What To Do About Baby Acne And Acne Scars

Babies can and do suffer acne, and sometimes the resulting acne scars in extreme situations. The set up for this situation happens while the baby is still inside the mother’s womb. There is an exchange of hormones across the placenta just prior to birth which stimulates oil secretion in the baby’s skin that leads to an acne outbreak.

The bad news is that it will show up when the child is about three weeks old, when whitehead bumps begin to form on the cheeks, forehead, chin and back. The whiteheads may be surrounded by redness or inflamed skin. Keep the child cool because heat can exacerbate the situation.

The good news is that is should disappear by the time the baby is about six months old, on its own. Hopefully the case will be mild and no acne scarring will occur.

The best thing to do in this situation is to keep the baby comfortable and keep its skin clean using a mild soap and lukewarm water. Avoid using harsh laundry detergents that may irritate the skin and watch for milk dribbles or spit-up that may also cause irritation. Also avoid wearing strong perfumes or oils or lotions around the baby while the condition persists.

If the condition worsens then it is time to call in a pediatrician, who can prescribe topical ointments or other treatments to ease the baby. Sometimes in rare cases, baby acne can signal the arrival of an underlying and more serious health condition. The acne outbreak may be sign of the early production of sex hormones, which would indicate that the baby is headed for some developmental abnormalities as it grows.

The most important thing to remember is to keep the baby comfortable, watch the progression of the outbreaks closely and call in a doctor, if the infection does not ease over the course of the following months. Any scarring should be immediately called to the attention of the attending pediatrician.