It may not be news to you that acne is not merely a problem in teenage, or that it can affect people

You would think that nature could be kinder by sparing babies the misery of suffering so much discomfort when they are not even able to communicate. But unfortunately, that is just the way it is. Babies do suffer from acne and there is not much that you or they can do except to put up with it and make them as comfortable as possible.

Why do babies get acne? You may be at your wits end when you are faced with a squalling baby and cannot fathom what could possibly be the problem. But once you face up to the fact that your baby is suffering from acne, you will feel better if you know a little about it.

Baby acne is caused by the transfer of hormones from the mothers body, through the placenta. These hormones have the effect of stimulating the secretion of oil in the babys skin. As a result, your baby may develop acne. Baby acne usually appears at an age when babies are generally cranky and you can be sure that you will be in for more than a few sleepless nights!

What to expect with baby acne. You will find that baby acne generally appears when your baby is about three or four weeks old. It shows up in the form of bumps on the babys cheeks, forehead or chin. Once it has made an appearance, the acne may be visible off and on until the baby is between four and six months old.

Coping with your babys acne. Unfortunately, since this is normal and will simply have to clear up in its own time, there is not very much you can do. The best thing you can do is to keep your skin clean and make sure that he or she is as comfortable as possible. It would help to wash your babys face with water. Using mild soap once daily would also be a good idea.

Watch for milk or saliva dribbling from the babys mouth, which could irritate the skin and should be wiped away. You should also take care to avoid using harsh laundry detergents.

The best thing you can do for yourself while you are coping with your babys acne is to try and relax. If you are really worried, perhaps you could consult a pediatrician. Remind yourself that your babys acne will clear up in time and will be nothing more than a distant memory in a short while.

Baby acne is a passing phase. Instead of fretting, remember that your time with your baby is very precious. It is also a time that will not return so make the most of it while you can. Once your babys acne has cleared up, you will probably wonder why it upset you so much. Circumstances may be a little different the next time your child develops acne. By then, you will have a teenager on your hands and a whole new set of problems, as your child advances towards adulthood.

So do try to take it easy and remember that it is much more important to enjoy the time you spend with your baby. Acne and other problems may come and go but your child is growing and changing every day. It would be a shame for you to let your babys acne to get in the way.