Babies have their bad skin days too which causes baby acne and leave their mothers worrying a lot. But there is actually no reason to panic. Often it is seen that no sooner you proudly gaze at your bundle of joy and the strange feelings of being a mother start sinking in, you are alarmed by some red pimples or acne on your little one’s face. You feel like calling the doctor but don’t panic. These are nothing but baby acne.  The new mothers should know a little bit about baby acne and take necessary steps whenever required.

Let us start with the types of acne that your tiny tot may develop.

Baby boys are more prone to baby acne than girls

This type of acne is also known as neonatal acne and develops in newborns when they are just a few weeks old. Normally they appear when your baby is three weeks to four weeks old but some babies are born with these. They look like red pimples and mostly appear on cheeks and forehead but you may find them on the scalp also.
Baby boys are more prone to them than baby girls. It you find your baby affected by acne, do not get alarmed as over 20% of newborn babies get these and they disappear within 3-4 months.

Baby acne causes

Just in case you are wondering why those red bumps appeared on your child’s face then let me explain it to you.
Just before birth, mother’s hormones pass to the child through the placenta. These hormones stimulate the child’s oil glands which create these acne. These hormones are necessary for development of lungs of the baby.
Doctors opine that there is no relation between family history of acne and baby acne. Moreover babies with neonatal acne may or may not have acne in adolescent period.

Baby acne types and remedies

These acnes are of two types – papules and pustules.

Papules look like red pimples and are small red bumps which are solid and rounded. On the other hand pustules are whitehead which are filled with pus.

Remedies – You do not have to worry a lot about these acne as they will disappear very soon. If the condition becomes severe you can consult your doctor for treatment. But do not apply any topical medicines on your own as these may harm the skin.

Milia – baby acne

These acne are seldom present at birth but develop after one week. They are white bumps that appear on the nose, cheeks and chin. They have nothing to do with hormones. Milia occurs when tiny flakes of skin get confined underneath the skin’s surface. Often, babies who are kept in incubator or are covered by too much clothing develop milia.
Here again you do not have to think about treatment as the baby will get rid of milia very soon. Ensure that the baby gets cool bath and wears loose clothes which help her in sweating.

Infantile baby acne

These develop at about three months of age and are different from baby acne or milia. They occur due to lingering hormones of the mother that are still present in the baby’s body. They are severe than baby acne and look like yellow papules that develop on the nose and cheeks.
They disappear by the 1st birthday of the baby but on rare cases may continue till her 3rd birthday. This depends on genetics and as a mother try to not to dread them.

Baby acne precaution and remedies – What to do?

You may want to know how to take care of your baby if she has acne. There is actually not much that you can do.

• Cleaning the precious one’s face with water and soft cloth is enough. You may use a mild soap.
• Do not use oils and lotions as they may aggravate the problem.
• Do not pick the acne.
• Wash the baby’s clothes with mild detergent. Remember, a baby’s skin is very tender. Clothes that are washed in harsh detergent may irritate it. Chemical contents of harsh detergents may worsen the acne. So, go for mild detergents.
• After feeding your baby, gently clean her face as spit-up milk that stays on the skin may worsen the situation.
• When the baby is fussy and hot, with increased blood flow to her face, the acne may look severe.
• Try to console her and she will feel better.
• Maintaining proper sanitation for your baby is very important. We love kissing a baby but restrain yourself as saliva contact can irritate her skin.

So as a new mother enjoy your baby’s company and stop worrying about those red bumps. They do not make your baby less adorable.

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