CrushPress

If you didn’t think acne in babies was possible, think again. There is a condition that some babies experience called Baby Acne. This is characterized by breakouts that look like reddish bumps on the baby’s skin. The usual places it chooses to sprout from are on the baby’s cheeks, forehead, and chin. It will appear at birth or within a period of three to four weeks after the birth. Not only is Baby Acne possible, it is also common. This condition should never be confused with milia. Milia is formed especially with babies since their pores have not opened fully as of yet.

Baby Acne is a fleeting condition. What causes this condition is not dirt and grime on your baby’s face, rather it is your hormones that are causing the baby to break out. When you were nearing delivery your hormones start to spike up. Due to so many circulating hormones, some are transferred to the baby via the placenta. It is the same hormones that cause your baby to have boobs as a newborn, have pseudo menstruation, and release milk called witch’s milk from their breasts. When the hormones start to taper down, the condition goes away with it.

Aside from the red bumps, baby acne may also appear as blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules. However, these can still become irritated and inflamed especially when the baby becomes fussy and hot and when skin of the baby comes in contact with milk, wet saliva, and even certain fabrics. The best thing to reduce acne is to just gently wash your baby’s face with water and mild soap formulated for babies. This prevents the condition from worsening and it hastens healing.

Baby Acne fades over time and does not leave a scar. It won’t leave a scar when it is left undisturbed. It is best to let nature take its course when you are dealing with acne on your baby. Your baby may reach the age around four to six months before the acne disappears. Baby acne that persists longer than that should be assessed by a medical practitioner for proper diagnosis and treatment so that they can reduce acne.