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Baby Acne

What is baby acne?

Babies may be born with or develop a number of rashes. Their face may break out with red bumps. This is called baby acne. It is a common newborn condition and is completely normal. Baby acne maybe present from the birth, but typically appears at 3 to 4 weeks of age and last until your child is between 4 and 6 months old.

Symptoms of baby acne

- Red bumps predominantly on the cheeks, quite common on the chin and forehead also.
- Baby acne will be at its peak when the baby's skin is irritated, or when the baby is hot or fussy.
- If the baby's skin becomes wet from spit-up, saliva or milk, the comdition may appear worse for several days.

Causes of baby acne

Final moments of pregnancy is full of activity with respect to what mom passes on to baby. The baby acne is caused by the hormones that the baby gets from you in the womb and through your breast milk. Since your baby isn't producing these levels of hormones herself, once you're done breastfeeding and they're out of his system, the acne will clear up.

How can baby acne be prevented?

Baby acne is a normal stage that is difficult to prevent. You can expect that these rashes will soon be a memory. Once the baby gets older (say 6 months), the oil glands will disappear, and you won't see the acne again.

How can it be treated?

Usually, no treatment is necessary. It is best to leave it alone. Topical remedies and vigorous washing could irritate your baby's sensitive skin.

However, cleanse the face once a day using a gentle cleanser. Oils and lotions do not help, and may aggravate the condition. Have patience and the condition will be a distant memory in a few short weeks or months anyway.