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Types of Baby Acne;
There are two different types of acne, depending on baby’s age. Newborn acne or neonatal acne, can appear when baby is a newborn up to 3 months old. Its mainly caused by the stimulation of baby oil glands from the mother hormones.It is normal and will mainly go away on its own. A baby is older than 3 months experiences what is known as infantile acne,this type will not easily go away and may require treatment to avoid future break outs and scarring.
The characteristic signs of baby acne are small red or white bumps that can appear all over the body but are usually concentrate on baby’s face and torso. You might also see some tiny white bumps on your newborn’s forehead, cheeks or near his mouth, these are milia and aren’t baby acne, instead, the bumps are dead skin cells trapped in small pockets on the skin’s surface and tend to disappear within the first few weeks after birth.
What causes Baby Acne
Baby acne is a common skin condition, but there isn’t necessarily one clear cause. Even more frustrating: There’s very little about it that you can control. Here, some of the main causes of baby acne:
• Hormones. For newborns, mothers hormones are the most likely cause —at the end of pregnancy, a mother’s hormones can cross the placenta into baby’s system and can stimulate baby’s sebaceous (oil) glands on the skin, leading to breakouts. For infants over 3 months, their own hormones can drive an overgrowth of skin glands,leading to acne.
• Yeast.The Malassezia species, a common type of yeast that colonizes skin surfaces, can sometimes create an inflammatory reaction in newborns, resulting in newborn acne.
Treating Baby acne
Baby’s skin is incredibly sensitive, so it’s important to be gentle when dealing with baby acne. That means whatever go-to techniques you used as an adolescent or currently turn to as an adult probably aren’t appropriate for baby’s skin. Here’s how to treat baby acne properly:
• Don’t scrub. Or pick at or pop those pimples. “That can break the skin, introducing bacteria and increasing the risk of infant infection,” Baker says.
• Wash and moisturize. If your newborn has neonatal acne, keep baby’s face clean and moisturized. Use a mild and fragrance-free soap, and a hypoallergenic moisturizer to keep skin healthy and supple.
• Consult your pediatrician for treatment or recommendations or can prescribe medication suitable for an infant.
Natural Remedies for Baby Acne
• Coconut oil. Coconut oil is a tried-and-true baby acne treatment around the world and one Baker recommends to his own pediatric patients. This ultra-hydrating oil can help moisturize baby’s skin—just add a few drops to a cotton ball and swab over baby’s face.
• Breast milk. Breast milk for baby acne may sound like an old-wives’ tale, but there may be something to it. Breast milk contains lauric acid, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics, wiping a few drops of milk over baby’s skin and then letting it air dry may help.
Preventing Baby Acne
Here are some tips to help keep your baby's skin healthy and avoid rashes and future breakouts.
• Go fragrance free. The chemicals that make up artificial fragrances can irritate baby’s sensitive skin. Try hypoallergenic products, including lotions, shampoos and laundry detergents, when possible.
• Wash, don’t scrub. Scrubbing can cause further irritation and make matters worse. Instead, gently wipe and pat baby’s skin dry.
• Bathe baby regularly. For older, active infants, dirt and oil can get trapped in pores and exacerbate breakouts, just like with adults, so giving baby frequent baths can help minimize the possibility of breakouts.