It is quite common for newborn babies to have acne. It can be present at birth or usually it appears after a couple of weeks, predominantly on the cheeks and sometimes on the forehead, chin or back in the form of whiteheads, blackheads and pustules.
The causes of baby acne as with adolescent one are not clear. It can occur as the result of hormonal changes, when babies receive hormones from their mother at the end of pregnancy or just through mother’s milk. These hormones are naturally passed through the placenta and are responsible for aiding the survival of a newborn once they have left the womb. The hormones help stimulate lung maturation, but they also result in increased oil gland activity. So, it is this increased gland production that may lead to baby acne. However, there are other factors, viewed as possible acne causes. For example, taking certain medications while nursing or pregnancy can provoke skin disorder as well.
Baby acne is mild and in most cases clears up within a couple of weeks on its own. Therefore, very often doctors don not suggest any medical treatment, because it can only worsen the situation. Actually, baby acne doesn’t result from dirt, that’s why it is not necessary to wash the skin of the baby too much. Applying baby acne products such as gels and lotions might simply irritate the skin. Instead, you may wash your baby's face with mild baby soap and water once a day and pat it dry gently. It is also recommended to avoid creams or oils, because these can make the acne worse. Over-the-counter acne medicines and scrub should be excluded from the daily baby skin care as well. Small whiteheads, surrounded by reddish skin, can be developed when your baby sweats or if his skin is irritated by saliva or rough fabric.
In general, as it was said, baby acne will go away naturally once the baby reaches the age of three to four months, but if taken measured don’t help to improve the condition, you can take the help of medications to treat severe form of baby acne. However, it can be done only if your paediatrics advises you for that.
