My Child Has Baby Acne – What Is It and How Do I Help It?

Have you noticed some tiny red or white pimples on your baby’s face? They may have baby acne, a common skin condition that affects more than 20 per cent of newborns.

Baby acne (also known as newborn acne or neonatal acne) mostly appears on the cheeks, chin or forehead, but you might also notice it on your baby’s eyelids, scalp, neck, back and chest. The good news is that baby acne is usually temporary and doesn’t require treatment; however there are a few things you can do to help your little one’s skin recover.

What Causes Baby Acne? And Should I Be Worried?

There’s no clear answer for what causes baby acne. Experts often point to the hormones transferred between mother and baby in pregnancy, which can affect sebum production in the skin. Still, as yet, there are no definite answers or explanations. Your little one may be born with it, or it could develop during the first few weeks of life.

While baby acne can look inflamed and uncomfortable, it’s usually harmless and only lasts a few days to a few weeks. If your baby develops acne after around two months of age, this condition is known as infantile acne, which warrants a visit to the doctor to discuss treatment. And, of course, if you’re ever worried about your child’s skin or baby acne, seek advice from your healthcare provider right away.

What Does Baby Acne Look Like? Could It Be Eczema?

It can be challenging to tell the difference between baby acne and other skin conditions commonly affecting young children, such as eczema. 

Eczema and other skin conditions are generally red and inflamed with areas of dry and cracked skin, which may cause the baby a great deal of distress and severe itchiness. Baby acne is usually bumpier and not necessarily itchy. Both conditions commonly appear at a very young age; however, baby acne usually clears up on its own within a short period of time. Eczema, on the other hand, can persist well into childhood and adulthood and needs a regular skincare routine to keep the skin hydrated and strengthen the skin’s barrier to avoid eczema flare-ups.

How Can I Help My Baby’s Acne?

Baby acne will usually disappear without treatment, but there are some things you can do to help their delicate skin recover:

1. Keep the skin clean.

It’s essential to wash your baby’s skin daily using lukewarm water and a gentle, natural cleanser such as our colloidal oatmeal bath soak or Natural Shampoo and Body Wash. These will gently wash away dirt without irritating the skin. It’s best to avoid applying moisturisers directly to areas affected by baby acne, but be sure to use a gentle moisturiser on other areas to seal in hydration after bath time. 

2. Don’t scrub, pinch or squeeze.

Remember to be very gentle with your baby’s skin. Never scrub your baby’s acne or pinch or squeeze the pimples.

3. Avoid any harsh products.

Avoid acne treatments or washes (unless recommended by your doctor), as these are likely to be far too harsh on your baby’s skin and may make the acne worse.

If your child’s baby acne is particularly severe, stubborn or persists beyond around two months of age, seek advice from your doctor. They could be experiencing infantile acne or a different skin condition like eczema, which may require treatment.

This blog post was brought to you and your family with love from the Itchy Baby Co. team x.

Disclaimer: Information provided is of a general nature only, and you should always consult your medical professional.