Many parents are alarmed over the red, acne-like rash on their newborn baby's face. But baby acne is a common and harmless condition. It tends to appear within the first month or so after birth, although it can occur earlier or later. Some babies even make their appearance on their birth day with an already established case of acne. Luckily, baby acne is fleeting, and nearly always goes away quickly and without treatment.
Baby acne, also called infant or infantile acne, looks like a rough, red rash. It's most common on the infant's cheeks and nose, although it can appear anywhere on the face and back. Comedones and papules will be present, and possibly some small pustules. Baby acne may come and go, and tends to look worse when the baby is fussy or crying.
If you suspect your baby has acne, you should check with your pediatrician. Many other conditions common in infants, such as eczema, erythema toxicum, and heat rash, can resemble baby acne.
Baby acne develops during the weeks after birth, most likely due to hormones that passed from mother to infant during the last stage of pregnancy.
Baby acne can be aggravated by milk, formula, or spit-up coming in contact with the skin. Other irritants include rough fabrics or fabrics laundered in strong detergent. If your baby has acne, don't use soap, lotion or creams on the face. These can irritate acne, too.
Certain medications, viral illnesses and allergic reactions can cause an acne-like rash. So, for example, your infant develops a rash or acne after taking any medications, please let your doctor know.
Unless baby's acne is being caused by an underlying condition, there is really no need to treat it. It doesn't harm your baby and is purely a cosmetic issue. Gently wash your baby's face with plain water once or twice per day, and don't scrub. Cleansing that is too frequent or too vigorous will irritate your baby's skin.
In very rare cases, severe baby acne is treated with topical acne medications. But this should only be done if there is a compelling reason to do so, and only under the recommendation of your child's doctor, since acne medications are hard on infants' tender skin.
Rest assured, nearly all cases of baby acne resolve without treatment in just a few weeks time. So enjoy your new baby, and don't let his acne worry you.
Source:
"Infantile Acne." American Academy of Dermatology. 2007. AcneNet. Accessed 4 Dec 07.
