Having a Baby

There is a good percentage of infants affected with baby acne. Although in most cases it is not dangerous, knowing why your baby has it and what you can or should do is important.

What causes baby acne?

Acne vulgaris, is caused by an over activity of the sebaceous glands leading to excess oil. When this excessive oil production combines with producing bacteria and hair follicles, it causes a breakout.

However, some say, the main cause of baby pimples is the hormones that get passed from the mother during the birth. These hormones adgitate the sebaceous glands in the baby and cause your baby’s acne.

The baby breakouts get more pronounced when the child is annoyed or irritated. The breakout can also be caused by milk left on the skin or when the skin is irritated by skin care products or even the type of cloth that you use on the child. Detergents can also cause irritation, so wash your baby clothes with gentler soaps.

Things to Know about baby acne

Generally, you will see it between 4 weeks old and 4 months of age. It can appear on the chin, forehead, cheeks and, sometimes even, on the back. Boys tend to get it more than girls.

Do not confuse baby acne with other skin disorders! You may want to see your doctor to make sure that what you are seeing is simply acne and not an allergic reaction or irritation caused by products that you are using.

Also some babies simply have bumps on their face from the time that they are born. These are not harmful and fade within a few weeks.

Also, some babies break out in rashes called eczema. So, the main thing is that you have to properly recognize whether it is really a case of acne or some allergy and then only go for any type of medication. A quick trip to the doctor will give you a clear indication of what you are dealing with.

Treating baby acne

In most cases these pimple will simply disappear on their own and require no treatment.

Here are some things that you can do though to alleviate the symptoms.

1. Use gentle soaps made for babies.

2. Use baby shampoos not your own, as their are less chemicals in shampoos designed for babies..

3. Use gentle detergents on your baby clothes.

4. Keep your baby as calm as possible, as fussing can aggravate his acne.

5. See a doctor if the acne gets worse and ask before using any over the counter products on your baby’s skin.