we will discuss in the next sections.

Milia

Milia or Miliaria acne is rarely present at birth. It develops during the first week of life. It is associated with the warming of the baby by an incubator, occlusive dressings, clothing, or fever. Milia usually appear as white bumps on the skins surface distributed over the face and scalp.

No specific treatment is needed. The acne resolves rapidly and may improve with measures to reduce sweating, such as loose clothing and cool baths.

Infantile Acne

There are other types of acne that might develop over time, including infantile acne. Infantile acne refers to acne that develops three months of age or later. It is a separate condition from newborn acne or baby acne, which occurs shortly after the baby’s birth.

Typically infantile acne results from the presents of lingering maternal hormones, just as newborn acne or baby acne. Infantile acne is more severe than neonatal or baby acne. Typically babies with infantile acne develop yellow papules on the face, usually on the nose and cheeks. Other types of acne including comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and pustules also develop.

The good news is this acne also usually spontaneously disappears after about 12 months of age, though in some babies the condition may persist until your baby reaches the age of three. This largely is dependent on genetics. Just like during puberty, the level of testosterone in your child varies in part because of their genetic make up.

Like neonatal acne or baby acne, usually no treatment is needed to help relieve infantile acne. For babies with severe acne, you can apply benzoyl peroxide or other topical agents occasionally to help relieve inflammation and swelling. When infantile acne is present, some children may have a recurrence of symptoms during the teen years at puberty.

Acne in the newborn is not usually a serious condition. Infantile acne, like newborn acne or baby acne, often resolves itself during the first year or so of life. There are some situations, particularly later in life during the preteen and teen years when acne may result from a more serious infection. If you have more questions about acne or acne treatments, be sure to contact your healthcare provider for treatment alternatives and advice.