How to Handle Baby Acne
Acne can be part of our entire
lives. Those pesky red bumps aren’t only reserved for your
teen years, but also your adult and infant years. Yes, baby acne
can happen.
But baby acne is nothing to be
alarmed about. Baby acne is likely to appear in your infant’s
life when he or she is around three to four weeks old, about the
same time they are going through their fussy and gassy phase, according
to Dr. Alan Greene. Mothers are generally to blame for baby acne.
Their hormones are transferred to the baby’s placenta during
the last few weeks of pregnancy and while this helps with the maturation
of his or her lungs, it also helps stimulate your baby’s oil
glands.
Baby acne appears mostly on the
cheeks, but it can also show up on his or her forehead and chin.
Baby acne generally appears off-and-on until the baby is four to
six months old, and it is usually worse when the baby’s skin
is irritated or he or she is hot and fussy. Harsh detergents and
spit-up baby milk can also trigger baby acne.
To make the baby acne a distant
memory, gently wash your infants face once a day. Do not use lotions
or creams because they may worsen the condition. Again, the baby
acne should fade by six months, but if not, a pediatrician can prescribe
a mild medication.
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