Understanding Baby Acne: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Tips
Doctor explains the essentials of baby acne, its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Learn how to manage and recognize this common condition in newborns and when to consult your healthcare provider.
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Topic Breakdown
In this video, we delve into the essential knowledge you need regarding acne in babies, covering various critical areas. It's time-stamped for your convenience, so you can easily navigate through the topics. Let's start with the fundamental question: Can newborn babies really get acne? The answer is yes. Approximately 20% of newborns, or one in five babies, experience acne that can appear anytime within the first two months of life. However, it most commonly manifests between two to four weeks after birth.
Other names for baby acne include newborn acne, neonatal acne, or neonatal cephalic pustulosis. For simplicity, we'll stick to the term "baby acne" in this discussion. It's important to note that baby acne differs from infantile acne. Infantile acne occurs between two months to one year of age and can exhibit symptoms beyond the pustules and bumps seen in baby acne, such as blackheads. If your child develops acne after two months of age—infantile acne—you may want to consult your healthcare provider, as it may take longer to clear up. For the purpose of this video, our focus remains on baby acne.
So, what causes baby acne? The exact cause remains unknown. Acne typically results from clogged pores, and when pores clog, pimples can develop. It's also likely that baby acne is a consequence of hormonal changes affecting your newborn during birth or the first few weeks of life. Hormones in your placenta can influence how your baby's skin produces sebum—the oily substance made by the sebaceous glands to protect the skin and hair. Excessive sebum can clog pores and lead to acne. Additionally, babies have sensitive skin at birth, which may react negatively to anything left on it for too long, especially food, vomit, or drool.
Where does baby acne appear? Much like the acne associated with teenagers, baby acne breakouts often appear on the nose, cheeks, forehead, chin, head, back, and chest. Visually, baby acne usually presents as small red to purple bumps that are swollen, known as papules. You can see various examples of these on different skin types here. There may also be small bumps containing pus surrounded by a red, purple, or dark brown ring, called pustules. Notably, your baby's acne may become more visible when they cry, but they won't have blackheads if it's baby acne. Blackheads are more characteristic of infantile acne, which, as mentioned earlier, occurs between two months and one year of age, most commonly between three and six months.
Now, let's talk about treatment. In terms of prevention and treatment, there's little you can do to prevent baby acne, and limited options for treatment. However, there are crucial dos and don'ts to follow. Never use acne medicine or face wash on your baby unless specifically instructed by a pediatric dermatologist or doctor. Avoid scrubbing or picking at your baby's acne. Use lukewarm rather than hot water when washing your baby's skin, and try to wash their skin daily. Refrain from using oily or greasy skincare products on your baby's skin, as these can block pores. Make sure to clean up any food residue or vomit from your baby's skin immediately after they make a mess.
The good news is that baby acne is generally harmless and will clear up on its own within a few weeks to months. It is unlikely to cause any permanent scars or damage. However, if it doesn't improve after a few weeks, worsens, or if you have any concerns, you should consult your healthcare provider.
When else might you need to contact your healthcare provider? If your baby's acne is worsening or if you have concerns, it's crucial to speak to your healthcare provider. There is a possibility that the acne could be a result of another health condition or a reaction to a skin product you're using. Your healthcare provider can help determine the root cause. It could also be that what you think is acne is actually eczema or a skin infection, and your healthcare provider will be able to distinguish between these conditions.
Finally, if your child develops acne after two months of age, especially if there are blackheads, you should speak to your healthcare provider, as this could be infantile acne. Similar to neonatal acne, infantile acne usually clears up on its own within six months to a year and typically doesn't cause scars or lasting skin damage. Nevertheless, if you have any concerns, it's worth consulting your healthcare provider.
If your child exhibits any of the following signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
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