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.