What Everyone Should Know About Baby Acne


by Diane - Date: 2007-10-11 - Word Count: 417 Share This!

While acne neonatorum, or baby acne maybe be distressing to parents, it's rarely a real or lasting problem for infants. It may be alarming to new parents who envisioned the fresh, flawless complexion and smooth skin of most babies. Acne in babies usually first appears in within two to three months after birth.

Baby acne is generally confined to the facial area and often appears as red colored lesions on the cheeks. You may see blackheads, papules, or pustules form on your baby's skin. Thankfully most baby acne conditions will completely disappear by the time your baby is six months old.

A hormonal imbalance is the primary culprit of baby acne. During pregnancy, a baby is exposed to a higher level of hormones. After birth, the body must adjust to the change and maintain a healthy hormonal balance.

As a result of this adjustment, in some cases acne will appear. Unlike other types of acne, acne neonatorum will not cause scarring. Once the outbreaks have ceased, your baby's skin should remain undamaged from this temporary condition.

If your child experiences an outbreak of baby acne, there's no reason to panic. Acne neonatorum is actually a rather common problem in infants. Nearly 1 out of 5 babies will experience some form of baby acne during their infancy. Since scarring is not an issue, your first priority should be your baby's comfort.

Since male infants experience a lower level of estrogen in their systems, they are more liable to get acne than female babies. As the body adjusts to this change in hormones, baby acne may periodically disappear only to flare up again a few weeks later.

Parents may try applying various lotions and oils to their baby's face to conceal outbreaks. You should avoid this temptation and instead use a very mild soap and warm water to cleanse your baby. In many cases, the use of lotions can actually aggravate and prolong the condition.

You should only seek your doctor's assistance if extreme or severe cases of acne occur. After examining your child, the doctor may choose to prescribe benzoyl peroxide or some type of retinoid cream to help ease the symptoms. Although this can be very effective in healing acne, prescription medications or ointments should be a last resort for treatment.

For parents that are overly troubled by this condition, there are safe over-the-counter treatments that may help ease your baby's discomfort. Many doctors will recommend using an anti-itch cream such as hydrocortisone. Just remember to apply the cream sparingly

Related Tags: treatment, baby acne, neonatorum

Baby acne and acne in general is troublesome and irritating to deal with. Natural remedies are available to use that are safe and effective. Read reviews about natural acne products here: great-home-remedies.com

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