How To Deal With Your Baby’s Acne

Many babies will develop baby acne in infancy. It’s not usually dangerous, so it should not be considered cause for alarm. Just the same, knowing why your baby has broken out, and what you can do to treat it, can be helpful.

Acne vulgaris is caused by overproduction of oil by the sebaceous glands. The extra oil clogs pores in the hair follicles, and traps bacteria. Breakouts result.

Another likely contributor to baby acne is hormones. Hormones are passed from mother to baby at birth. As a result new babies have elevated hormone levels, which prompts the sebaceous glands into overproduction.

Other causes of baby acne are more easy to control. Babies who become irritated or annoyed can break out more severely. Food or milk left on the face can cause a breakout. Irritation of various types, including from soaps or laundry detergents or a too rough washcloth, can make breakouts worse. Whenever possible, use hypoallergenic soaps and nonirritating detergents to try to minimize this possibility.

The prime breakout time for baby acne is between 4 weeks and 4 months old. It’s more common in boys than in girls, and can be found over most of the face (chin, cheeks, forehead), and even on the back.

Not all skin eruptions that babies experience are baby acne. It’s important that you have your family doctor evaluate skin changes, to be sure you know exactly what you are dealing with and how to proceed. The breakout may be from allergies or from irritation from products.

If your baby has acne-like bumps at birth, chances are they aren’t breakouts. Some babies are just born with bumps that aren’t a skin condition. These bumps should disappear within a month or so.

Your baby may also have eczema, if she is breaking out in rashes regularly. Take her to your doctor, because your doctor can accurately identify this disorder and advise you how best to treat it.

Aside from parenting tips, the author additionally frequently gives advice on plastic bumper repair and automotive dent repair.