Get Over Acne!
Acne Treatment and Prevention

Baby acne?

My daughter is almost five months old and ever since she was born she's had baby acne. Just a few little zits that go away and new ones spring up elsewhere. It's not because she's unclean (she's bathed every other day) and it's not because she's washed too much and her skin is getting irritated (I've tried spreading out the baths and also giving her one everyday to see if it would help), but they just won't go away! I know they can't feel good, and I don't want her accidentally scratching one and scarring herself. How can I get rid of it?
I said something to her pediatrician about it, but she ignored it.
She's not allergic to any of the soaps because it's only on her little face (only cheeks and chin, really). If she were allergic, she would react everywhere. It shows not as just redness, but pustules (whiteheads).

Public Comments

1. I never knew 5 month olds got acne. Did the Dr. say this was normal??? If ya haven't asked, I would get right on that.

2. BABY ACNE (ACNE NEONATORUM)

Baby acne is just that, acne lesions that form on the baby´s face sometime in the second or third month of life and lasts usually 4-6 weeks or so. Acne neonatorum is a result of the maternal hormones that continue to circulate in the baby´s bloodstream after birth, stimulating the sebaceous glands. There are some studies that suggest that infants who experience really severe infantile acne may have more problems with acne in their teenage years.

Baby acne may include red bumps, pustules or even blackheads. I have a good friend that mistook the normal baby acne of her first-born which looked like red bumps on the face as a drug allergy to an antibiotic given for an ear infection. Not familiar with baby acne and living away from family, she rushed the baby off to the ER. Of course we laugh about it now, but she was very frightened at the time.

Another friend had given birth to her first child during the winter time and had her wrapped under several layers of clothing and had the bassinette near the fire place. Sure enough, the baby developed a full blown case of acne within a few days. Over heating is a flare factor with respect to baby acne. While it is certainly important to keep your newborn warm and out of drafts, don´t go overboard indoors with heavy clothing and blankets.

My typical approach is to simply clean the skin with a very mild cleanser and allow Mother Nature to resolve the situation. Rarely, I have to resort to using OTC products such as low potency benzyl peroxide or prescription acne products, such as in the case of a 3 month old infant I once saw as a patient who had a severe case of blackheads.

3. Take Her To Your Doctor And See if He Can Perscribe A Cream Or Something.

4. don't worry mom....it is normal....it is the way that the new skin is developing.....there will be no scarring...it is a part of the process of the skin......over the next little while it may become more or less.....as a result of teething....your little one will be fine....

5. There is nothing you can do about that, unless you talk to your Doctor. don't try to buy acne medication for her, as she could break out, and don't try to pop them. they will probably stop y the time she is 1 year. my little sis has to same thing!

6. Talk to your pediatrician regarding this. Is the baby itchy? It may be excema and then requires a different treatment, maybe a dermatologist would know if your pediatrician doesn't have an answer. Good Luck!

7. First, you should see a doctor (if you haven't already) to make sure that it is indeed acne.

Then just wait. Don't worry, we had the same problem and have heard from others as well. Just wait and it will go away. The acne is likely due to excess hormones that just need to die down over time.

However, it's also possible that certain scented items such as detergent, fabric softeners could be adding to this problem. So, just to be on the safe side (if you haven't already), use non-scented detergent and fabric softeners.

Good luck and again, don't worry too much....we've all been there.

8. A lotion called euricine it's medicated for that purpose

9. you can use Cetaphil (I think I spelled it right) its a soap you can get it from any store I get mine from Wal mart or target they carry it in the acne cleanser section. my cousin recently had her baby and the doctor told her to use this and about a week later her babys skin had cleared up they carry Cetaphil in bar form and in liquid form I like the bar form better.

10. you need to stope washing her face with a wash cloth and use your hands cause wash cloths take to moisture out of the face but if that dont work maybe shes allergic to the soap or whatever your using and if that aint it then you should just go talk to your docter and ask them how to get rid of it

11. If her doctor ignored it, maybe you should find another doctor who will listen to you.

12. A lot of babies get "acne" as they work Mom's left over hormones out of their bodies. It's best to just leave it alone and let it run it's course since there is nothing you can do about it's cause anyway and may end up making it worse.