#Baby & Child Skin
#Baby Skin Types

Baby Acne: Causes, Prevention, And The Best Treatment Methods

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Baby Acne: Causes, Prevention, And The Best Treatment Methods

Even though baby acne is one of the most common skin conditions that affect newborns, watching these little bumps flare up can be a stressful time for a parent. To help alleviate that stress, the experts at Mustela have put together 11 tips for getting rid of baby acne.

What Is Baby Acne?

Baby acne is just like the acne that many suffer from in their teens and twenties, in that clogged pores are what produce the pimple. Baby acne can pop up anywhere on your newborn's body, but it's most often seen on their cheeks, nose, and back.

Baby acne is also known as neonatal acne. The condition affects about 20 percent of newborns and usually clears without any treatment at all. It is different from infantile acne in that open "blackheads" don't usually appear in baby acne.

This skin condition normally becomes visible within two to four weeks of your baby's birth. That said, some newborns have acne when they're born. It may also affect infants at any point during their first several months of life.

What Does Baby Acne Look Like?

Baby acne on face and body looks similar to the acne that many teenagers and adults have dealt with, small red bumps that sometimes have a white center, surrounded by inflamed skin. The bumps often look worse when your baby is crying or fussy.

Sometimes, however, baby acne can be difficult to identify. It might be hard to tell the difference between acne and an allergic reaction, a rash, or another skin condition, like eczema or cradle cap.

In the next section, we'll talk about these differences in more detail so that you can easily identify baby acne.

How Is Baby Acne Different From Other Skin Conditions?

Use these general guidelines for baby acne vs rash and the other skin conditions that can look quite similar.

Allergic Reactions

First, let's start with rashes caused by allergic reactions. Many times, allergic reactions take the form of hives, which can look similar to baby acne.

Timing is the best indicator that you're looking at a reaction. Hives from an allergic reaction appear immediately after exposure, so if you've recently started using a new skincare product on your baby or introduced a new food into their diet and a rash follows quickly, an allergic reaction is probably the culprit.

Heat Rashes

Heat rashes happen when sweat builds up behind blocked sweat ducts, which is why they turn up in hot, humid weather. Heat rash also forms on the parts of your baby's body that trap heat, such as the neck, the upper chest and back, and any body fold where skin rubs together.

Baby acne is much less likely to form in those spots. The same holds true for diaper rash. If your baby has a rash forming on their diaper area, chances are it's not baby acne.

Eczema

Eczema causes patches of skin to become dry, itchy, and sensitive, most often on the scalp, forehead, and cheeks. While redness shows on both conditions, eczema generally won't produce the raised bumps that baby acne does. Acne comes with oily skin, while eczema-prone skin is dry and flaky.

Erythema Toxicum

Erythema toxicum is another common newborn skin condition, a rash of small yellow-to-white bumps surrounded by red skin. The bumps appear on the face and the middle of the body, and they can turn up on the upper arms and thighs as well.

Erythema toxicum is harmless and usually appears in the first hours or days of life, lasting several days. Baby acne follows a slower timeline and tends to go away on its own in a few weeks to months.

If you notice any rash-like patterns on your baby's body, the experts at Mustela suggest contacting your little one's primary care physician as soon as possible.

Milia

Milia are tiny white bumps that sometimes develop on your baby's face. They occur when dead skin cells get trapped and form cysts below the surface of the skin, and they may appear within a few weeks of birth.

Milia are unrelated to baby acne and don't require treatment. They are harmless, common in newborns, and clear on their own, usually within a few weeks.

Cradle Cap

Last, but not least, is cradle cap. Cradle cap produces yellow or white scaly patches that feel greasy or flaky, and it forms on the crown of your baby's head.

Cradle cap may also cause skin to flake off. This condition is, to put it simply, baby dandruff. That should help you tell cradle cap from baby acne.

What Causes Baby Acne?

While baby acne occurs in about 20 percent of newborns, the exact cause is unknown. There are, however, several plausible theories about where baby acne comes from.

Hormones

Some experts believe that baby acne is the result of exposure to maternal hormones. Certain hormones pass from mother to baby through the placenta and stimulate the oil glands, which is the leading theory for why the breakouts appear so early.

Exposure may also come through breastfeeding. Hormones in a parent's breast milk can affect a baby's hormones and lead to acne, though this shouldn't change the way you feed your newborn.

Formula Reaction

Just as your little one's acne may be linked to maternal hormones through breastfeeding, formula may also play a part. Newborn skin can react to anything left on it for too long, including food, vomit, or drool residue.

Feedings are sometimes unpredictable and can get pretty messy. If formula drips onto your child's sensitive skin and stays there, it can aggravate a breakout.

Also, think about if your little one spits up, which we know is common amongst babies. Spit-up tends to land on the same spot on the chin time after time, so pay attention to whether formula makes contact with your baby's skin and wipe it away when it does.

Yeast

Another theory involves certain strains of yeast living on your infant's skin. Neonatal acne has been suggested to be linked to Malassezia, a fungal genus, as a cause or aggravating factor. Malassezia needs sebum to grow, which is why it thrives on newborn skin during the weeks when oil production runs high.

Probiotic Imbalance

Parents sometimes hear that baby acne comes from an imbalance of probiotics in a baby's tummy. Probiotics are the helpful bacteria that humans need in our stomachs to properly digest food, and babies spend their first months acquiring them.

No published research supports gut bacteria as a cause of baby acne. The microbial theory with actual evidence behind it involves yeast on the skin, covered in the section above.

Medication Reaction

Medications can also produce skin symptoms in babies. Most drug allergies cause minor skin rashes or hives, which may appear right away or hours after the medicine is given.

If your little one develops a rash or breakout after starting a new medication, let your doctor know right away rather than treating it as acne.

Whatever is behind your baby's acne, the same easy treatments will help it disappear. Let's have a look at the 11 best tips for getting rid of your little one's acne.

11 Tips For Treating Baby Acne

Baby acne treatment starts with patience, since the condition tends to clear on its own in a few weeks to months. If you want to know how to get rid of baby acne faster, the tips below cover what helps, and your baby's pediatrician can recommend an antifungal cream or a low-potency topical steroid for stubborn cases.

Don't use over-the-counter acne treatments, face washes, or lotions unless you are sure that they are specifically formulated with your little one's delicate skin in mind, using natural, plant-based, and gentle ingredients that are safe.

Your baby's skin is very sensitive at this young age. Talk to your baby's healthcare provider before using any product on their acne, because at-home remedies can irritate newborn skin.

1) Fight And Prevent Baby Acne With A Gentle Cleansing Product

Keeping baby acne under control can be as simple as cleaning your baby with a gentle cleansing product regularly. Cleaning the affected area with water and a mild baby soap is the standard advice, but you don't want to use just any cleanser.

It's best to use one that's specially formulated for newborns. We recommend a product that contains micellar water, like No Rinse Cleansing Water, so it does not dry out their sensitive skin.

Best of all, No Rinse Cleansing Water doesn't require rinsing and is safe from birth on, which makes it easy to use when you're on the go.

Micellar water is composed of tiny cleansing oil molecules suspended in super-soft water. It dissolves dirt and impurities without stripping skin of its natural oils. And because No Rinse Cleansing Water contains no parabens, phthalates, or phenoxyethanol, it's gentle enough for daily use.

2) Don't Rub Your Baby's Skin With Rough Fabric

Rough fabrics can make your baby's acne worse by further irritating the already-sensitive skin. Keeping rough fabrics away from your newborn matters for that reason. Dress your baby in super-soft clothing, and keep wool and other coarse fibers away from their skin.

Similarly, don't bathe your baby with a washcloth. The roughness of the cloth can rip open the bumps and lead to infection. Wash your little one with your hands, but be sure to remove any jewelry that may poke or prick.

3) Pat Your Baby Dry After A Bath

Towels can be notoriously coarse, especially on your baby's tender skin. And if they suffer from baby acne, the feeling can be even worse.

To keep bath towels from wreaking havoc on your baby's acne, always pat their skin dry after washing rather than rubbing. Rubbing with a rough cloth can remove skin cells, which in most cases is a good thing. But for your baby's already-irritated skin, it can cause more problems.

Similarly, the heat created by rubbing your little one dry can contribute to the discomfort caused by baby acne. Always gently pat your baby's skin dry.

4) Don't Use Oily Creams Or Lotions

Acne, be it baby, adolescent, or adult, comes from clogged pores. Dirt and oil get stuck around a hair follicle and create a plug that irritates surrounding skin, which produces the redness and swelling so commonly associated with acne.

For that reason, oils and lotions are worth avoiding on acne-prone baby skin because they can make the acne worse. To keep your baby's skin as clean as possible, whether they're having an outbreak or not, we suggest regularly cleansing the area with No Rinse Cleansing Water or No Rinse Soothing Cleansing Water for very sensitive skin.

These products contain micellar water, which works to keep your baby's skin clean because the micelles in the water are attracted to the dirt and oil that can clog pores. The micelles are thus able to draw out impurities without irritating sensitive skin.

If your baby's face needs hydration afterward, follow with a sensitive-skin product like Soothing Moisturizing Face Cream. This fragrance-free daily face cream is made for babies with very sensitive, rashy, or reactive skin.

5) Do Not Pick At The Bumps

You may be tempted to pop or pick at the bumps on your baby's face. Do your best to resist this urge. Scratching the acne can leave micro-abrasions, which may let surface bacteria cause a skin infection.

Breaking open the bumps does little good in the long run, and the irritation it leaves behind gives the skin one more thing to recover from.

6) Try The Breast Milk Remedy

Many parents swear by dabbing breast milk on their baby's skin, and it is a remedy that circulates widely in parenting circles. No research supports it as a treatment for baby acne.

If you want to try it, talk to your baby's healthcare provider first, since at-home remedies can irritate newborn skin. Watch the area afterward and stop if the bumps look more inflamed.

7) Keep Irritants Away From Your Baby's Skin

We've already talked about rough fabrics like towels, washcloths, and clothing, but there are other fabrics that can irritate your baby's sensitive skin. Keep your infant away from furniture covered in coarse fabric. Don't let your little one roll around on the carpet if it's particularly scratchy.

You may even need to inspect your child's stuffed animals to make sure that none of them are too rough. And if you have pets, be extra vigilant about keeping your baby's environment clean, because dander can trigger an allergic reaction in acne-prone skin.

Strong perfumes and air fresheners are worth skipping too. If you want a light scent for the nursery, Musti Scented Water is an alcohol-free fragranced water made to lightly scent linens and the nursery and is safe for newborns.

8) Maintain A Healthy Breastfeeding Diet

Most parents choose to feed their newborns exclusively breast milk for the first several months of their child's life, if not longer. This, of course, means that the only nutrients the baby receives come directly from their parent's milk.

Since hormones in breast milk are one of the suspected contributors to baby acne, it makes sense that some parents look at their own diet as well. Follow our tips to have the healthiest breastfeeding diet possible.

9) Dress Your Baby Carefully

Babies have super delicate skin that's intolerant and easily irritated. This is normal and nothing to be concerned about. Just be sure to dress your baby in soft, loose-fitting clothing so that you don't cause their baby acne to flare up.

It's also best to use baby-friendly, hypoallergenic laundry detergents to wash your baby's clothes, sheets, and blankets. This will protect your little one's skin from any irritating chemicals that ordinary detergents may contain.

Soft sleepwear helps at night for the same reason, and it gives your baby less to rub against while they settle.

10) Don't Let Your Baby Scratch Or Pick

Unlike you, your baby doesn't understand what's going on with their skin. The swelling may cause your little one to scratch, rub, or pick their baby acne without even knowing it.

Keeping your baby's fingernails trimmed is the simplest way to limit the damage. If you see your baby's skin becoming more red and swollen, or if you see your little one rub the inflamed areas, it's time to cover their hands with baby mittens or soft socks.

Mittens don't have to be a permanent thing, and your baby doesn't have to wear them all the time. It's simply to give the acne time to heal.

11) Be Patient

Above all, be patient. The best treatment for baby acne is time, and most cases resolve on their own. Eventually the condition will clear up and your baby's skin will be soft and smooth.

If at any time you become concerned about your baby's acne, we suggest consulting with a physician. At the very least, they can put your mind at ease regarding your child's rash.

Watch for signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, tenderness, or drainage. If you see any of those, have your infant seen by their doctor.

Can You Prevent Baby Acne?

Parents often ask how to prevent baby acne before it starts. Since baby acne is a natural result of hormonal change, there are no specific ways to prevent it. The hormones that trigger it were already at work before your baby was born.

You can still avoid the things that aggravate a breakout once it appears. Wiping away food, vomit, or drool residue keeps irritants off the skin, and skipping oily creams keeps pores from clogging further.

The same goes for rough fabrics, strong perfumes, and any urge to scrub the bumps away. Every one of those steps is covered in the tips above, and together they give your baby's skin the calmest possible conditions to clear on its own schedule.

Overcoming Baby Acne

As a concerned parent, it's more than natural to be bothered and overwhelmed by the sight of acne on your little one's otherwise soft skin. Deal with baby acne using a tender, loving care type of approach.

Each day, remember to gently wash your baby's face with a mild cleanser such as No Rinse Cleansing Water and then gently pat it dry. Always avoid anything that might irritate your little one's skin, including skin care products, clothing, food, or other things in their environment.

Prevention isn't on the table, since the cause is hormonal, so the goal is a calm routine and a bit of patience. Follow the tips in this article, and remember that the acne likely doesn't bother your little one in the least, so try not to let it bother you, either.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) How Can I Clear Up Baby Acne?

Most baby acne does not require treatment and typically clears up on its own within a few weeks. But, if you want to help speed up the process, try washing your baby's face with a mild cleanser, such as No Rinse Cleansing Water, one or two times daily.

Avoid using harsh soaps or scrubbing the skin, as this could cause irritation and make the acne worse.

It's also important to talk with your child's healthcare provider before trying any medication, including over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, as they could affect your baby's delicate skin.

2) Is Baby Acne Caused By Breast Milk?

As mentioned above, scientific studies have not yet determined the exact cause of baby acne. However, some experts have hypothesized that hormones from a parent's breast milk can affect a baby's hormones and lead to acne.

Baby acne is temporary and clears up without medical treatment in most cases, so this shouldn't affect the way you feed your newborn. If you're concerned that your milk is causing a problem for your little one, talk to your doctor before you decide to stop nursing.

3) When Does Newborn Acne Go Away?

Newborn acne appears before your child is six weeks of age. It typically clears up on its own within a few months, though most cases resolve sooner.

If your baby develops acne after they're six weeks old, the American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends taking them to see a dermatologist for their infantile acne. This type can take a lot longer to clear up and may require different treatments.