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.
|