09 May Newborn Baby Acne
As a new parent of an infant, chances are you have a million questions running through your head at all times. Are they sleeping enough? Did they eat too much? Is that rash normal?
The list of worries new parents can have is virtually endless, and questions are completely normal, especially when you find the unexpected on your child. For many parents, this means developing questions about baby acne.
Baby acne can be confusing at first, and many parents may think there is something more serious going on. However, there is no need to worry. Infant acne is different than teenage acne and is completely harmless. While most people don’t expect to see blemishes on their infant, baby acne is actually very common and isn’t a cause for concern. However, there are a few things you should know about infant acne to help ease your mind and so you can focus all of your attention on your beautiful new baby.
- Infant acne can start early. Typically, infant acne begins around 2-3 weeks and can last until your baby is 6 months old. There is no real known cause of infant acne, but residual hormones from the mother’s body and developing sweat glands are thought to be some of the most common causes of infant blemishes.
- Treating infant acne is simple. Much like teenage or adult acne, infant acne comes with clogged pores and tiny blemishes, so your best approach is to make sure that your infant’s skin is clean. Wash your baby’s face with gentle baby soap and pat it dry 2-3 times per day. Do not scrub, pick at or use an adult acne treatment on their skin.
- It doesn’t hurt. Remember, just because infant acne may look out of place, it is just like normal acne and doesn’t hurt your child. Just keep the face clean and let the acne clear up with time.
- Infant acne will clear up eventually. You may worry about the look of infant acne now, but there is no real need for concern. Your baby’s acne will clear up on its own and it won’t leave behind any scarring. In a few weeks or months your baby’s skin will be perfectly soft and smooth—just like it is supposed to be!
Newborn baby acne is completely normal, but if you have any questions about your infant’s skin or acne contact us here at Continuum Pediatrics by calling 817-617-8600. We can help answer all of your newborn questions, including those about common skin conditions in infants.