Baby Acne
What Is Baby Acne?
Little will worry a parent more than seeing their newborn suffering with a skin condition such as baby acne. However, before we can begin to treat this skin condition we need to learn a little more about it. What causes baby acne? Is it dangerous? Will it permanently scar my baby’s delicate skin?
First and foremost, remain calm. Your baby will not react well to a frantic parent!
Baby acne is a common occurrence and as many as 1 in 5 new born babies acquire it during the first few months of their lives. There are two varieties of baby acne.
Acne on a newborn baby between 1 and 4 weeks old is known as neonatal acne. Acne that affects infants between the age of 2 and 18 months is called infantile acne.
Baby acne is usually found on your baby’s cheeks, chin, forehead and sometimes on the back. It presents itself as small pimples surrounded by a ring of pinkish skin. You may notice that the symptoms worsen during prolonged bouts of crying or when your child is overly warm and clammy.
Baby Acne Or Rash?
Baby acne is commonly confused with rashes and other more serious skin conditions. One way to determine whether your child is suffering from a rash such as milia is to examine the location. Baby acne only affects your baby’s face so finding pimples elsewhere will generally suggest it isn’t acne.
Crusting is another factor to watch for as mild eczema is known to ooze, crust over and flake off usually resulting in considerable discomfort.
Baby Acne Treatments
Unlike other, more serious skin conditions, leaving a mild case of baby acne is the best form of treatment. Your baby’s skin is incredibly sensitive and cleansing too vigorously will do more harm than good and could lead to further irritations. Aside from the cosmetic appearance, moderate baby acne is completely harmless to your child’s wellbeing.
In extreme cases or when you are advised by a qualified doctor you may be required to apply topical medications and ointments. Please adhere strictly to the doctors specifications as these medicines are often harsh when liberally applied.
Baby Acne Remedies and Prevention
Preventing the onset of baby acne is a surprisingly simple procedure. Firstly, cleanse your baby’s skin twice daily with a fragrance free cleanser using a soft cloth and warm water. Again, be careful not to rub the skin too vigorously.
It is a common misconception that any acne outbreak on your infant’s skin should be treated with over the counter medications and specialized ointments. This of course is a fallacy, the best remedy for a baby acne outbreak is time and patience.
Stick to the guidelines above and your bouncing bundle of joy will be back to her smiley self before you’re able to pull a face and make gurgling noises!
Baby acne on the face and back of your new born isn’t a cause for concern.
