Title : Baby Acne Causes Treatment and Prevention
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Baby Acne Causes Treatment and Prevention
Can babies get pimples? Yes. Baby acne is a common but temporary skin condition that affects as much as 20 percent of all newborn babies. It can be worrisome, especially to new mothers, not to mention that it does no favor to your little one’s appearance. Most cases of baby acne clear up on their own a short time but if you are concerned about it, this guideline shares handy tips on how to get rid of baby acne.
Baby acne clears on its own without treatment in most cases. Don't panic :)
What is Baby Acne and what does it Look Like?
Before we delve into how to get rid of baby acne, let us have a brief discussion into what baby acne really is.
Medically referred to as Erythema toxicorum neonatorum, or ETN, baby acne are the red and white bumps and pimples that commonly break out on the skin of a baby. These bumps are usually surrounded with areas of reddened skin (a red rash) and are very much like those experienced by teenagers and adults.
Baby acne can be present at birth but in most cases appear a few weeks down the line. It tends to appear more commonly on the cheeks, but it can as well show up on your baby’s chin, nose, forehead, and back.
Although the terms neonatal acne, newborn acne, and infantile acne are used interchangeably, they technically don’t mean the same. Neonatal acne or newborn acne is one that shows within the first 3 months of life while infantile acne is one that shows up between 3 and 6 months of age.
Some people refer to baby acne as baby milk pimples or rash because of its milk-relation; irritation by spit-up milk can cause skin irritation that worsens the breakout.
What Causes Baby Acne
To better understand how to get rid of baby acne, it is also important to first understand its underlying causes. As is the case with teenage and adult acne, the underlying causes of newborn acne are not yet well understood.
It is however thought to be linked to the hormones that babies receive from their mothers during the last stages of pregnancy. The condition is also thought to have a genetic aspect. In addition, certain medications may trigger baby acne when taken by breastfeeding mothers or given directly to babies.
Greasy skin care products that clog your baby’s skin pores may also trigger a flare-up of baby pimples and rash.
Irritation due to factors such as rough fabrics and those laced with strong detergents, milk spit-ups, saliva that lingers on your face for too long, baby fuss etc. can make baby acne worse.
Baby Acne Pictures
To give you an idea what the condition looks like, we have included several pictures depicting mild and severe baby acne cases on the face, chest, and back of newborn babies.
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| Baby acne on face and chest |
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| Severe baby acne on the face |
How to Get Rid of Baby Acne - Baby Acne Treatment
The best baby acne treatment is time. Baby acne is a temporary condition and although there isn’t much you can do to prevent it, it in most cases go away on its own without treatment and without leaving behind scars. The condition tends to get worse prior to clearing up.
In the event that the pimples linger on for too long, are severe, or makes you concerned about their impact on your little one’s complexion, you may want to seek the opinion of your pediatrician.
According to the NHS UK website, acne flare-up that develop post-six months of age (technically known as infantile acne) tend to be more severe and is the most likely to necessitate medical treatment.
Mild medicated creams and ointments are usually prescribed for treatment of baby acne. Oral antibiotics may also be used in cases that involve cysts (pus-filled acne lesions that usually involve bacterial infection and inflammation of the skin).
You should not use any of those over-the-counter acne medicines, creams, lotions, etc. meant for use by teenagers and adults. Such products are usually too harsh for your baby’s delicate skin and can in fact worsen the pimples and/or rash.
There are also various measures you can take to promote faster healing of baby acne. Here is a breakdown of how to get rid of baby acne:
Gentle Facial Cleaning
Washing your baby’s face with mild soap and water can help to improve the appearance of the acne-affected areas. For moisturizing, avoid using oily products as these can worsen the condition.
Coconut Oil
The healing powers of coconut oil have been touted to help clear baby acne. Here is how to get rid of baby acne with coconut oil:
- Pour some coconut oil into the palm of your hand.
- Rub your hands to spread the oil.
- Massage it gently onto your little one's face.
- Repeat the procedure 2-3 times each day.
Baking Soda
Dabbing some baking soda is claimed to absorb excess oil and get rid of bacteria on the skin. Baby-safety-concerns.com suggests using 1 part baking soda to 10 parts water to get rid of baby acne. Simply dab the solution on the affected parts of the skin only.
Read more about home remedies for baby acne in our other guide.
How to Prevent Baby Acne
Although you cannot completely prevent baby acne, The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests cleansing your baby’s face with mild soap and water and staying away from lotions and oils until the condition has healed.
For breastfeeding mothers, baby-safety-concerns suggests keeping off fatty foods as they could be passed through the breast milk and play a role in acne development. It is also suggested that you avoid exposing your little on to direct sunlight.
Now that you know how to get rid of baby acne, share your opinion and experience with us below.
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