Newborn Acne

!±8± Newborn Acne

Newborn acne affects about 20 percent of babies which is most common and also known as acne neonatorum. Acne is caused when the sebaceous glands clogs the pores during the immaturity. The hormones get into the baby and cause oil glands on the skin of the newborn baby to form bumps which appears as acne. The acne is caused on the face, cheeks, chin and forehead of the baby. Sometimes whiteheads also develop in the newborn baby.

The newborn babies frequently get acne and follow some pattern such as:-

Male babies are affected with acne more than female babies Develops acne within 3 weeks of age from the time of delivery The most common type of acne found in newborn babies are pustules and papules

Most of the babies develop acne around the face, cheeks and on the scalp. The acne that develops resolves themselves and hence babies require no treatment for acne. They usually develop when the skin becomes irritated, hot or fussy. This condition appears when the skin of the baby comes in contact with the cloth which is washed in harsh detergents or becomes wet from milk or saliva.

Thus, the face of the babies should be cleaned gently once in a day with mild baby soap and water. Use of oils and lotions should not be used as it can make the acne more worse. Scrubbing the face of the baby should be avoided as it can irritate the skin. The acne disappears in a few weeks. This is not a permanent problem for the newborn babies and mostly fades away by the third or fourth month.

They also fade away with the matureness of the baby's skin. The tendency of developing acne continues in newborn babies till the baby is between four and six months old. If the acne persists for more than six months then one should contact the pediatrician.

If the newborn babies develop severe acne then the doctor recommends some topical creams such as retinoids or keratolytic agents and benzoyl peroxide. After the birth of the newborn it is not necessary that they will develop mild or severe acne.

So, the clothes of the babies should be washed in a chemical free detergent and Aveeno baby washes, soothing lotions and natural products made for the babies can be helpful for delicate and acne prone skin. Vinegar solution can also be given to the newborn babies if they develop acne.