One of the most common conditions
a new mother may see on her
infant, is baby acne. But
while it is startling in so
young a child, it's really
not a serious issue, nor should
you be overly concerned about
the causes or cures.
Some babies when born, may
have small red bumps on their
face. This is not baby acne,
but something called "milia",
which usually disappears in
a couple of weeks. On the
other hand, the acne will
appear around that same two
week period, and show itself
as small white heads, sometimes
surrounded by red, irritated
skin on the cheeks, chin,
forehead and even the back.
In teenagers and even adults,
acne is blamed on hormones
and excessively oily skin.
To some extent this is true
of infants also, with hormones
transmitted through the placenta,
often being blamed for the
facial spots. However, science
has no real idea of the cause,
and there is normally no treatment
for the few weeks a child
will have it.
Because the baby acne appears
on areas of the face where
they may have spit up, rubbed
against sheets washed in harsh
detergent, or drooled, it
can become slightly aggravated,
but that extra irritation
will go away by changing your
laundry soap, and wiping their
face with a damp cloth when
needed.
It is not advisable to try
home remedies such as creams
or oil, as these will only
irritate the skin further.
As a rule, nothing more is
needed than washing once a
day with mild baby soap. In
some cases where the baby
acne appears to get significantly
worse, your doctor may prescribe
a cream or other medication.
He will also check at the
same time, to see if a breastfeeding
mother is taking any medication
that may have triggered the
acne through her milk.
About the Author
Jackie G. Maxwell is the resident
baby & toddler expert at Malcolm's
Web. Visit and sign up for
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