Everything You Need To Know About BABY ACNE

Baby acne? Who ever thought that new born babies or babies aged between 1-4 months could develop acne on such tender skin? The pores on a baby’s skin don’t develop fully till 6 months; so, how is it possible for babies to have acne issues? These questions have perplexed anxious parents since time immemorial. The fact is, 1 in 7 babies around the world, suffer from baby acne. There could be many reasons for this. Find out what they are how it can be treated.

How Is It Caused?

Believe it or not, much like adult and adolescent acne, an overdrive of hormones is mainly to blame. Except that in this case, it is not the baby’s hormones, but the mothers’ hormones that are still flowing in the baby’s bloodstream, causing pimples to pop on the chin, cheeks, eyelids or the forehead.

Sometimes, babies can even develop acne on the chest and the back, but this is not to be confused with heat rashes or infant eczema, because the appearances are uncanny. If your baby is suffering from the latter two problems, the treatments will vary for both, so make sure you know what you are dealing with when it first appears on your child’s face or body.

Treatment Options

Baby acne can be quite heart wrenching for a parent, but fortunately, acne will not really bother your new born too much, so find solace in that fact and remember, these clear up fairly easily! Here is what you should do to take extra care that it doesn’t re-appear or worsen –

• Avoid excessive scrubbing while bathing your baby. Excessive cleansing is effective only when the acne is caused by dirt or debris and baby acne is caused by neither.
• Always wash your baby’s blankets, clothes and nappies in hot water.
• Avoid using harsh chemicals like soaps, dyes or perfumes on yourself, especially if you are breastfeeding.
• As much as TVC’s may advocate it, do not use a lot of lotions or oils on your baby’s skin. This could cause an imbalance in the pH levels of the skin. Just use gentle soap and lukewarm water to cleanse your child’s face and body once a day. That should suffice.