Baby Acne Treatment Tips

Baby Acne is different from the kind of acne that adolescents and adults suffer from. It is also different from Infantile Acne, which usually develops within 3-4 months after birth. In the case of baby acne, it may be present at the time of birth or may develop within a period of 3-4 week’s time. It has been found that male babies are more prone to this type of acne than female babies are.

The symptoms of baby acne usually involve rashes or small, red pimples on the face and surrounding areas of the face. Acne usually affects the cheek, chin and forehead of the baby. Especially, when the baby is hot and fussy, the acne will seem aggravated. On the other hand, when the baby’s face is wet with food, milk or saliva, it tends to make the acne break out worse.

Contrary to popular belief, baby acne is not caused by poor hygiene or malnutrition. The cause lies in the hormones passed on to the baby by the mother through the placenta in the final weeks of pregnancy. These hormones are important for the development of the fetus, but on the other hand, they also tend to stimulate the sebaceous glands in a baby. This leads to percolation of oil in the pores of the skin which then tends to accumulate dirt and dust and result in acne.

It is important to know that while the cause of the acne may be hormonal, it can get aggravated by irritants like dust, dirt, atmospheric pollution, etc. Even massages or oil baths, where a lot of blood may flow to the face, or when a baby is likely to feel hot and stuffy could also aggravate the symptoms.

The condition of baby acne does not require any specific treatment. The condition is known to disappear on its own in a few weeks time. You only need to make sure that the baby’s face is dry and clean at all times and the baby is not feeling hot and fussy at any time. Applying any creams or lotions at this time may actually have an adverse effect and worsen the situation. Additionally, most acne creams and lotions are meant for use by adolescents and adults and may have severe side effects on the baby’s skin.